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Just like more than 2,100 alumni couples, graduating seniors Teddy and Haley (Schreiner) Berger found their happily ever after at ����Թ�. They just sealed the deal sooner than most.

The stars collided for Teddy, who is from Topeka, Indiana, and Haley, who from Bascom, Ohio, when they pursued their love for music and theatre as ����Թ� freshmen.

“We officially met in Brenneman my first day on campus,” Haley says, “but I barely have any memory of that. We really got to know each other through Greek life.” He is a member of Rho Eta Delta and she is a member of Delta Sigma Chi; both are members of each other’s corollaries.

“I thought she was cute, but we didn’t know each other,” says Teddy, who arrived a year earlier than Haley. “I liked her from a distance. Finally, we took a leap and jumped in.” At a Greek event, of course. A long talk two weeks before the end of the spring semester of Haley’s freshman year and Teddy’s sophomore year led to coffee dates at Bailiwicks, a local coffeehouse in downtown Tiffin. They had begun building their relationship from the ground up.

“We Skyped every day during that summer,” Haley recalls. “Obviously, it just worked for us.”

Fast forward nine months, and the couple once again found themselves at Bailiwicks, accompanied by mutual friend Kristina Kamm, who, as it turns out, was an accomplice with Teddy on a huge surprise. Haley heard Disney music playing –a curious choice for the coffee shop. She soon figured out why. She turned around to a video Teddy had compiled – Disney love songs set to the story of their relationship. It was Feb. 16, so Haley initially thought it was a belated Valentine’ Day gift. It was so much more.

“He came out and tapped me on the shoulder. I thought I was dreaming. He got down on one knee to the theme from ‘Tangled,’” Haley says. “I knew 100 percent that we’d get married one day, but I really didn’t think we’d get engaged until senior year.”

It turned out to be the best surprise ever. They married that summer in Haley’s hometown with about 400 guests in attendance. “Best day of our lives so far,” she says.

While it’s not unheard of for students to marry while in college, it’s far less common these days. But Haley and Teddy have made it work – with a few adjustments and compromises.

“It was different at first,” Teddy says. “People didn’t really know how to be around us, but they began to love it.” His wife adds, “Everyone is normal about it now. All of our friends have been super supportive.”

Because they have had to balance hectic college life with married life, the couple is perfectly happy to carve out a little time to themselves now and then. And their friends have perfectly understanding.

After graduation, they’ll have plenty of time to themselves, but not necessarily alone. They’re adopting a puppy and then moving to Nashville later this month to pursue theatre and music career opportunities.

“Everything we do is hectic,” Haley says, adding that they moved to a new place four days before their wedding. “So this is going to be no different.”

Teddy is looking forward to a career in arts management and Haley in theatre. Teddy has navigated through Asperger’s syndrome, so ultimately, they would like to open a non-profit summer camp for children with autism. It’s something both are passionate about.

So, while their friends will wait until they’re older to tie the knot, it’s worked for Teddy and Haley. “Really, it’s pushed us to be better people,” he says.

“Yeah, sometimes you just have to take that leap,” Haley adds.