How one couple went from onion rings to wedding rings

Growing up in East Texas, Spencer Wagley always loved Whataburger. But his wife Rebekah, who spent much of her childhood in Canada, took a bit longer to come around to it.

Spencer was best friends with Rebekah’s brother growing up. But he and Rebekah didn’t really get to know each other until they were in college at East Texas Baptist University, and found themselves in theater classes and productions together.

As they bonded over shared connections and creative interests, their friendship blossomed into romance.

“My favorite thing about Rebekah is her contagious personality,” Spencer said. “She makes people around her better.”

“Spencer always makes me laugh,” Rebekah said. “Even the most boring task is fun with him.”

A casual date turns to fate

On Sunday nights, the school cafeteria was closed — but their local Whataburger ran a promotion where they could get a free burger in exchange for canned food. So Whataburger became a frequent Sunday night date spot early in their relationship.

One night, Spencer cashed in his cans for a Whataburger and scrounged up enough money to get Rebekah her favorite, a chicken sandwich.

“I know that I love you,” he told her that night at Whataburger. “It's probably the smartest thing I've ever said in my life, besides I do.”

Although she didn’t say it back right then, she felt it too. A few months later, Spencer proposed on her birthday, and they were married less than a year later.

Thirty years of love and Whataburger

All these years later, they’re still in love and still enjoying Whataburger together. They say it’s been a constant in their lives, and their two kids are big fans now too.

Even when they lived in Kansas, which didn’t have one at the time, Rebekah’s family would stop in Oklahoma and put some Whataburger in a cooler to bring them.

“Every time I go into Whataburger, I think of Spencer and the time he told me he loved me,” Rebekah said. “As good as the chicken sandwich and tea are, they can’t compare to being married to Spencer for 30 years.”