What Maurissa Starks had assumed would be a quick errand soon transformed into a thrilling, fast-paced shopping spree — an elaborate anniversary plan by her husband.
Her experience was complete with the support of Sephora staff and fellow shoppers who eagerly jumped in to help her navigate the store in record time.
It all started in the middle of a bustling Sephora at Dallas Galleria, when her husband, Sir J. Starks, without warning, raised his voice above the din and made a bold, heartfelt announcement that would capture the attention of not just fellow shoppers but the internet.
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Sir J. announced in the now-viral video, “Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen me and this beautiful woman are celebrating six years of marriage today. She has six minutes starting now to get whatever she wants from the store.”
The announcement shocked Maurissa. She told People, “When he started screaming, my heart just kind of started racing. I’m like, what the heck is he doing?”
“He’s done stuff to surprise me before, but I’m always surprised because it’s something different,” she said, recalling how they’d just pulled into the Dallas Galleria for what she thought was a quick stop.
As they made their way inside, she remained puzzled. “He was like, ‘We’ve got 15 minutes,’ and I’m thinking, are we picking something up? Then we turned into Sephora, and I really just couldn’t put it together.”
Then when he said she had six minutes, “my brain just glitched.”
But she wasn’t alone. Sephora employees and nearby shoppers rallied around her, guiding her to popular products, shouting out suggestions, and cheering her on as she darted through the aisles.
Meanwhile, though inspired by a TikTok video he had seen, Sir J. emphasized that his gesture wasn’t about trends.
“Knowing that our six-year anniversary was coming up and she loves Sephora, I was like, six minutes is better than five,” he told People.
The store happened to be on the way to their dinner reservation, making the timing even more serendipitous. He added that he found joy in watching his wife as Maurissa grabbed foundations, lipsticks, and skincare items.
“It was funny because I get a kick out of watching her response to stuff,” he said. “It was equally cool to enjoy the moment for our anniversary just as much as it was fun to watch everybody else respond to her.”
At the register, the total rang up to $425, much less than what Sir J. had anticipated.
“I’ve never experienced just women coming together to help another woman out in this kind of way,” Maurissa said. “It was just so sweet to see and just experience.”
She admitted she missed a few things in the excitement. Still, her thoughtful nature remained intact even in the frenzy.
“Honestly, I wouldn’t have picked that much because I know how expensive fragrances are,” she said. “I think naturally, I was just being considerate anyway.”
Maurissa made sure to hug the staff afterward in gratitude. “I just wish that all women experienced more of that,” she added. “We really are a girl’s girl.”
Some online viewers questioned the format, suggesting Sir J. could’ve simply gifted her a Sephora card, but Maurissa disagreed. “It was more fun this way,” she said. “I think it was just perfect for us.”
For Sir J., the intention was clear — it wasn’t about going viral; it was about meaningful expression grounded in their unique connection. Maurissa praised her husband for consistently showing his love in personal and creative ways.
He said, “I want to make sure that for our anniversary, she knows whatever we’re doing was thought through; it was intentional.” “Because that’s her love language — quality time.”
Their love story spans nearly a decade, beginning when Maurissa was a college freshman and Sir J. was two years older. Years later, they reconnected when Maurissa started a Christian clothing line and Sir J. offered to help. From that point, a friendship blossomed into something deeper, even after Maurissa moved back to California.
Eight months after initially turning him down, she received flowers from Sir J. for her CPA exam — a moment she never forgot.
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“He still remembered my CPA exam schedule like eight months later,” she said. “I thought that was super sweet.”
That gesture led to a phone call, which led to their first official date. “We started dating in May 2018, got engaged in October 2018, and got married in May 2019,” Maurissa said.
Looking back on the six-minute Sephora surprise, neither has regrets. “As much as I want to be like, I wish I just got a few more things, I don’t think I would,” Maurissa said. “I don’t want to burn his pockets.”
Sir J. echoed her sentiment but noted one adjustment he might make next time. “Maybe just tipping the store off to what I was doing,” he said with a laugh. “Because I just walked in the store and started yelling.”
When it comes to keeping the spark alive in marriage, the Starks credit intention, creativity, and faith. “Don’t be afraid to do the things that may make you uncomfortable if it’s in the interest of your partner,” Maurissa said. “Just be a little bit more considerate of your spouse and really be in tune with what they need in that season.”
Sir J. concluded with advice grounded in sincerity: “Something like the Sephora spree is only a cool experience because of what I know of Rissa, not because it was a trend on TikTok. Take the responsibility of knowing your partner first before assuming someone else’s position on marriage.”
