Most people go to Swem Library to find something – a book, a place to study, a rare collection. Evan De Buglio ‘23 and Meredith Salesses ‘22 found love.

In December 2024, De Buglio proposed to Salesses in Swem, the place where the couple sparked their relationship as undergraduates. The two crossed paths a few times before in a dining hall, but it was that one night in Swem, taking a break from studying, when the two spoke from 6 p.m. until 3 a.m.

“I literally never stay up that late most nights,” Salesses said. “But that night I did for whatever reason.”

From there, the two began talking on and off for a year. The relationship came to a head in March 2020, when the two decided to start seeing each other casually. But two days into the relationship, De Buglio faced an emergency.

The two actually bumped into each other at Walmart late that night as De Buglio was preparing some food for a late-night barbecue. Later that evening, in an attempt to be helpful, De Buglio’s roommates turned on the gas smoker for him but never lit it. De Buglio didn’t light the flame until the gas had been accumulating for about 10 minutes.

“It basically blew up in my face,” he said.

With his roommates gone for the night and nobody there to help, he had only one person he felt he could turn to: Salesses.

“She saved me that night and brought me to the ER and everything,” he said. “It’s funny, too, because at that point we weren’t necessarily dating, but the doctors came into the room and they’re like, ‘Who is this with you here?’ and I was like, ‘It’s my … girlfriend?’”

And as Salesses put it, the rest is history.

Fast forward to late 2024, De Buglio – who now lives in Olney, Maryland, with Salesses – felt like it was finally the right time to propose. Planning a trip to Williamsburg for late December, De Buglio chose Swem Library for its sentimentality and for the couple’s deep love for William & Mary’s campus. 

Quickly though, he realized that he and Salesses would be showing up was a Saturday, and the library would be closed for winter break. De Buglio quickly jumped into action, reaching out to anyone on campus who might help him make the proposal possible.

Tony Orband, associate director of grounds & gardens, was the one to answer the call. Coordinating with Dean of Libraries Carrie Cooper and her staff, Orband brought the couple through the library after hours by way of the loading dock.

“I was just the one who said, ‘Yeah, I can help you out,’” Orband said. “It was fun.”

The proposal went off without a hitch. Walking across campus, De Buglio made up an excuse about needing to use the bathroom and suggested the two drop by Swem since it was nearby. De Buglio knew Salesses had her suspicions.

“I definitely had a feeling,” Salesses said. “Especially going through the back door. I was like, ‘I mean, I like Swem, but I don’t really need to go to Swem, today.’ … Also, we both got really dressed up.”

Even with her suspicions, Sallesses said she was elated at the special proposal.

“I cried, obviously,” she said.

As the couple begins to plan for their wedding, they’re both thankful that William & Mary could be part of it in some form.

“I think it was still so special to us that we were able to make it happen there,” De Buglio said. “We’ve made so many memories around campus. We love William & Mary, and we love Williamsburg.”

For more William & Mary love stories, visit the William & Mary Alumni Magazine website.