Adrian & Jenny’s Wedding

“About Time!”

This was the common phrase uttered by family and friends alike on ALL sides upon hearing the great news of our engagement.  I mean, we’ve been together for 3.5 years and all, but come on, can’t a couple do things their own way without being razzed by loved ones?  Haha, I’m kidding.  Not like the phrase didn’t go through my own mind a few times

So the story goes as such:

April 5, 2008 (a B-E-A-U-TIFUL sunny, warm day):  A rare occasion to not have Kai on a Saturday & Sunday and though I had a lovely wedding to photograph, I was to be home by 4:30pm (unusual for two reasons:  I hardly ever know WHEN I’ll be home and rarely do I come home so early).  I come through the door and the man was dressed to the 9s in my faaavorite of his shirts (beautiful green color button-down) and black dress pants and said “Get ready, we have reservations in Indy at 7.”  What?!  OK!  Where?  COOL!  He wouldn’t tell me anything else, but that’s Adrian.  The man LOVES thinking up romantic surprises (yes, I’m lucky).  So I get some stuff together (apparently, we’re staying the night) and bring along my favorite dress (apparently it’s a “fancy” reservation).  We drop the dogs off at the clinic and are on our way.

We arrive at the Hyatt Regency in Indianapolis and check into the most beautiful hotel rooms I’ve ever seen (yes, this is a picture of our EXACT room!  Photo courtesy of indianapolis.hyatt.com):

…with HUUUGE windows overlooking the Capitol.  Just impressive as all hell.

The man has outdone himself again, but I really have no time to gawk at the view, as I must get ready for our reservation (I’m nervously excited the whole time and realize I must be hungry, although I can’t feel it for the nerves).

And so we go to the elevators and I realize we’re going UP.  Oh, cool, there’s a restaurant UPstairs…. Those of you who know Indy better than me must realize now where we ended up, but I’d had NO CLUE.

The Eagle’s Nest is where the elevator dropped us.  SUPER WAY COOL revolving restaurant that overlooks Indianapolis.  My eyes about popped out of my head!  I didn’t even know Indy HAD a revolving restaurant and we had reservations here!  We were escorted to our table at 7pm, enjoyed some white wine, a deeeelicious pasta dish and one heck of an amazing desert that had something to do with chocolate and hazelnuts (mmmm hazelnuts).  We were there at a perfect time, too, because we got to see the skyline while the sun was up and while it set as we revolved back around at exactly the right time!  Then of course, the nighttime view which was amazing.  We were there for two hours and had a truly wondrous time.  I never wanted to leave, but Mr. Grise said he had plans for us next and I couldn’t wait to see what it was.

A change of clothes later, we wound up at Comedy Sportz, a superfreakinghilarious improv comedy troupe bar and laughed until we were hoarse.  I do highly recommend visiting this place by the way.  You WILL laugh.  These people are hilarious and so talented!

After this, Adrian drove us out to White River State Park.  I know I had been here before during the day, mostly because Adrian told me (I don’t really recall), but during the night, the place is breathtaking.  If you are familiar with WRSP, there is a gooorgeous pedestrian bridge (Old Washington Street Bridge),

…and here we walked, arm in arm, talking, taking in the view, and admiring the various sculptures along the way (LOVED the giant chinese takeout box).  Adrian was kinda quiet, kinda nervous (so NOT like Adrian) and I didn’t really get it.  He was concerned with there being other people (like ONE biker, two joggers) and kept walking back and forth around the center of the bridge.  The man wouldn’t follow me as I tried to keep going, and I was somewhat annoyed!  Finally, around midnight, there were no people, and he brought me up to stand on this concrete bench type thing.

He faced me, arms around me, and mentioned how these last four years that we’ve known each other have been the happiest in his life.  He said he and Kai love me very much (he gets down on his knee, my hand goes over my mouth) and nothing would make him happier than if I were to be his wife (yes I’m crying now). His next words “I don’t have a ring…yet…but…will you marry me?” reduced me to tears as I look at him and exclaim “Of course!  Of course!  Yes, yes yes!!” and proceed to bawl my eyes out for the next 20 or so minutes on the remainder of our walk.

I ask over and over if he’s serious, if this is real, and Adrian exclaims, “I got down on one knee, didn’t I?!” HAHAHA!  I love him!

April 6, 2008: The best breakfast in the world at Le Peep in Indy.  The thing is called a “Beachcomber” and it’s a skillet with roasted potatoes, tomatoes, avocado topped with two basted eggs.  Holy…….. well, you get the idea.  We call our families to tell them the news and are greeted with “Congratulations!”, tears, squeals, and, mostly “HAHA!  ABOUT TIME!”  Poor Adrian.

We spend the day strolling the grounds of the IMA (Indianapolis Museum of Art) which are just beyond gorgeous…

…and later around Broad Ripple.  We try to take a photo of us in front of the “LOVE” sculpture at the IMA and end up with something rather humorous (I’ll post later).  Adrian proceeds to call me “FW” (Future Wife) and we talk about wedding dates (none set yet, we just know it will be 2009).  Later, we meet up with a dear friend of ours (HI CRAIG!) at the Brewpub and tell him the news, and after visiting his new townhouse, we head back, tired and happy as all get-out, home to Bloomington.

And THAT’S the story of Jenny & Adrian’s Engagement!