What was meant to be a private “I do” at the Chatham County Courthouse turned into a celebration Mason Belch and Erica Singleton never expected
By Sophia Herndon
Mason Belch and Erica Singleton met through mutual friends, and what began as easy conversation soon grew into something more. “We both value hard work, giving back to our community and building something meaningful together,” Erica says The pair had been together for nearly four years when Mason proposed in December 2025 during a sunset walk on a pier in Aruba. Erica had been anticipating a proposal, but didn’t expect it to happen on their trip. “What I did not know was that he had the ring in his shirt pocket the entire day,” she says. “Out of the box. For six hours. I still cannot believe he pulled that off without losing it.”
Mason and Erica married in a secret ceremony at the Chatham County Courthouse March 26, 2026. They expected only their mothers, Darlene Singleton and Patricia Wood, to witness their nuptials, but arrived to find friends Jean MacDonald, Claire Coffey and her daughter, Jillian Coffey – who served as the flower girl – Tonya Maness, Amanda Fay Mullins, and Cheryl Littleton waiting with bubble guns. The celebration continued with dinner at Aye! Toro, and a few weeks later, friends surprised Erica again with a party at Ta Contento and cupcakes from The Phoenix Bakery.
Erica works as the director of sales for Skyline Exterior Group, and Mason is an engine assembly technician with GE Aerospace in Durham. The couple resides in Chatham County.
