Marriage is becoming less common among college-aged adults, with 5% of men and 8% of women between the ages of 18 and 24 currently married. But some NC State students say their commitment provides stability and purpose as they balance their studies, relationships and wedding plans. Jaelyn Comellas, a third-year studying biological sciences, and her fiancé Trevor McNeil, a firefighter for the Durham Fire Department, plan to soon be part of this small group.
Comellas and McNeil met in sixth grade, were acquaintances for a while and started dating shortly before they graduated high school. They have been together for three years and have been engaged since early December of 2024.
McNeil said they were assigned as partners in English class for a “Romeo and Juliet” project in their freshman year of high school.
“Jaelyn, being the great student she is, took the project very seriously, and I did not,” McNeil said. “I don’t think I read the book whatsoever, and we had to make a presentation afterwards. And since I didn’t do any work on the project whatsoever, Jaelyn decided to sabotage my slides [of the ‘Romeo and Juliet’ presentation],” McNeil said.
Comellas and McNeil plan to get married in May. They were intentional about dating from the very beginning, knowing it could lead to marriage.
Comellas said she and her fiancé are both Christians and religion played a role in their decision to date with the intention of marriage.
“I didn’t want to waste my emotional energy on somebody who I didn’t think would be a strong contender for marriage,” Comellas said.
McNeil said he wanted a partner he could confide in, rely on and support.
“I didn’t want to be caught up in the whole hookup culture,” McNeil said. He turned to Comellas and said, “I’m really glad that you’re part of my life.”
Comellas transferred to NC State in 2024 and said being in a serious relationship helped her feel less pressure to fit in or find her group in college right away.
“I don’t feel like I’m searching for validation as much as I am for community, which makes it a whole lot easier,” Comellas said.
While Comellas and McNeil have been together since high school, other students found their future fiancee’s while in college.
Aaron Miller, a fourth-year studying business administration, met his fiancée Annlee in the summer of 2023. They started dating right before Miller went to study abroad and got engaged in September of 2024.
Miller’s fiancée goes to Liberty University in Virginia, so the two have a long-distance relationship. Miller said their shared Christian faith and their trust in each other is crucial to their relationship and engagement. They both value family and respect and have similar plans for the future.
“We’re getting married because we’re aligned and have the same goals and aspirations in life, and we love doing life together,” Miller said. “So why would I push that off any further than I have to?”
Miller said getting engaged made the relationship more committed and mature. One example, he said, is that he has to decide which job to take after his graduation in May.
“This is the first decision of my life that doesn’t just affect me,” Miller said.
Miller said his student experience hasn’t changed much after getting engaged.
“It didn’t really change, because we kept doing the same things that we were doing when we were dating,” Miller said.
The couple’s wedding is scheduled for January of 2026.
One of the places where former NC State students can get married is the NC State University Club — a country club that NC State faculty, staff and alumni can join and that also rents out some of its facilities to anyone for events like weddings. Cassie Parks, the banquet and catering manager at NC State University Club said a lot of people who celebrate their weddings at NC State University Club have a connection to the University.
