We love a great Rollins College proposal story, don’t you? Reading all about their proposal story and all the plans it took for them to get to the proposal, we knew that we wanted to feature Zoe & JonMark’s Rollins College engagement story.
Share with us when and how you met each other.
We met each other at church! I had started volunteering and getting involved, and he was already super involved in the church and naturally we became friends. We were friends for about 2 years before we stared dating.
What are your favorite things to do together as a couple?
We love to play tennis and ping pong together, and really get outside on a nice date. We also love a good night out, dinner, movies, and popcorn. Winter Haven Plant Street has become one of our favorite date spots, they have a hot dog and ice cream shop that we adore.
How long were you together before getting engaged?
2 years
Did anyone help with the Rollins College Engagement?
JonMark’s family, and our friends who work in the creative department at the church did photography for us!
Share your marriage proposal story…
JonMark bought my ring the summer before he proposed, so he held onto it for about a year. Everybody was acting strange and being super nice so I was a little suspicious but not enough to actually think this was it. He told me that we were going to a family dinner with both of our families in winter park which wasn’t a huge red flag for me because his dad had brought up wanting to go to dinner with all of us for a while. Winter Park was actually planned C.
He wanted to take me to the apple barn in Tennessee for plan A but couldn’t pull it off logistically getting all my family and me up there randomly in March without being suspicious. Then he was going to do it at the Alfond inn but when he went to scout out the spot they informed him that there was a wedding that day so he couldn’t use the area he had planned. So his plan C was Rollins.
Then the day of, the weather was supposed to be torrential rainfall, and in the morning it was really bad. I got my hair done in the morning at my best friend’s mom’s salon, Trendy Salon, because I was hosting online church that Sunday, and I was so upset because humidity usually ruins my hair really fast being naturally curly. JonMark was freaking out too because his plan C was outside, so he created a plan D at Casa Feliz if it was a light drizzle by the time he was getting ready to propose, and plan E was the art museum in Winter Park inside.
Luckily by that time a miracle occurred, the sky had completely cleared, there wasn’t a single cloud and VERY low humidity, my hair stayed pin straight to my complete surprise and JM got to run with plan C. He drove me to dinner but made a turn into Rollins instead of Park Ave, which had me super suspicious that something was up at that time. As we walked up to the spot at Rollins where he wanted to propose, a huge wedding had just got out of the chapel, so there were people everywhere, the spot that he planned was compromised and he was visibly panicked, he kept repeating sentences, checking his phone and pacing.
Finally, the spot opened up and he walked me over and got down on one knee! After he proposed the photographers and the whole family popped out and celebrated with us, then we all went to a Thai restaurant called Orchid. After dinner, we stopped by my Grandma’s house, who lives in Winter Park to show her, and then he convinced me to go back to his house for a little bit. As we pulled up I heard some shushed talking, and as we got out of the car loud cheering, our closest friends and family were there to celebrate with us and we had a surprise engagement party with pinatas, a photo booth, dancing, and a toast. It was definitely a night to remember!
What was the best moment of the proposal?
Definitely the surprise engagement party afterwards it was perfect.
Who did you tell that you were engaged first?
I face-timed my maid of honor, Sophie, friend Reilly who lives in Australia now, and in person visited my grandma!
Tell us about the ring!
The ring is from a Jared store in Tennessee, it’s a multi stone diamond ring with three larger stones in the middle and smaller stones around it.
How fast it goes! I can’t believe it’s been 8 months already!
The honeymoon planning!
What are you most excited about wedding planning?
The most exciting part so far has been picking the perfect songs and music for each aspect of the wedding, ceremony, and reception
If you’ve already decided, when are you getting married and what is your venue?
We’re getting married December 4, 2022 at the Bella Cosa Lakeside.
Why did you choose that historic wedding venue?
It’s stunning and just what we were looking for, a big estate looking venue, I like that it’s old and has natural ceilings, and a lot of character.
150
Pretend like it’s just not there… jk! Deciding what was the most important to us and investing into those areas.
Clean, simple, and super fun! The venue is most of the decor itself which is why we chose it! I want a beautiful ceremony with lots of baby’s breath flowers and a fun afterparty!
Have you selected any other vendors for your wedding?
Wedding Photographer: Kim Go Photography
Wedding Makeup: Devyn Gregorio
Wedding Hair: Trendy Salon Oviedo
Wedding DJ: Weddings by Crown
Have fun with it! If it starts to become to overwhelming or a chore you might as well elope. I made a promise to myself that no matter how stressful it all gets (and it will) I was going to enjoy it every step of the way and not let budget, or other people’s negative advice mess with me! Enjoy it, it goes fast!
Congratulations Zoe & JonMark on your Rollins College Engagement!
Want to feature your proposal? CLICK HERE to submit your story!
