To most University patrons, Wilson Gardens is a nice little area. Tucked right into the side of the famed Wilson Hall, the Gardens feature awe-inspiring architecture, and is home to a set of fountains that look spectacular on the rare occasions they are turned on. The Gardens can be seen as nice, but are often overlooked in the daily bustle.
But for Jacklyn “Jackie” Kouefati, a recent class of 2014 Monmouth graduate, and Sebastian Chiaramida, Wilson Gardens will forever hold a significant place in their relationship and in their hearts. On Friday, Oct. 17. Chiaramida surprised Kouefati with flower petals, a ring and an unforgettable proposal that she couldn’t help but say yes to.
The proposal wasn’t the start of Kouefati and Chiaramida’s happiness. The couple first met five years ago at a pizzeria where Chiaramida worked. “I happened to walk into [the restaurant] and that’s where he gave me his number. We dated briefly after that, but not too long. We even lost touch with one another and eventually went back to each other, but not for several years later. Even when we weren’t on speaking terms, we were always thinking about each other,” Kouefati recalled.
Though they endured a break from their relationship, Chiaramida said there was something special about Kouefati that he couldn’t ignore. “I knew since day one. When Jacklyn and I started dating officially, I fell more and more in love with her. With each day that passed and till this day when I think it’s impossible to love her more than I already do, I fall deeper. She is my partner, my lover, my best friend, my soul mate, everything I could ever want,” Chiaramida said.
Years later, after that initial meeting in that pizza parlor, Chiaramida was now on bent knee asking for Kouefati’s hand and heart. The proposal, however, was no small feat. According to Chiaramida, it took about two and a half weeks’ worth of planning, and much help from friends and family to pull off.
“I told my parents first about the engagement plans and also Jacklyn’s father. I asked her father’s permission for his daughter’s hand. That’s how I was raised and it is the right thing to do,” Chiramida expressed.
Once the families gave their blessings and were on board with the plan, Chiramida started figuring out the finer details of the engagement, such as choosing the right location. “The reason I decided to propose on campus is because I tried to think of a place that meant the world to Jacklyn. Monmouth was the first place that came to mind,” said Chiaramida. “Once I went to Wilson Hall, I noticed the gardens in the back of the building. The gardens had a beautiful walkway with amazing columns and my plan started coming together perfectly. Also knowing that Jacklyn goes down to The Outlook to help once in a while, it was a perfect opportunity for a great surprise.”
Since Kouefati was the editor-in-chief of The Outlook last year and has been involved at the school paper for about three years, Chiaramida enlisted the help of Kouefati’s fellow class of 2014 graduate, personal friend, and the 2013-14 Advertising Manager for The Outlook, Kelly Brockett, and Sandy Brown, The Outlook office coordinator. Together the team planned on how to pull off the proposal and get Kouefati on-campus without raising curiosity. “I asked them if they would help me set her up to think that she was going [to campus] to assist with The Outlook edits. They were amazing. Kelly took charge by sending emails to confirm availability of [Wilson Gardens]. She also assisted me in putting everything in place, along with Jacklyn’s cousin Christina Markar,” said Chiramida.
Due to the careful planning of Chiaramida and his team, Kouefati said that she suspected nothing of being asked to come back to campus. “I thought I was coming to help! Sandy told me that she was going to take me and Kelly to McCloone’s so I dressed pretty nice,” said Kouefati.
Once they met up, Brockett proceeded with step two of the plan and asked Kouefati to deliver something with her to someone on-campus. “[We] started to walk towards the Student Center when she said she thought the person she needed to see was in Wilson and wanted to cut through the Wilson Gardens. As we started to cut through, I looked to my left to see the stone walkway with the columns and saw a man with a video camera and an arrow made out of roses on the ground. I got scared because I didn’t realize it was for me! I thought I was ruining someone’s surprise so I walked away.”
Brockett was prepared for this though and steered Kouefati in the right direction, back towards the rose petals. “Kelly pushed me towards the man and the rose arrow and I looked down again to find a sign that read, “Follow the rose petals Bella.” That’s when I knew this surprise was for me. There were more arrows leading the way and along the columns were love notes. Some that had facts about our relationship and some that had poems that [Sebastian] actually wrote,” Kouefati said.
Tears began to flow as she realized what was happening. “…I got to the middle of this little hall, there was a heart made out of rose petals on the ground along with scattered rose petals and some candles. When I got to the middle, Sebastian stepped out and told me how much he loved me. I honestly couldn’t even focus on what he was saying because I was so overwhelmed with happiness. Then he got done on one knee and I cried some more and said yes!” she said.
While there was a waterfall of romantic bliss washing over the couple, Chiaramida was just thankful that he was able to surprise Kouefati with an engagement worth remembering. “I had so many thoughts running through my mind. For example, I hope the weather stays nice, will there be too much wind for the rose pedals… I [also] knew if Jacklyn was in sweats she would have been a little angry since I had a video guy their capturing the moment. So Sandy and Kelly told Jacklyn that they were going out to dinner after and Sandy was treating them since they came down to help. This was brilliant because Jacklyn wore a pretty dress which got me off the hook. I mean I can go all day with the thoughts that were going through my mind. But doubt was not one of them. I was just very excited and nervous. I just wanted it to go perfectly. To go exactly the way I planned.”
But that wasn’t the only romance in store for the couple. Just two days later, on Oct. 19, the couple celebrated their anniversary, but for the first time it was as more than boyfriend and girlfriend. “I love that he did it so close to our anniversary. We both really like October and since our anniversary is in that month it’s special to us, but now it’s even more special,” Kouefati expressed.
Now that Chiaramida’s specially selected princess cut diamond ring is on Kouefati’s finger, the couple has agreed to wait two years until they start contemplating a wedding and plan on moving in together soon, as well as planning an engagement party.
“To me, they are the definition of true love and have always displayed the utmost respect for one another. Their relationship gives me hope that there are still great relationships to come for the millennial generation despite the fact that this generation is best known for “the hook up culture,”” said Brockett, “All I can say about their future together is that they are truly meant to be and are soul mates and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for them.”
