JACOB KONST/Arizona Daily Wildcat East Asian and Middle Eastern studies junior David Friedman and his fiancee, science education senior Vanessa Stedronsky, embrace at Old Main Fountain yesterday.

Colors of red, white and blue will adorn Old Main when UA devotees exchange their vows at the end of the month.

David Friedman, an East Asian and Middle Eastern studies junior, and Vanessa Stedronsky, a science education senior, will take the plunge May 21 in front of 250 guests.

Stedronsky said the wedding is entirely UA themed and will take place in front of the Old Main fountain.

"It's gonna be really fun," Stedronsky said. " Our colors are red, white and blue. Our bridesmaids are wearing blue tops and red bottoms, and all the guys are gonna be in red ties and vests."

The couple first met about a year and a half ago and began to like each other almost immediately, Stedronsky said.

"We work in a place called Communications Services for the Deaf, and we were both working there at the time, and we just kind of became friends," Stedronsky said.

Stedronsky said eventually the two started dating.

"We had our first big conversation in January (of 2004) and we became pretty good friends, (and) talked most of the summer," Stedronsky said. "At the end of August is when we first started dating."

Six weeks later, David proposed at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse, 6360 N. Campbell Ave.

"I got down on my knee and gave her a nice, big diamond ring," Friedman said.

According to the couple, Friedman took initiative soon after and began to call places and check for prices around town for their wedding.

Eventually, the idea of a church-held wedding was thrown out, Stedronsky said.

"We kind of looked at both of our churches, and they were both taken or they weren't being very receptive," Stedronsky said. "And so we started trying to come up with other ideas outside of a church."

Friedman, however, said he does not quite understand how the idea of a UA-themed wedding came about.

"That's a good question, because we don't know," David said smiling.

Getting married on campus initially started as a joke, Stedronsky said, but soon turned into a reality.

"We thought, 'Why don't we get married on campus?' so we found out there was a person who was in charge of renting out the Mall area," Stedronsky said. "So we talked to her and she said 'No problem,' and so we started looking into where we could have the reception and we found the place."

The reception will be held in the Grand Ballroom at the Student Union Memorial Center.

"They're setting it up completely with red, white and blue linens and napkins and we're having 'A' china," Stedronsky said. "So it's actually the china they provide that have little 'A' emblems on it."

Stedronsky said the cake will be UA themed as well.

"Our cake actually is going to be kind of like 'A' mountain!" Stedronsky said laughing. "We have three tiers and at the top, we are going to have the big 'A' on it."

Stedronsky and Friedman said having the wedding at the UA was a great idea, especially for guests.

"We wanted to find an inexpensive way to feed them, and the UA offered a lot. They were very nice and very helpful," Stedronsky said.

The couple said they think the close proximity of the reception will be an advantage.

"Everything is all together," Friedman said. "You don't have to drive to the reception and all that."

The couple heard that there have been previous receptions held at the student union, and directors are not selective about who they let rent the space.

"Pretty much anyone can rent it out if they have good reason to," Stedronsky said.

So far, Stedronsky and Friedman's friends and relatives have reacted positively about the idea of a UA-themed wedding.

"A lot of my friends really love it," Stedronsky said.

The couple has also already planned out their honeymoon.

"It's going to be in the dorm," Friedman joked.

Friedman said the honeymoon will actually take place throughout Europe in countries like Switzerland, Germany and Austria.

The couple also plans to have kids but not for another five years or so, Stedronsky said, but if they do, they must go to the UA.

"If they go to ASU, we will disown them," Friedman joked.