Woman's Dad Helps Her Get a Car for Her First Job, Now She's Getting Married to the Salesman

Taylor Maresca and Marshall Walker plan to tie the knot in Fall 2025

<p>Taylor Maresca; Maria Parko Photography</p> Taylor Maresca and Marshall Walker pose together.

Taylor Maresca; Maria Parko Photography

Taylor Maresca and Marshall Walker pose together.
  • Taylor Maresca moved to Myrtle Beach, SC after graduating from the University of Arizona in May 2022 and her dad helped her look for a car.

  • Finally, he found a white Nissan Sentra at a local dealership and was connected with Marshall Walker, a salesperson at the store.

  • After meeting in person, Maresca and Walker stayed in touch and began dating. Eventually, in May 2024, Walker, 25, proposed during a trip to Nantucket, Mass.

Taylor Maresca was preparing to graduate from the University of Arizona in May 2022 and move to Myrtle Beach, S.C. to start her first job as a TV news reporter at the local CBS affiliate. For her next adventure, the 24-year-old needed a car. However, she was so focused on graduating that she let her dad take on the task of finding one.

Maresca told her dad she wanted a small, white car, without any preference for the brand or added features. Unfortunately, due to a nationwide car chip shortage at the time, her dad struggled to find a new vehicle. He called all the dealerships in the Myrtle Beach area looking for anything available for her when she moved there.

Finally, he found a white Nissan Sentra at a local dealership and was connected with Marshall Walker, a salesperson at the store. The two communicated back and forth for a couple of months before Maresca and her dad flew down to Myrtle Beach on June 1, 2022. Their first stop was the Nissan dealership to pick up the car.

"That's when I met Marshall," she tells PEOPLE. "My dad introduced us to each other. When I first met him, I definitely thought he was cute. My dad said I was acting weird the whole time we were there, and at one point, I even asked my dad, 'How old do you think he is?' referring to Marshall."

<p>Taylor Maresca</p> Taylor Maresca and Marshall Walker with their arms around each other.

Taylor Maresca

Taylor Maresca and Marshall Walker with their arms around each other.

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A couple of hours after they picked up the car, Walker texted Maresca while she and her dad were shopping at Walmart for random items for her apartment.

"I was nervous, excited, and happy, and I did NOT tell my dad!" the former news anchor says. "We definitely had vibes at the dealership, so I was thrilled when he texted me. He mentioned that I was new to the area and asked if I would like to go out sometime — I said yes!"

"I told my mom and sister right away that he texted me," she adds. "I am a pretty shy person, so they encouraged me to go on a date with him because I was so nervous. My family and friends have always been so supportive. Marshall fits right into the family."

A month after they met, the two began dating. For their first date, they went out for dinner and ice cream. A few days later, on the Fourth of July, they sat on the beach and watched fireworks.

Eventually, in May 2024, Walker, 25, proposed during a trip to Nantucket, Mass. He popped the question while they were walking to the historic Brant Point Lighthouse, where he had a photographer hidden in the bushes.

"I remember being really nervous for our first few dates, and I specifically remember thinking, 'I really like this guy' while we were watching the fireworks on Fourth of July 2022," Maresca says. "I'm not sure there was an exact moment I knew he was the one, but once we started spending time together, I just knew he was the person I'd spend forever with. I couldn't imagine life any other way. He is my best friend, and I cannot wait to marry him!"

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<p>Taylor Maresca</p> Taylor Maresca and Marshall Walker sitting together on the beach.

Taylor Maresca

Taylor Maresca and Marshall Walker sitting together on the beach.

Looking back, Maresca says she didn't anticipate that the first person she met in her new home would turn into her best friend, future husband and love of her life. But after they started dating and spending time together, she had no doubt he was her person.

When asked if the couple plans to have a Nissan-related tribute at their Fall 2025 wedding, Maresca says she's unsure. "Maybe! I just started diving into wedding planning, and it is overwhelming," she adds.

<p>Maria Parko Photography</p> Marshall Walker proposing to Taylor Maresca.

Maria Parko Photography

Marshall Walker proposing to Taylor Maresca.

Recently, Maresca came across a TikTok video where someone shared their first texts along with a photo of "how it was going" in their relationship. She thought their story was perfect for the trend and decided to post her own video. To her surprise, it went viral, amassing over 1.7 million likes and 1,200 comments.

"I did NOT expect that! I just did it for fun, thinking only my friends and family would see it. I never imagined it would reach nearly 2 million people," she says.

"We had fun reading through the comments together. Some were funny, and some were mean, believe it or not! But we thought the whole thing was crazy and hilarious. We were sending each other screenshots of the best comments all day while it was blowing up."

While she didn't tell her dad she was posting the video, he found it funny when he saw it. To this day, Maresca says everyone tells her he is responsible for setting her and Walker up.

"I hope it's just a sweet story that will put a smile on people's faces," she says. "You never know where you might end up meeting your future husband!"

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