Filed under: getting engaged, the ring | Tags: aquamarine ring, engagement ring
Remember how, when Adrian proposed (almost a year ago!), he said “I don’t have a ring….YET…”
Well two days ago, he did “have a ring”. Now I “have a ring”. Not just a ring, but the MOST PERFECT RING EVER!! Well, to me anyway! It’s exactly everything I always wanted deep down inside; a big, bright, beautiful aquamarine (his birthstone and the color of his eyes) , and a delicate, antique-looking silver band.
I find myself swooning every time I look down at my left hand. I’ve heard this from other brides, but boy, after you get something pretty like this on your finger, the desire to constantly manicure yourself comes full-force!
I have the BEST man in the world. SO sweet & thoughtful.
Oh, the story? You want to know how it all “went down”, eh? Well, here goes…
I had booked us a surprise mini-getaway at Hotel Indigo in Columbus, Indiana.
This. Hotel. Rocks.
Seriously. Just check out the pics:
Exterior
Lobby
One of the best parts: The Hotel Dog!! He’s the most adorable Bichon Frise and his name is Miles!! I LOVE HIM! He greeted us and played with us and rolled over to let us scratch his belly! I couldn’t get enough of little Miles 
I wanted to steal him. Still do.
A guest bedroom (SEE?! SUPER COOL!)
The super awesome restaurant/lounge in the hotel where we had dinner and then breakfast the next morning
(photo sources all from hotelindigo.com)
So as you can see…totally awesome hotel. Our room was beautiful, fun, funky, and romantic all at once.
So back to the story. I had snuck in some of our own champagne & glasses for the evening. After dinner, I turned on the TV & flopped on the bed. Adrian went to pour the champagne (because there is an actual separate foyer in each king room, I couldn’t see him while he was doing this). I was wondering what was taking him so long and then he came around the corner with the champagne flutes and I saw…something….attached to my glass! It was an organza bag with a silver box inside. I’m confused and excited. I’m thinking earrings or a bracelet or something (even though I’m not a big fancy jewelry freak and Adrian knows this). I look at him and ask, “What am I supposed to do? Do I just open it? What’d you get me?! You goof!” I start untying the bag and it comes loose. Adrian grabs it and opens it up, takes out the box and opens it.
He shows the contents to me briefly while my hand flies to my mouth and the tears flow. I now realize what he’s done and I’m overcome with emotions. It is the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen as he takes out out and reaches for my….. RIGHT hand. I tearfully exclaim “Wrong hand!” He sheepishly says “oops” and reaches for the left one and slides it on my ring finger.
Tears are flowing freely, well, mine were, and we hugged & kissed & hugged & kissed and I stared at this masterpiece on my finger over & over again. It fits just right. It looks so amazing. And because my man picked it out himself makes it that much more special.
It’s been two days with the ring and I still can’t get enough! I stare at this thing all the time! I’m learning not to do so while driving or cooking though 
Next the search is on for wedding bands! Can’t wait to get a ring on that man’s finger too!
Jenny the Bride
Filed under: getting engaged | Tags: broad ripple, comedy sportz, eagle's nest, engaged, engagement, fiance, fiancee, hyatt, IMA, indianapolis, Le Peep, wedding, white river state park
“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!
