Spiritual Couple Addresses Online Backlash Over Viral Rapped Wedding Vows

• Mariah Sawyer (also known as Rebellious Essence or Rebel) and Aaron Sawyer rapped their vows at their home wedding in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Sept. 14.
• A video of the musical vow exchange has gone viral on TikTok, having amassed almost 4 million views and thousands of comments. The spiritual newlyweds say they only have love for online critics.
• The couple also made a wedding music video for their song “Dissolving.”

A bride and groom have gone viral for rapping their wedding vows.

Mariah Sawyer — who is best known by her artist name Rebellious Essence, or simply Rebel — got married to Aaron Sawyer on Sept. 14 in a “unique, spiritual and deeply authentic” ceremony in their front yard in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The barefoot and bohemian-style wedding was attended by 100 friends and family members, who witnessed the couple rap their vows and make a wedding music video.

“Music has played such a powerful role in our story,” says Rebel, who has been in the music scene for the past two and a half years. Meanwhile, Aaron has been active in the music industry for eight years. “Hip-hop holds a special place in our journey because it’s how we met.”

The 26-year-olds first crossed paths at Groundwaves, a music platform created by the rapper Murs, who gives free mentorship sessions to emerging artists who sign up for the open mics. Murs “saw something special” in Rebel and Aaron and decided to introduce them to each other.

“We joke that he played Cupid for us,” the bride tells PEOPLE. “Aaron and I both make music with the intention of spreading love through conscious hip-hop, and Murs knew our missions aligned.” 

A video of the couple’s rapped wedding vows — taken by Midwest’s up-and-coming, in-demand content creator duo Ana and Gabriela of ECHO PR — has almost 4 million views on TikTok. 

“I will give you all of me as long as I’m alive/When it’s tough I will not run, I’ll stick right by your side/You held it down when I declared a war on my own pride/With zero hesitation, I am making you my wife,” Aaron rapped in the clip as Rebel danced.

“When it came to planning the wedding, I suggested we rap our vows as a surprise for our guests,” Rebel says. “Aaron loved the idea. We did our secret handshake together when I brought it up to him. We started with our written vows, but at the end of mine, I asked Aaron, ‘Do you want something real?’ — and then the beat dropped and we began rapping.”

“It was a powerful and unexpected moment that brought so much joy to everyone there,” she adds. “We practiced it all week leading up to the wedding.”

The feedback that Rebel and Aaron received from their guests was “incredible,” with many saying it was “the most beautiful and genuine wedding they had ever attended.” Even people in their community who weren’t at the wedding heard about how “heartfelt” and “special” it was. 

But not everyone online appreciated the “lyrical love” that the bride and groom spit. Thousands of commenters on TikTok and Instagram have mocked or parodied the couple and left critical comments.

Even though this negativity is “disheartening” to the couple, they aren’t letting it bring down their special day.

“For those who have spread hate, we simply hope and pray that they find true love someday,” Rebel says. “True love dances and sings like nobody’s watching. Aaron and I are incredibly blessed to share this divine union, and we wish for others to experience this kind of love for themselves.”

The newlyweds, who work together at Be Love Yoga Studio, consider themselves to be pillars in their community. In addition to being deeply involved in the local music and yoga scenes, the two have started a men’s group and women’s group in Tulsa “with the intention of giving men and women a safe space to connect and express themselves without judgment.”

“Beyond music, we’re both passionate about healing and spiritual work,” Rebel tells PEOPLE. “Our mission is to spread love, raise consciousness and remind people of the beauty of divine love through everything we do — whether it’s music, yoga or community events.”

The community rallied around the duo for their potluck-style wedding. Every guest brought a dish to share, “creating a giant feast full of love and intention.” Everyone also gathered their hands in prayer, and sat in a circle around the couple as they did breathwork and meditated together — “which definitely surprised Aaron’s traditional-minded family.” 

“The decision to host the ceremony in our yard was because it holds deep symbolic meaning for us. Aaron is my home,” Rebel says. “Every time we sit in that space, we’re reminded of the love that has been shared under our favorite tree, connecting us to nature and the elements.” 

She adds: “The barefoot element of our wedding reflected our grounding and connection to Mother Earth, aligning with the spiritual tone we wanted for the day.” 

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The bride and groom, who dressed in all white to symbolize the “purity” of their love, also made a wedding music video for their duet “Dissolving,” which was their first dance song. Aaron wrote the track in 2022 shortly after meeting Rebel. 

“The song is a vow of his love and devotion and reflects the deep connection we share. On Sept. 14, 2023 — exactly one year before our wedding — Aaron proposed to me on the same stage at Groundwaves where we first met in 2022,” Rebel says. “He performed ‘Dissolving’ for me in front of the entire community, then got down on one knee. It was such a magical moment.”

She continues: “It’s our way of showing the world that real love exists, and we hope it inspires others to believe in divine connection.”