A new season can take many forms, whether it is the transition from winter to spring or the shift from dating to engagement. The Talon spoke with several newly engaged couples at Oklahoma Christian University to capture their stories.
Senior Ajaya Macon gives us an inside look at the special relationship she has with her fiancé, senior Cayden Cole.
How did you and your fiancé meet?
“He was in Summer Singers, and I was in New Reign. We were the only people on campus for a while when we were introduced. We did get to be in Oklahoma Christian’s production, Beauty and the Beast. That is where he would nonstop tease me, I guess it was his way of flirting.”
How did the proposal happen?
“We were on a fishing trip, I had no idea what was happening! He started saying all this nice stuff about me and our relationship and I was just nodding away and the next thing I know he’s getting on one knee! The moment felt unreal and I continued to feel that way for the rest of the week.”
What is it like to balance classes, friendships and wedding planning?
“I have yet to find the perfect combination of making sure I pour into my relationship and doing schoolwork. It is also hard balancing hanging out with friends, but thankfully we share some of the same friends so it can be a win-win. I realized I probably shouldn’t just schedule as many of our hang outs, in the spirit of spontaneity. I still need to have intentional time with friends.”
How has your faith influenced your relationship and engagement?
“Even before we got engaged, my faith pushed me to be a better partner every day. I use that word because of Genesis 2:18. I feel like we are both there for each other to help one another through life. As I support him in his things and he supports me in mine, I try using the same grace and love that Christ has had for me. Knowing that someday we get to imitate Christ and the Church is so special to share with such an amazing person!”
What are you most excited about in marriage?
“I am most excited for the adventures! Cayden and I fit so well that where my weak points are, his strengths pick up. His random fishing trips in the middle of the day, unlike that one he proposed to me on. Allows me to loosen up and take a step back to gain perspective on life, and reconnect with God through the creation he blessed us with.”
Junior Addie Neal shares with The Talon how her engagement story began with fiancé , junior Steven Holland.
How did you and your fiancé meet?
“Steven and I met briefly at a summer camp at Harding University the summer before attending OC. We had specific family friend connections who wanted us to meet since we were going to the same college. It was helpful because we didn’t know anyone else attending OC, so when we got to school at the end of that summer, we were each other’s first familiar face. Our friendship grew from there!”
How did the proposal happen, and what was going through your mind?
“The proposal happened over spring break. We had talked about getting engaged, but we had decided we would wait till the fall. I went home to take family Easter pictures at the end of break, and Steven supposedly went to his house to spend the weekend with his family. Little did I know that they were planning a trip to me. When I arrived to take Easter pictures, I was sent to the creek behind my Nana’s house to get my little brothers ready for the camera. Instead of finding my brothers, I see Steven standing under an arch that he built to propose to me. I was very shocked and honestly did not know what to do with myself. Steven had to motion for me to walk forward because I was so stunned that I froze. It was a surreal and super fun surprise!”
What is it like to balance classes, friendships and wedding planning?
“Balancing classes, friendships and wedding planning is definitely tricky. While my head is filled with all the normal college business from club events to academics, it’s also spinning with wedding checklists and ideas. Wedding planning can be an outlet for me to do something fun amongst schoolwork, but it can also be a source of stress piling up as well. I am so thankful for all these things, but it is a balancing act for sure.”
How has your faith influenced your relationship and engagement?
“Our faith has influenced our relationship and our engagement in many ways. Simply put, we trust God in every aspect. Knowing that He is in control takes so much pressure off us both. We know that what God brings together is strong, and our relationship has always felt orchestrated by God’s hand. We have always prayed that our relationship will bring glory to God, and we trust that He will do it according to His will. We are excited to be in this season of engagement as we prepare to be partners in service to the Lord from now to heaven.”
What are you most excited about in marriage?
“Pinning down what I am most excited for in marriage is hard to say. A good place to start is knowing that when I look back on my life in sixty years, I will get to see and be proud of a lifetime of memories with my best friend.”
Junior Brandi Buxton gives The Talon a look into how her relationship began with fiancé, sophomore Copeland Zajac.
How did you and your fiancé meet?
“We first met at church. I was really good friends with his cousin, and through LTC drama, we became friends. We became best friends in middle school and also liked each other, but we finally started dating on April 21, 2022, in my Junior year of highschool.”
How did the proposal happen, and what was going through your mind?
“He proposed on November 21, 2025. Leading up to it, I started to feel suspicious, so I asked him. I know! I’m not sure why I did it! We were playing spades with friends. It was Friday at 2a.m., so when I asked him if he was proposing tomorrow, he said no. I could tell he wasn’t lying, so I believed him. Well, it turns out, he was proposing Friday night! He did not lie, but I was right. Before dinner, he took me on a walk around Hafer park, which is something we always enjoy doing. I was having a pretty rough day, but he was making it better. I knew we were late, so I kept saying we needed to turn around, but he insisted there was a “shortcut” we started taking said shortcut, and I was honestly so scared it was super creepy. Then I noticed lights and was confused. He led me to them, and there were lanterns on the ground. That’s when I started putting pieces together and started nervously giggling. He stepped on a button, and Christmas lights turned on. It was beautiful. He pulled an ornament from the Christmas tree that had my ring in it, he said a few sweet words, and proposed. I was honestly in disbelief and was giggling the whole time. I, of course, said “yes!” I even said, “You lied,” because of what I asked him earlier. Some of his family and my sister were there. After his mom explained my ring, I cried and then pretty much cried the rest of the night. Afterwards, he took me to dinner with my family and his family. It was a perfect, sentimental, and thoughtful proposal. I felt very lucky and very happy.”
What’s it like to balance classes, friendships, and wedding planning?
“Honestly, I worked to get a lot of the big things done during winter break, so I didn’t have to do anything during the school year. We are getting married on December 21, so I still have plenty of time.”
How has your faith influenced your relationship and engagement?
“It has impacted us in so many ways. One example is that we know the importance of being able to be a couple, but also serve others. At church, we still want to notice people and go to talk to them, even if that means we don’t get to sit together. We have gotten to go on mission trips together, and I have been so blessed to see that side of him. Faith helps keep us accountable in all situations. Because of our faith, I think we love each other differently. We choose to forgive and be patient with each other. We also view marriage very seriously, so making the decision to be engaged was not taken lightly. His spirit is so joyful, patient, and loving. I think the reason I fell in love with him was his relationship with God. Faith has impacted us because without it, we wouldn’t even know each other.”
What are you most excited for in marriage?
“It’s probably cheesy to say, but everything. I am just so excited to come home to him and see him every day. I am excited to have the mornings together to do bible studies, the nights to hear about each other’s day, to take care of each other, and everything in between. Marriage is just so exciting because I literally get to live with my best friend and hang out with him all the time.”
Senior Mary-Natalie Young tells The Talon the story of how she and her fiancé, junior Kai Higgs, got engaged.
How did you and your fiancé meet?
“We met here at Oklahoma Christian through our clubs. I’m in Gamma and he is in Kappa. Last year around Valentine’s Day the clubs were doing something called “OC Cupids” where you could sign up to go on a blind date the weekend of Valentine’s Day with someone. One of my friends actually signed me up and when I got an email that I’d been paired up I wasn’t sure I wanted to go. I waited until the day or two before the date was supposed to happen to accept it. It ended up being the best decision I could have made. We went bowling on February 15th (of last year) and had dinner afterwards. We hit it off instantly. Probably the best part of the night was when we walked out of the bowling place, it had started snowing and it was just so beautiful, it felt like a scene right out of a movie.”
How did the proposal happen, and what was going through your mind?
“He proposed March 8th this year and while I was somewhat aware that it was going to happen in the Spring, I wasn’t sure when. My birthday is March 2, and that ended up being the Monday of Spring Sing show week so he told me that we would do a late birthday celebration the next week after Spring Sing was over. My parents and little sister were also in town for the show so it was going to be a late birthday family dinner. He picked me up for “dinner” and when we started going out towards Lake Hefner, I picked-up that it might be happening. We got to a spot and we started walking down a path that had bushes almost half my height so I couldn’t see much. We came out and next to the water was a blanket on the ground and some flowers. It was so beautiful. I remember thinking that it was just such a beautiful spot and oh my goodness it’s happening, haha. He brought me over to the blanket and got down on one knee and proposed! He had a photographer and my best friend, Calliope, hiding in the bushes so seeing them pop up was very funny. We then actually went to dinner and my parents, my little sister, and his parents were there!”
What is it like to balance classes, friendships and wedding planning?
“I would say it has not been too bad to balance planning and school because I haven’t done a whole lot yet. I’m graduating this semester so I’ve been trying to focus mostly on that with the plan of full on wedding planning after graduation. Our plan is to get married in May of next year. I feel like I have a good amount of time to plan after I graduate. We also talked through a lot of stuff before we got engaged so we already had an idea of what we wanted to do for the wedding before. Balancing friendships has been pretty easy as well, most of my close friends are already married so it’s been nice to bounce ideas and questions off of them.”
How has your faith influenced your relationship and engagement?
“We have always kept God at the center of our relationship. We have a good church family and both recognize the importance of having a Christ-centered relationship. Having a relationship with God is super important to the both of us, and we know that marriage is a blessing from God.”
What are you most excited for in marriage?
“I would say what I’m most excited for in marriage is being able to live life with my best friend and to share all of life’s experiences together. I thank God everyday that he brought Kai into my life. He is the biggest blessing, I love him so much and we are both so excited to start a life together.”
Be First to Comment