In order to maintain the essence of Heart of the Matter, the students who share their hearts with us will remain anonymous.
Do 70% of Villanovans really marry Villanovans? Some Villanovans have learned a lot about life and love from weddings, but do they believe their own future partner is here on campus?
Weddings are an incredibly unique moment in life, bringing together family and friends to celebrate love. One Villanovan has recently been in both her older sisters’ wedding parties, seeing firsthand the labor of love that goes into executing a successful wedding.
“Being able to celebrate the two people closest to me was something I won’t ever forget,” the student said. “As a bridesmaid for one and a maid of honor for another sister, my main priority was keeping the bride calm, which is actually kind of hard.”
On both occasions, this Villanovan said the love from family and friends was palpable on her sisters’ special days.
“With both weddings I think the most special part was my whole family being there to celebrate,” she said. “It’s really amazing to have all the people you love in one room celebrating you, and you could feel the love in the room both times.”
Here at Villanova, there is constant talk of the around-three-quarters of students who allegedly find their future spouses here. This is a catchy campus fun fact for tours, but in reality some students are doubtful.
“I honestly don’t think I will find my husband at Villanova,” one student said. “I think academics and other involvements have kept me busy enough and I am content with that. I have found all my best friends and that’s really all that matters for now.”
Though it can seem bleak, some Villanovans are more hopeful they will find their “person” while on Lancaster Ave.
“This might be delusional, but I am holding out hope that I will find my future spouse at Villanova,” another student said. “The family that I babysit for at home both met at Villanova and got married at the Villanova church, so they’ve kind of been my example because I’m around them all the time and I’ve seen their success story. So I’m hoping that happens for me, too.”
Alumni Courtney Morrissette, class of 2017, and Patrick Ralph, class of 2016, are a proud part of the 70%. The two were set up for a sorority formal by a mutual friend, leading to a first date at Cafe Nova, and eventually, their wedding in August.
“My cocktail was coming up, and I needed a date and I just wanted to go and have fun with someone with no expectations,” Morrissette said. “Just someone that would be a good time to hang out with. My friend was like ‘you should totally go with my friend Pat.’”
Though involved in many of the same organizations and clubs on campus, including Orientation and Special Olympics, Morrissette and Ralph had somehow never met.
“Before we actually went to the sorority event, I was, like, ‘hey, we should probably hang out beforehand,'” Ralph said. “‘I don’t want to just go into the event not knowing you, I want to spend time with you and get to know you a bit.’ So we sat outside and had lunch at Cafe Nova, and little did we know, that was the beginning.”
At their wedding this summer, the couple was surrounded by many of their Villanova friends, including two of Morrisette’s bridesmaids. One was their matchmaker, Aida. Ralph also had two Villanova groomsmen along with his best man, whom he met while rooming in Delurey Hall freshman year.
“It’s fun because we were in different years and different friend groups during college, so we had people from different phases of life and different groups from Villanova all at our wedding, like people from my sorority, my best friend who introduced us, all of Pat’s roommates and best friends who now are my best friends, too,” Morrissette said. “It’s just fun to have all those people together and be kind of a testament to our relationship.”
Newly married, the couple is grateful for all the connections that led to the relationship, but most of all, the fact that they were brought together at Villanova.
“We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the friends who brought us together, but also if it wasn’t for Villanova,” Ralph said. “There were so many things that had to happen. It’s just a credit to the ways at Villanova that you can get involved and meet people and get to know people. Because you never know, maybe you’re going to meet your significant other or maybe you’re going to meet your husband or your wife or maybe you’ll meet your best friend. I can say that I met not only my best friend, but I met my wife.”
So, though it may seem discouraging at times, there is hope yet for Villanovans on the search for their forever partner. Seventy percent is surely an exaggeration, but love on Lancaster can strike when you least expect it.
