'Engaged & Underage' in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — MTV filmed a segment in Moses Lake Sunday, but there weren't any production crews or celebrities, not even a director's chair.

It was three people walking from a parked Honda into Safeway, one moving backwards with a video camera in his hands.

The young couple, Sara Davis, 18, and Jeremy Gunderson, 19, both from Ephrata and now living in Moses Lake, walk into the store, order flowers from Safeway's floral clerk Alfreda Melton for their wedding and leave the store holding hands. The television camera stops. That's it. They have finished the first piece of their segment on MTV's "Engaged & Underage."

The show is a weekly series following couples, ages 18 to 22, as they prepare to get married, according to MTV's Web site.

"(The show is about) drama, tension, and comedy that go hand-in-hand with a stressful, life-changing event. While hearing all sorts of static from the folks around them," states MTV.

Davis and Gunderson are getting married and are the focus of a future episode, show producer Jerry Henry said. The show airs on Monday nights at 9:30 p.m. on MTV.

The couple admits to being a bit young to consider marriage, Davis is still a senior in Ephrata High School, but they are happy and determined to move ahead with their life. The couple met in high school while Gunderson was wrestling and Davis sold concessions. Gunderson said they have been engaged for a year.

They are planning to wed on May 26 in Ephrata. Gunderson, an Ephrata Wal-Mart employee, said they plan to finish their education, move to Arizona, secure good jobs, and then think about having children. Davis said she is already enrolled in Char-Glow School of Beauty in Moses Lake.

Despite their plans and love for one another, there is resistance from family and some friends. Davis said her family opposes the marriage, while Gunderson said his supports it.

"Even if we're older, it still may not last," Gunderson said.

"Everything happens for a reason," Davis added.

Even some of the couple's friends are split on the couple's decision.

"They've had disagreements. They think we're too young," said Davis.

The age controversy is what drew MTV to Davis and Gunderson. It is the type of conflict the show documents.

Henry said shooting the couple ordering the wedding flowers at the Moses Lake Safeway was the first part of the episode production. He followed them for a day, and flew off to film another couple. The show's producer said he plans to return in three weeks to do more work.

"This will be for the second season, which starts in June," he said.