Couple Gets Married at Citrus Bowl in Cheez-It Themed Wedding — See the Custom Orange Cake and Cracker Ring! (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Cheez-It

A Cheez-It superfan couple got married during the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.

“Football Fantaseez” winners Erin Doolin, 26, and Erik Yakes, 29,tied the knot during a commercial timeoutin the first half of the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl between No. 14 South Carolina and No. 21 Illinois inside Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, on Dec. 31. Their officiant was the Cheez-It mascot, Ched-Z.

Erik Yakes and Erin Doolin.Cheez-It

After saying “I do,” they exchanged orange wedding bands.

Erik Yakes and Erin Doolin’s timeout wedding ceremony.Erin Doolin and Erik Yakes cut into their wedding cake.Erik Yakes and Erin Doolin’s timeout wedding ceremony.PHOTO:Cheez-ItErin Doolin and Erik Yakes cut into their wedding cake.PHOTO:Cheez-It

Erik Yakes and Erin Doolin’s timeout wedding ceremony.Erin Doolin and Erik Yakes cut into their wedding cake.

Erik Yakes and Erin Doolin’s timeout wedding ceremony.

Erin Doolin and Erik Yakes cut into their wedding cake.

Erik Yakes and Erin Doolin’s timeout wedding ceremony.PHOTO:Cheez-ItErin Doolin and Erik Yakes cut into their wedding cake.PHOTO:Cheez-It

“We vowed to support each other endlessly and show up for each other and choose each other every day,” Doolin tells PEOPLE. “We promised each other that we’d support one another in all our dreams — whether that’s competing onSurvivor, living abroad, or cycling a Gran Fondo!”

After the ceremony finished up on the field, the newlyweds were driven over to their afterparty site at the end zone, where there was a mini dance floor and three-tier ombre orange wedding cake.

“Getting the opportunity to get married during a football game was a dream we didn’t know was possible to fulfill!” Yakes says.

Cheez-It wedding cake.Erin Doolin.Cheez-It wedding cake.PHOTO:Cheez-ItErin Doolin.PHOTO:Cheez-It

Cheez-It wedding cake.Erin Doolin.

Cheez-It wedding cake.

Erin Doolin.

Cheez-It wedding cake.PHOTO:Cheez-ItErin Doolin.PHOTO:Cheez-It

When the superfans applied to the “Football Fantaseez” contest in early December, their families thought they were “crazy” but also believed it would be fitting because of their “spontaneous personalities.”

“Our families knew it was the perfect wedding for us, as we love adventure and we love each other!” Yakes adds.

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The bride and groom — whose favorite game day snacks are Cheez-It crackers — say it was an easy decision to apply.

Erik Yakes and Erin Doolin with their wedding party.Cheez-It

“When we came across the Fantaseez contest, we thought it would be a once in a lifetime opportunity — and it absolutely was!” Yakes says. “We love Cheez-It, we love college football, and we love each other, so it was a dream come true to do this.”

The couple have been “following college football for years.” Yakes is an alumnus of Florida State University while Doolin is an alumna of Penn State University.

The duo moved to Frederick, Maryland, together last year, but first met in Washington, D.C., after connecting on the dating app Hinge. They quickly “fell in love” after their first date on Dec. 13, 2021. Less than three years later, Yakes popped the question.

“We got engaged on Sept. 21, 2024, in Washington, D.C., which is why we chose ‘September’ as our first dance song!” Doolin says. “We were already planning a wedding, so this was an amazing opportunity to push up the timeline and enjoy a second wedding of our dreams.”

source: people.com