Love was in the air on Valentine’s Day as the words “I do” were affectionately expressed towards one another at Ventura College.

No matter at what age, many VC students gathered together on the quad to participate in a 24-hour mock wedding, raising funds for clubs on campus.

As an event dating back from 1999, students celebrated last Monday and donated $5 towards the Extended Opportunities Programs & Services Student Association Club along with AGS Honor Society. The profits give EOPS members the opportunity of campus tours to universities like UCLA and UCSB to name a few.

 “We can tell students when they see an actual visual of a university they feel more wanted to go to a higher level of education,” said EOPS President Edgar Barton.

This cause helps students become more invested in their future and makes them focus on the paths they choose in life for their education and to whom and when they decide to get married.

For the money, students paid they receive a package deal of rings, a mock ceremony including certificates and a picture of their significant other. The option of upgrading was ideal, with candy ring pops and a bouquet of flowers for a little something extra.

Students who took part in the event had a good time and for those who were single this Valentine’s Day made this activity worthwhile with their friends. Two EOPS members Abeer Aldaoud and Khaeja Nafi got married and joined in on the fun

“We’re best friends so I thought why not?” said Aladoud and Nafi. “We get ring pops and flowers; it’s just for a good cause. I think it’s a great experience. Anybody can do it and we don’t have boyfriends so why not.”

Barton, being a part of the club for a couple semesters commented, “I’ve made a lot of new friends… everybody’s become friends in the club… it’s been a very good atmosphere.”

Brittany Remnet and her boyfriend of nine months Tim White, who attend VC, had a reason to partake in the mock wedding being that it was their anniversary.

“My mom was there and couple of our other friends was there and they were witnesses we all just had a great time, I was blushing the whole time because I was imagining he gave me a promise ring for Christmas so I was just imagining what it would actually be like to take that final step not that we’re ready to but in a few years when we’re done with our education and everything,” said Remnet.

VC students Cody Kupfur and Jennifer Bremit took this faux wedding to heart when they shared their reasons for participating in the activity.