From campus, with love: Eagle couples make FGCU part of their wedding and marriage

6 - minute read

You’ve heard the wedding adage: “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.” But for Florida Gulf Coast University students and alumni planning a wedding, it’s more like “something Green and Blue.” 

 

Mackenzie Barrett and Joe Nedved

 

Mackenzie Barrett (’24, psychology and philosophy) and Joe Nedved (’23, economics) plan to leave Southwest Florida for graduate school after their June 15 wedding. They met in 2022 through United Campus Ministries, a group representing multiple religious student organizations at FGCU.

 

Their dating life included conversations about long-term goals. “We had really fantastic discussions of what we wanted our futures to look like,” Nedved said. They wanted the same things: family, community involvement, travel and furthering their education. Their mutual attraction blossomed into a committed relationship that was interrupted by international mission trips on different continents: five weeks for Barrett and three months for Nedved. Despite dueling time zones, they kept in regular contact through WhatsApp calls and voice messages.

 

“Our communication skills got really good really quick,” Nedved said. When they reunited, they knew it was the real deal. Nedved proposed in October 2023.

 

With their wedding date fast approaching, Barrett and Nedved had questions on how to incorporate their alma mater into their big day and stay connected with FGCU after graduation. FGCU360 posed their questions to two other Eagle couples: Deidre and Dominick DeSarno and Beth and Tariq Humes.

A man in a blue polo shirt and a woman in a short white dress stand outdoors. Her left hand rests on his chest and her engagement ring is in view.
Recent graduates Joe Nedved and Mackenzie Barrett met at FGCU in 2022 and will be married June 15.
A woman in a short white dress and a man in a blue polo shirt stand on a balcony, facing away as if looking toward their future.
“We had really fantastic discussions of what we wanted our futures to look like,” Joe Nedved said.
A woman in a short white dress and a man in a blue polo shirt hold hands and look at each other as they walk along a wooden boardwalk
The couple had questions on how to incorporate FGCU into their wedding day and stay connected after graduation.
A woman in a green top and jeans stands with a man in a blue top and jeans, facing away from the camera. He's pointing to a green-roofed building lined with palm trees.
Double alums Deidre and Dominick DeSarno were neighbors in North Lake Village’s Building G. "He just gave me the feeling of coming home,” she said.
Two adults and two children dressed in FGCU green and blue stand in the FGCU Food Forest
The DeSarno family visited the FGCU Food Forest, where Deidre volunteered as an undergrad.

Deidre and Dominick DeSarno

 

Deidre DeSarno (née Cassella) is a former resident assistant and resident director in FGCU’s North Lake Village housing complex. As an undergrad, she met Dominick DeSarno III (’09, accounting; ’10, master’s in accounting and taxation) when they were neighbors in North Lake Village’s Building G.

 

“We had lots of late-night chats, and he just gave me the feeling of coming home,” said Deidre DeSarno (’09, English and psychology; ’11, master’s in public administration).

 

Married since 2011, they live in Fort Myers with their two daughters and own DeSarno CPA, an accounting firm. Their wedding party included former Eagle roommates. Of their 60 guests, the couple said at least half were FGCU students, alumni or staff.

 

The DeSarnos, who are Barrett’s aunt and uncle, offered their niece and her fiancé some advice on staying connected to FGCU. After the wedding, Barrett and Nedved plan to move to West Virginia to continue their education.

 

“Whenever you do make it back to the area, make sure to walk the campus and see all of the sites, both familiar and new,” Deidre DeSarno said.

 

Nedved posed a question for his future aunt and uncle, inspired by his Colloquium class: “Knowing FGCU’s strong-held beliefs in community engagement and sustainability, how have you incorporated that into marriage and parenthood?”

 

“We love going on nature walks with our daughters and teaching them to ‘reduce, reuse, recycle.’ They are adorably offended by any litter they see as a result,” DeSarno said.

 

She also takes her children to walk through the FGCU Food Forest, where she volunteered as an undergrad. 

 

“I tell the girls how amazed I am by its growth since I helped plant the jackfruit tree on the very first day of the project.”

Two adults and two children dressed in FGCU green and blue sit on a sandy beach in front of residential housing and palm trees
The DeSarno family on the beach in North Lake Village, where Deidre and Dominick first met.

Beth and Tariq Humes

 

Beth Humes (née Miller) (’12, community health) and Tariq “TQ” Humes (’10, communication) worked together as intramurals staff for FGCU’s Campus Recreation before the department became University Recreation & Wellness. They were part of a team of student workers who hosted intramural sports and video game tournaments. After seeing how strongly she played on an opposing flag football team, TQ Humes created a Campus Recreation staff team just to ensure they were always playing on the same side.

 

Their 2015 wedding saw more than 40 Eagles as guests, including many of TQ’s Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity brothers. FGCU alumni made up 85% of the wedding party. FGCU colors figured prominently in their special day: her bouquet and his boutonnière featured white roses with blue orchids and green leaves; the bridesmaid gowns were FGCU blue; and Beth had an Etsy vendor custom make her FGCU-themed garter belt. 

A bride in a white dress and a groom in a beige suit with white tie smile for the photographer in the back of a car on their wedding day
Beth and TQ Humes' wedding floral arrangements featured white roses with FGCU colors represented by blue orchids and green leaves. Photo provided.

Like the DeSarno family, the Humes haven’t strayed far from the Nest. Both work in Fort Myers: He is the middle school athletic director at Canterbury School, and she is a customer success manager for Yubico. They live in Cape Coral, and FGCU alumni are godparents to their two children.

 

How have they incorporated being alumni into their marriage and family? Bride-to-be Barrett wanted to know.

 

“We’re part of the Alumni Association,” Beth Humes said. “We love Homecoming weekend and the Strikes for Scholarships fundraiser. That is such a fun family event, so we’ve brought our daughter twice.”

 

The couple still enjoys visiting campus with their children and pointing out new buildings, she said. 

A woman in a blue shirt and a man in a white t-shirt that reads "Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles"
After seeing how strongly Beth played on an opposing flag football team as undergrads, TQ Humes created a Campus Recreation staff team just to ensure they were always playing on the same side.
A family of four wears FGCU colors in a fitness center with workout equipment along the mirrored right wall
The Humes' family visited the new University Recreation & Wellness Center. TQ and Beth Humes worked together as intramurals staff for FGCU’s Campus Recreation before the department became URW.

The Humes also wanted to share advice with Barrett and Nedved for their upcoming move to West Virginia. The Humes lived in North Carolina during the 2013 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament when FGCU upset Georgetown University and earned the nickname “Dunk City.” The March Madness games turned out to be the biggest sports moment in FGCU’s history when the Eagles became the first No. 15 seed to advance to the Sweet 16. The Humes watched the game at a local restaurant.

 

“People came up and wanted to take pictures with us because we were wearing FGCU gear,” TQ Humes said. He suggests Barrett and Nedved stock up on FGCU T-shirts and hats before leaving Southwest Florida.

 

• Learn more about the FGCU Alumni Association

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