Proposal via satellite, honeymoon in person

Couple who got engaged live on CNN honeymoon in New York

Tim and Jenny Fouts

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NEW YORK (CNN) -- On Christmas Morning 2001, Marine Cpl. Tim Fouts was deployed in Kandahar, Afghanistan. His girlfriend Jenny Hayman was in the Columbus, Ohio, studios of WBNS-TV for a chance to talk to Tim via satellite. The conversation was more than Jenny counted on. Tim asked her to marry him, and she accepted, both on live TV. Tim's unit returned to the United States on April 18, and the couple was married last weekend. They are spending their honeymoon in New York City and from there they spoke to CNN's Bill Hemmer Monday.

HEMMER: Look at you now, huh? Wow, congratulations.

JENNY FOUTS: Thank you.

TIM FOUTS: Thank you.

HEMMER: You know, I remember when this guy came up to me at that air base, and said, hey, I have got this idea, Bill. Here's what I'm thinking about doing tomorrow. What do you think? Can we work it out?

When did you come up with that idea, Tim?

TIM FOUTS: Early that day I just thought about it, because I've been wanting to do it, and I couldn't think of a way to do it and then have everything ready as soon as I got back.

HEMMER: You thought about proposing earlier that day.

TIM FOUTS: Yes, I had thought about proposing anyway, and I was planning on doing as soon as I got back off deployment. But I was in person, I knew I would want to have the ring with me, and I knew there was no way I was going to have a ring ready that quick And if I do it from far enough away, I don't have to have a ring right away.

HEMMER: Did you have a hunch?

JENNY FOUTS: I didn't know he was going to do that.

HEMMER: You had no idea?

JENNY FOUTS: The thought didn't cross my mind. I thought that's a little too crazy, even for him. Surprised me anyway.

HEMMER: So you come to New York City for your honeymoon. But what a lot of people don't realize is that a whole lot of people saw the TV segment and decided to pitch in and help. Who did you get help from, Tim?

TIM FOUTS: Well, Jenny got a free dress. I don't know all the companies that were helping her out, but she got a dress.

HEMMER: Jenny probably knows that.

Tim Fouts proposed live on CNN.

JENNY FOUTS: Joyce Goodman donated a beautiful wedding dress, so you know, I want to thank them for that. And the John Barrett Salon took care of my hair and ...

HEMMER: They flew to Ohio, didn't they?

JENNY FOUTS: Yes, John Barrett and his assistant, Natalie, came to Ohio and did the hair, and then the Saint Regis Hotel, they provided the honeymoon for us, so that's where we are staying right now.

HEMMER: Why did you think they had such action to that, Tim? Was it the fact that you were a Marine serving overseas? What tore at the heart strings for so many?

TIM FOUTS: I don't know. I felt I will do this, and it will impress her, but I didn't think it would impress anyone else.

HEMMER: Were you impressed?

JENNY FOUTS: I was very impressed.

HEMMER: Tim, you miss the MREs at all.

TIM FOUTS: No, not at all.

HEMMER: You do not?

TIM FOUTS: No, not at all.

HEMMER: That chicken cavatelli is to die for.

TIM FOUTS: I'd rather have a peanut butter sandwich.

HEMMER: You know, Jenny, the thing that I remember that day that he proposed, we had a wicked delay, four-second delay on the satellite, and there was probably a little bit of apprehension there just for a moment. Do you remember that?

JENNY FOUTS: Yes.

HEMMER: Did you take much grief from your fellow Marines, Tim?

TIM FOUTS: Yes, every day they'll say something about it, because in the interview in Afghanistan, my mouth was all dry, I was so nervous, and then if you watch the video, I'm licking my teeth and licking my whole mouth trying to get something going around because I couldn't move my lips. So every day they are giving me a hard time.

HEMMER: All right, quickly here, I know you were in Afghanistan because the events that took place in this city at the World Trade Center. Have you been down to lower Manhattan yet?

The Fouts' wedding was last weekend.

TIM FOUTS: No, I'm hoping we get a chance to make down that way today.

HEMMER: I advise it if you get a chance. It's really something to behold, and especially on a day like today with Memorial Day. How does this strike you with Memorial Day today?

TIM FOUTS: Well, just as soon as I got back, everything struck me pretty hard, because I didn't see the newborn patriotism, because I left right after everything happened, and it all struck me pretty hard as soon as I got back. On a day like today I guess everything is coming back, kind of hit me this morning. I was thinking to myself. So I'm sure if I get down there, it will get even worse.

HEMMER: It is worth a trip.

Plans for future, or what now?

JENNY FOUTS: We will be living in North Carolina just for the remaining weeks that he's still in the military and then ...

HEMMER: Leave the Marines in August, right?

TIM FOUTS: Yes.

HEMMER: And then you are going to move to?

JENNY FOUTS: Georgia.

HEMMER: Got it.

Good luck.

JENNY FOUTS: Thank you.