Season four of Love on the Spectrum debuted on Netflix at the top of the month, marking the first time Madison Marilla and Tyler White could finally tell the world they were engaged.
The duo met on the junior installment of the Emmy Award-winning series, and on the most recent season, they notably celebrated their first year as a couple. Earlier in season four, Madison thought Tyler might pop the question, though it was in episode six where that moment finally happened, and they got engaged.
Tyler penned a beautiful letter to his now fiancée, and Madison tells The Hollywood Reporter that was the moment she knew he was about to get down on one knee.
“I started crying tears of happiness,” she says of the heartfelt moment that played out onscreen. “And just the more I went down in the note, the more I realized, This is really happening.”
With season five of Love on the Spectrum already in the works, Madison and Tyler’s forthcoming nuptials could mark the first-ever wedding on the American based series. But will their wedding be filmed for the show?
“You’ll have to find out,” Tyler teases to THR.
Below, Madison and Tyler reflect on their tenure on the beloved reality show, what it’s been like to finally be able to discuss their engagement, what future projects they each have in the works and when they’d like to tie the knot.
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When you both first joined the cast of Love on the Spectrum, did you ever imagine that you would find your person and also touch the hearts of so many people along the way?
MADISON Yes. What was funny was I had a dream when I was a senior in high school that I was dating a country boy, ironically.
TYLER I happened to run across an ad one time when I was advertising my DJing services. It was for a Chris Stapleton concert in Tampa. I always did engagement ads on the Facebook groups for my DJing business, for concerts, [Tampa] Bucs games, NASCAR races, you name it. And then I scrolled across my feed, and it came across that they’re looking for a guy in the Tampa, St. Pete area to go on a date with a girl on the spectrum. And I always prayed, if the Lord ever saw fit for me, to fall in love as somebody on the spectrum and be with a girl on the spectrum. So, I filled out the resume, they liked what they saw, and the rest is history.
Your engagement was one of the most emotional moments of this most recent season. Tyler, what was running through your head when you were getting ready to propose to Madison?
TYLER Probably the [most] nervous I’ve ever been in my life. I mean, I was shaking so much that day. But when she said yes, it was the happiest I’ve ever been in my life. And normally I’m a holler and screaming kind of guy when I get real excited and happy, but I couldn’t help but cry knowing that God answered my prayer that day,
MADISON It shows in church, like Tyler is the one who hollers and screams, and I’m the one who cries when they get excited.
Madison, when you were reading the note that Tyler had written for you during your engagement, was that the moment that you realized, Wow, he’s about to propose?
MADISON Yes, I started crying tears of happiness, and just the more I went down in the note, the more I realized, This is really happening.
Madison on Love on the Spectrum.
Netflix
Was it hard for you both to keep your engagement a secret? And how does it feel now to be able to talk about it?
MADISON It is an amazing feeling to be able to talk about it. Like, I have the worst poker face, and now I’m glad to be able to shout from the rooftops, because I wanted to do that for the last nine months.
TYLER Yeah. I mean, I understand the aspects of television and whatnot, but, man, that was hard to keep it a secret. But I gotta tell you, I’m relieved I don’t have to keep it a secret no more.
What has it been like getting to watch back that very heartfelt, beautiful moment of your engagement?
TYLER I still get emotional!
MADISON Yes, I get very emotional watching it back and it makes me very happy, re-watching it over and over again.
Madison, I know right after the engagement, you said you wanted to appear on Say Yes to the Dress, and I saw that Randy reached out to you after the season was released. Do you have any plans to go to Kleinfeld and pick out your dream dress?
MADISON Randy Fanoli reached out to me not that long ago. I was so excited. I was crying tears of happiness. I couldn’t help but scream in that moment. And also, I may be at Kleinfeld in the near future. You never know.
Other than making plans to find your dream dress, how is wedding planning going?
MADISON We’ve only gotten started as we’ve had to keep it a secret for so long.
TYLER Yeah. We’ve had to keep it a secret due to the show, and also, I need to get my music career up and running, that way I can be in a place where I can support her. As a matter of fact, that’s the reason why I’m in Nashville right now. I’m at Bradley’s Barn in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, just outside of Nashville, where I’ve done a lot of writing and recording. And one thing I love about this place, it’s got my special interests; NASCAR and country music. But when the timing is right, we will definitely start getting a date together.
Do you think that you both would be open to having your wedding potentially filmed for Love on the Spectrum?
TYLER You’ll have to find out.
MADISON Yes, you’ll never know. You’ll have to watch to find out.
Tyler and Madison on Love on the Spectrum season four.
Netflix
Both of your stories have done so much for the autism community. If you could share advice to anyone with autism that looks up to you, what would you say?
MADISON Autism is a journey, not not a disorder. Autism is meant to make you, it is not meant to break you, and there are so many gifts associated with autism. If I didn’t have autism, I wouldn’t know the whole entire Disney dictionary. I would not know everything about American Girl dolls. I would not know how to make jewelry as well as I do. I wouldn’t know how to sew as well as I do. I wouldn’t know how to say hello in 50 languages. I wouldn’t know all the U.S. presidents in order. I wouldn’t have known all the states and capitals in kindergarten, and I also would not have the amazing memory I have. Like, I can remember hotel rooms from vacations from years ago. I can remember names of people from Charter Oak pool and Fountain Grove pool from when I was a kid. I can remember names of random people from school.
TYLER Yeah, I feel the same way about my autism. If I didn’t have it, would I have had the perfect pitch, or what I know about NASCAR, Bucs football. What I would say is, with hard work, perseverance, determination, positive attitude and faith in God, you could overcome any obstacle and do anything you set your mind to. And to anyone on the spectrum that’s wanting to find love, it is absolutely possible to find love on the spectrum — pun intended.
If someone with autism came up to you and asked “Do you think that I should go on the show?” would you suggest doing it?
MADISON Yes. What’s interesting was, I never had an interest in dating until going on the show, and just watching Abbey and David’s success is what made it possible for me. And finding Love on the Spectrum was a way I got myself out there, and so finding love on the spectrum is possible for anyone.
TYLER Yeah. I mean, if you’re wanting to find love, do it. I mean, there is nothing scary about it.
I’m not sure if you’ll be able to answer this question, but will you both be appearing on the next season of Love on the Spectrum?
MADISON You’ll have to watch to find out.
TYLER You’ll have to find out. But what I can tell you is, I got a lot of music coming out. Matter of fact, this past week, I sang and was the host of the BMI Rooftop on the road here in Nashville. I wrote this week with John Oates from Hall & Oates. I also wrote with Aaron Raitiere, who’s got a Grammy for A Star is Born and CMA [winners] Ella Langley and Riley Green. I also wrote with Tia Stillers, who won a CMA and ACM song of the year for “I Hope You Dance.” May 15, my debut single “OH YEAH BABY,” that’ll be out, and I’m singing at the Opry. My team here in Nashville, they got a lot of stuff lined up for me that I can’t share yet.
Tyler on Love on the Spectrum.
Netflix
What else is next for Madison and Tyler? What do you guys have coming up?
MADISON We’re gonna work on planning our wedding. Plus, I’m gonna work on expanding my business, Madizen. My website is Madizenusa.com. I’m going to work on getting some more products out there, and also selling my jewelry in gift shops, along with selling my Zen buddies in gift shops and getting more jewelry on my website.
Madison, I think you need a wedding collection.
MADISON That would be really cool. I’m thinking Christmas jewelry, because we want to get married around Christmas
TYLER We’re thinking next year at the earliest.
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Season four of Love on the Spectrum is streaming on Netflix.
