Dinner Date
It was Aug. 5, 2000, and I sent a single red rose with an invitation that said ” You are cordially invited to dinner at the Shaw residence where dinner shall be prepared by Chef Jeremy. Transportation has already been arranged by Jeremy’s Chauffeur Service. Dinner will begin at 7 p.m.” The next day, I cooked a chicken breast pasta with salad, and I made strawberry cheesecake with whipped cream for desert. The table was set with fine china. Roses adorned the center of the table. There were candles lit to set the mood with slow dance music playing in the background. Among the songs playing was the song “Back at One,” by Brian McKnight, which was our first dance. I dressed up in a tuxedo and went to pick up my date. When she walked inside, the music was playing, the candles were lit and dinner was on the table. The first thing we did was have a dance together , and then I served her drinks before eating. The night went on, we ate dinner and desert and spent the rest of the night dancing in each others arms. At the end of the night, I looked her in the eyes and told her “I love you.” It wasn’t a special day, I just wanted her to know that I loved her.
Jeremy Shaw, 19, freshman
Andrea Becnel
together 1 year 5 monthsWatch Me Get a Ring
One time, my boyfriend brought me to eat at Flanagans for my 19th birthday, and on the way over he asked me three times if I would I marry him. Each time I told him yes. He was supposed to buy me a Fossil watch for my birthday, and he just gave me the box and took the Fossil watch out of it. So, when I opened it up there was no watch but a note that said I know you wanted this watch, but I think you would rather what I have in my hand. And then he was on his knees and I asked, “Casey what are you doing? ” because I did not put two and two together. And he says baby, would you marry me. Of course I said “Yes.” Every one in Flanagans started clapping.
Jenny Kliebert, 21, senior
Casey Jarreau, 21, sophomore
together 3 years and engaged

Yellow Roses
We had been dating about a month. I was watching television and talking on the phone with my boyfriend. Some people on television had just gotten this beautiful arrangement of yellow roses. These are my favorite flowers, so I said something. I told my boyfriend about the beautiful arrangement of flowers on television. He asked what color, and I told him yellow roses. So that Saturday, we went bowling. When I showed up at the bowling alley, he had a dozen yellow roses and they were awesome.
Gretchen Herpel, 18, freshman
Jacob Thibodeaux, 18
together 2 years 7 months

Delayed Delight
Since I have not done anything sweet for my boyfriend, in the two years we have been together, this Valentine’s Day, I’ll be in Spain. I am getting this bear that you can record messages on, and I am going to record something sweet. He can’t open it until Valentine’s day.
Christian Boatwright, 18, freshman
Tommy Sawyer, 19, freshman
together 2 years 2 months

A Diamond is Forever
I love Thomas with all my heart. Even though our schedule for one another circles his busy baseball schedule, Thomas always makes time for me, and he makes that time special. He has done so many things for me to make our relationship special. One time he brought me flowers when I was sick. Thomas also took care of me and looked after me when I had my wisdom teeth pulled. One time he sent me a flower cookie bouquet to school for my birthday because he was out of town for baseball. The saying “diamonds are a girl’s best friend” is definitely true for me. Thomas Diamond will always be my best friend.
Mary Guillot, 18, freshman
Thomas Diamond, 18
together 2 years

Sweet Surprise
My fianc was in the Marine Corps, and I was not expecting to see him for a week and I was upset that I could not see him. The next morning, he showed up, and I was surprised. The reason I had not heard from him in a week was because he was on his way down here to see me. We decided to go to Bourbon St. because the other guys had been there before. So we were walking up and down the street, just having a good time. I was still elated that he had come to see me because it was such a surprise. I had never had a guy on Valentine’s Day nor had I ever had a guy give me a rose. We saw vendors on the corners selling long stemmed red roses, and I was going to buy one just because they were pretty, but the prices were too high. Well, I ended up walking with the two other guys because I had lost him for a while. I heard someone calling my name, and I turned around and it was Devin. He had his hands behind his back, and when he took his hands from behind his back, he had two long stemmed red roses and a teddy bear. I started crying because it was great to see him, and it was basically my first Valentine’s with a boyfriend.
Leigh Wall, 21, University Police
Devin Foret, 19
Together 7 months

Drama in the Driveway
We were dating for four years and last January we got engaged. On the night I planned to propose to her, I told her to dress nice because we were going to eat someplace since we had not seen each other in two weeks. She had no idea of my plans, she just thought she was going out to eat. Well, my older brother was going out and he was waiting for some friends to come and pick him up. So, she got all ready, and I was thinking that this was horrible. I had planned on popping the question in the driveway since that is where I first told her that I loved her. So, I was thinking of ways to stall until my brother left., so we could be alone when I asked her. She was bugging me to leave, and so I said “Okay, let’s go.” As I was walking out I grabbed the ring off the counter, put it in my pocket and then locked the door. I could see her in the door reflection, and she had a big grin on her face. I thought that she had figured it out, but she said she was laughing because I had been taking so much time. She started walking towards my car, and I grabbed her and turned her around. I said, “do you remember the first time I told you I loved you,” and she said “yeah, it was right here.” She still had no clue, so I told her, “well I still love you and I want to spend forever with you.” She says “oh I love you too,” but she still did not know I was fixing to propose. So I got down on my knee and asked her “will you marry me?” And she started crying, and asked “are you serious?” Well, as I am doing this, my brother’s friend comes and his headlights are shining on us, and she is crying. My brother’s friends thought that I did something to hurt her, so I had to explain that we had just gotten engaged.
Toby Hubbell, 21, senior
Corell Hebert, 20

Love All Year Long
It all began in 10th grade. Twaskie was walking down the hall before class. This is when I think our lives began. I never believed in love at first sight, but now I am a living witness. When I looked into his brown eyes walking down that hall, my heart skipped a beat. He is the ideal man, and he is now my husband. He has a way of making my whole world complete. The best day of my life was on July 24, 1998 when we got married. I know that this was the Lord’s work because we are truly soulmates. There is not one special day or event that I can pick out, because my husband showers me with love 365 days a year. He is my friend, my heart beat, my Moonie.
Ebara Anderson, 23, junior
Twaskie Anderson, 24, senior

Spring Surprises
For Easter, this past April, I was at my sister’s house in North Carolina. This was the first time that Nick and I had been away from each other and I missed him a lot. I came home the day before Easter, and on Sunday he came to my house with a big basket of candy, and before I went to church flowers from him were delivered to my house. He also had a surprise for me. Nick blindfolded me and helped me into his truck. He brought me to Lumen Christi Retreat Center. When he let me take the blindfold off I saw t
hat he had set up a picnic for us. When I got home that afternoon, he washed my car and had a lot of little surprises for me.
Tara Draper, 22, senior
Nick Taylor, 21, junior