USC graduates return to campus to wed
Once upon a time in Preston Residential College lived Joseph Steward and Sara Sullivan.
They didn’t know it yet, but one day they would come back to the place where they first met to get married.
On Nov. 7, Stewart and Sullivan married at the Rutledge Chapel at USC in a garnet and black, Preston-themed wedding.
“We met in our freshman year of 2003, but we didn’t start dating until 2004. We have been together ever since,” Sullivan said.
According to the couple’s Web site, they got engaged on Dec. 23, 2008 while opening presents.
With so many options of places to get married, Steward and Sullivan chose USC as the backdrop to their special day.
“This is where we met. This place is home for us. I remember them trying to chase us out of the building for breaks because we didn’t want to leave,” Steward said. “It all sort of made sense.”
Keeping with the theme of the wedding, the couple also had Preston Emeritus Professor Hal French officiate the ceremony.
French says that Sullivan and Steward asked him about a year ago to marry them and he was very happy to do it.
“That had to be one of my favorite parts of the ceremony. We met Dr. French on move in day as he was helping students. We knew him very well,” Sullivan said. “I remember when they were here at Preston. I really liked them. I have performed many weddings, but the most interesting ones are the weddings of former students,” French said.
The ceremony was attended by some current Preston students as faculty. Christine Peters, the Preston business manager, attended the wedding along with Jim Stivers, Preston College Principal.
“It was so nice to see everyone,” Peters said. “It was like old times. It was a Preston family gathering.”
The couple also honored their Preston background with a special 3-D groom’s cake of Preston College.
“I saw the cake. It did look like Preston. They got the colors of the building right,” French said.
With the University holding a special place in the couple’s memories, Steward believes that attending USC was an exceptional experience.
“If I had the chance to go back to USC I would go back in a heartbeat. I would take advantage of my time there more,” Steward said.
Steward and Sullivan both live in Columbia. Steward works as the assistant food and beverage director at the Hilton Garden Inn and Sullivan is a claims adjuster at Nationwide Insurance.
Hopefully, they will both live happily ever after.
Thanks to dailygamecock.com.
