Whim Internet Magazine

College Wedding Connection: Engagement

Andy Pastirik | Staff Writer

Rachel Pastirik | Executive Director

Before you can begin planning your wedding, you need to be engaged in one form or another. The ways people become engaged and the length of time they are engaged before the wedding differ greatly in today's society and among college students. The man can ask the woman to marry her, the woman can ask the man, or sometimes, both partners agree together that marriage is the next step in their relationship.

There are many questions to consider when deciding to propose.

Am I ready to marry to this person?
Where should I propose?
What would make this event special and memorable for both of us?
Should this question be asked publicly or in private?
Will my proposal idea cost any money?
Do I buy an engagement ring, use a family heirloom, a college ring, promise ring, etc?
How long after the engagement will the wedding take place?

No matter what kind of engagement you have and how you propose, one thing is for sure. Every woman wants to have a great engagement story to tell her friends, children, and grandchildren about.

Need some engagement ideas? Read about the experiences of these local college-aged folks.

Maureen Minter
Junior, Radford University

When did you get engaged? I got engaged in April of my sophomore year. It was on the 26th, my birthday.

Where did you get engaged? It was in my apartment room.

Who proposed and how? My boyfriend Jascin proposed to me. I was coming home from class and I walked in the door and he had spelled out, "WILL YOU MARRY ME?" in about a hundred candles. He was on one knee with the ring in his hand right above where the candles were.

Do you have any advice for the newly engaged? When two people are meant to be together it will happen, and you will love that person for who they are. You will grow and change together, and if you don't, them maybe it is not meant to be. Don't rush. When it is time to get married you will know. Be yourself! There has to be an "I" before there is a "we."

John Cordiano Junior, Radford University Whim Staff Writer
When did you get engaged?	We got engaged on January 28, 2002.
Where did you get engaged?	I took my girlfriend to a lodge up in Vermont for a week. She thought we were just celebrating our anniversary.
Who proposed and how?	I proposed to Christie. I made a reservation to go on a horse drawn sleigh through the woods to a lookout of all the mountains. I worked it all out beforehand with the driver so that he would give us some alone time at one point during the ride. When the time arrived, the driver stopped at the best mountain view and I turned to Christie and proposed. Then we got dressed to the nines and went out to a really fancy restaurant.
Do you have any advice for the newly engaged?	Always be truthful with the one you love. Don't hold back ever. If you're a guy, treat every day like it's the first day you met her.
What has changed since you got engaged?	We're living together now in a house in Radford, we adopted a dog together, and recently we made our first big purchase, a new mattress. Other than that, nothing has changed except the fact that I love her more now than I did when I met her. She's my soulmate.

Christine Carter Media Studies Lab & Studio Coordinator, Radford University
When did you get engaged?	In November 1998 when I was starting my Junior year.
Where did you get engaged?	On the phone, at 2 am.
Who proposed and how?	Jeremy had just applied to RU and had gotten turned down 'cause he was missing a math class. He was pretty upset, so I started planning out the next five years, trying to make him feel better. I believe I asked "So...when do you want to get married?" In my head, I was thinking, "I'll let him know Išm in this for the long haul. I'm here." He got very quiet and asked me to marry him. I said yes, then he proceeded to wake up his mom and tell her. He still feels bad about asking on the phone, but heck, I was just glad he asked.
Do you have any advice for the newly engaged?	Marriage and college are tough. Very tough. Here you are, surrounded by people that are still playing at being grown-up. You, on the other hand, are making huge "adult" decisions. Remember that youšve made a commitment. It doesnšt mean you are dead but it is hard to find people to hang out with once you are past the "trolling for love" stage. Just hang in there; it gets better.
What has changed since you got engaged?	I thought because my husband and I lived together for 2 years before we got married, nothing would change. It ALL changes. People ask you about children and insurance is now a priority. You have intertwined your life with someone.

Samuel Bromley ROTC Cadet and Graduate of Marquette University
When did you get engaged?	In July of 2002.
Where did you get engaged?	Where we live in Waynesboro, VA.
Who proposed and how?	We went for a walk in the park like we normally do and on one of the isolated trails, I dropped to one knee and asked.
Do you have any advice for the newly engaged?	Give yourself plenty of time to plan the wedding. We only had 6 weeks and the lack of time made it very difficult. Even if you're just going to Las Vegas, know what you're doing, how you're doing it, and when. Also have a good list of who is coming and update it frequently.

Jonelle Thackston Junior, Radford University Whim Graphic Artist & Staff Writer
When did you get engaged?	I was asked on August 24, 2002 and answered on August 28.
Where did you get engaged?	I was asked at the Peaks of Otter, but I said yes in home in our living room.
Who proposed and how?	My boyfriend Andrew proposed to me. As a birthday present Andrew got us a night's stay at Peaks of Otter, which is a beautiful resort in the Blue Ridge. I went out onto the balcony to tell him I was ready to go to dinner and he pulled me close to him, telling me he loved me and wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. Then he got down on his knees, pulled out a ring, and asked me to marry him. I wanted to say yes, but I wanted to talk to my mother first. Later that week I called home. The whole time I was thinking my mom was going to be against the idea but I was wrong. My mother could not stop speaking Andrew's praises. After the call, I went into the living room and said yes!
Do you have any advice for the newly engaged?	None yet; I still consider myself newly engaged.
What has changed since you got engaged?	The ring has been resized so now I can actually wear it on my ring finger versus my pinky.

Brandon Faust Junior, Radford University Whim Ritz Manager
When did you get engaged?	On September 26, 2002.
Where did you get engaged?	At Bissett Park in Radford, VA.
Who proposed and how?	I was hoping the weather would be nice the Thursday before fall break. Unfortunately, it was probably a day you would hope no one would have to get engaged on. It was rainy, but I was bound and determined to do it anyway. I mentioned to my girlfriend, Megan, that we should go down to the park to "go on a walk." She thought it was the silliest idea because it was "nasty" outside. The two of us began to walk together beneath my trusty umbrella along the riverside. We reached a point where we could walk further down the bank, closer to the river, and she froze almost instantly. She saw a red rose laying upon the grass a few feet in front of us and glanced at me like, "What are you up to?" I handed the umbrella to her, picked up the rose, and gave it to her. Then I said, with much nerve-racking anticipation, "Okay, I have a question for you. And if you say, 'Yes,' I have eleven more of these for you back at my place." So I popped down on one knee and rest is history.
Do you have any advice for the newly engaged?	Well, as we are rather newly engaged ourselves, there probably aren't many words of the wise to come from our direction. All I can say is that you should definitely feel blessed to be at this point in your life. Please enjoy it and do not stress about planning!
What has changed since you got engaged?	It is a bit difficult, yet funny to get used to addressing one another as "fiance." We also feel like we're on a whole new level of growing up together and excited about getting that much closer to being husband and wife.

Name: b.faust
Year: jr.
Major: info.sys
Comments:
wow, i wrote a story compared to everyone else! sorry guys. :)

neat article, rach!