title: Appropriate way to set default values for ViewModel in MVC4?
body: <p>I have a viewModel that contains the following:</p>
  
  <pre><code>public class CreateCardViewModel
      {
          [HiddenInput(DisplayValue = false)]
          public int SetId { get; set; }
  
          [Required]
          public IList&lt;Side&gt; Sides { get; set; }
  
          [Required]
          public int Stage { get; set; }
  
          [Required]
          [DataType(DataType.Date)]
          [HiddenInput(DisplayValue = false)]
          public DateTime DateCreated { get; set; }
  
          [Required]
          public bool IsReady { get; set; }
  
      }
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>The model is as follows: </p>
  
  <pre><code>public class Card
      {
  
          public virtual int CardId { get; set; }
  
          // belongs to a Set
          public virtual int SetId { get; set; }
          public virtual Set Set { get; set; }
  
          // has Sides
          public virtual IList&lt;Side&gt; Sides { get; set; }
  
          // is in a certain Stage
          public virtual int Stage { get; set; }
  
          // is ready to study
          public virtual bool IsReady { get; set; }
  
          public virtual DateTime DateCreated { get; set; }
  
      }
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>How can I set a default value for DateCreated?  </p>
  
  <p>Would the method change if I want to insert a blank Side into Sides upon Card creation?  </p>