Adam Baidawi and Alex Marxsen's New York City Hall Wedding Was a Love Letter to Their New Home

The enduring love story of Adam Baidawi and Alex Marxsen, spanning over a decade and four continents, culminated in a New York City Hall wedding that celebrated their journey and their new home. Adam, the global editorial director of GQ, and Alex, who works in global marketing for Lululemon, first met in their native Melbourne, Australia, in 2014. Their relationship, which began in their early twenties while still living with their parents, soon took on an international dimension far beyond their initial expectations.

Their romance quickly deepened, but just two months after meeting, Alex embarked on a pre-planned study abroad program. She initially feared she had made a grave mistake by leaving Adam and their nascent relationship. Despite her anxieties, Adam eventually followed her to the United States after her program concluded, and they began a memorable adventure that took them from Madrid to Marrakech and Los Angeles, marking the beginning of their continuous partnership.

Over the subsequent years, the couple lived a globetrotting life. They relocated to Dubai, where Adam played a key role in launching GQ Middle East in 2018 with a notable cover featuring Rami Malek, while Alex worked as a marketing manager for a prominent sports retailer. In 2021, Adam moved to London to assume the position of deputy global editorial director of GQ and head of editorial content at British GQ.

In 2024, Adam decided it was time to propose. While on their annual summer vacation in Greece, amidst a picturesque setting at a quiet beach taverna, Adam proposed. He had previously contemplated various elaborate proposal ideas, but the serene beauty of the moment inspired a spontaneous gesture. He discreetly retrieved the ring from their hotel and proposed as the sun began to set, a moment that completely surprised Alex despite their decade-long relationship. The taverna owner's hospitality enhanced the celebratory mood of the evening.

Their lives took another significant turn in February 2026 with Adam's appointment as GQ’s global editorial director, necessitating a move to New York. The initial plans for a 2027 wedding by an Italian lake were soon abandoned when they learned they needed to marry before their move. Amidst the whirlwind of packing, adjusting to Adam's new role, and an international relocation, they opted for a swift wedding in New York City. Discovering that New York allowed for legal marriages within a 24-hour period, they embraced this option as a symbolic way to begin their new life in the city. This decision prompted them to make quick choices, simplify their lives, and fully immerse themselves in the city's dynamic energy.