Alexas Gregory & Shane Armstrong

AN ENGAGING ENGAGEMENT

Stumler’s Catering wedding aficionado to be married in September 2022

COURTESY PHOTOS

Shane Armstrong and Alexas Gregory met for the first time in February 2019 at BoomBozz after Bumble, an online dating app, introduced the two.

It was Alexas’ first date of this kind, and to say she was incredibly nervous was an understatement.

On her way there she called her sister to talk about it, and if it wouldn’t have been for those words of encouragement (and sage advice that included “if it goes bad you never have to talk to him again”), Alexas would not have decided there was no turning back.

If you know Shane and Alexas, you know one is a stickler on time and the other lives by the motto of being fashionably late. Alexas got there first and nervously waited until Shane arrived, this would be the first and last time for that. After a three and a half hour conversation and a lot of missed calls from Alexas’ family checking in on her (because a three and a half hour date with a stranger is a long time), the two knew there was a spark, and from there the flame only grew. They began to go on a date at least once a week for the coming months.

In the midst of getting to know each other, Shane moved to Lexington, Ky., for a career-advancing opportunity in the medical industry. Alexas remained in Southern Indiana, working alongside her mother, Debbie Gregory, owner of Stumler’s Catering. Between long hours working, Shane would travel to and from Jeffersonville every chance he got.

During this time Alexas was involved with a full remodel on her recentlypurchased home. Through the early stages, the pair would camp out on an air mattress in the middle of a dusty floor, just to be together for a few hours before Shane had to head back to his bluegrass abode.

After a year and a half of trips back and forth, Shane took another position in Louisville to be closer to Alexas. Fast forward another year and Shane decided it was time.

On her family’s vacation to Destin the two went parasailing. Shane had never been before and Alexas thought it would be a fun experience to share together. Unbeknownst to his soon-to-be fiancée, Shane informed the captain of his plan just before takeoff.

As the two rose into the air Shane’s nerves began to take flight, too. Alexas, however, was fascinated by the view and distracted by the passing boats, oblivious to the whole situation. Still, Shane tried to have a serious conversation professing his love. He then proposed with a rubber ring f(he was, naturally, fearful of the real one dropping). Alexas was taken aback, perhaps by the shock of the whole experience or perhaps that a man thought he could take her hand with a rubber ring. Her first response was, “Me?! Really?! No way!”

Nonetheless, Alexas gave an enthusiastic “yes!” After the moment of shock wore off and the two shared a clumsy, roped-up kiss in the air, they were brought down from the sky and their fellow boat passengers erupted with cheers.

In the air, Shane had promised Alexas that he was going to get her a “real ring” as soon as he could. After they were released from the harnesses, Shane grabbed Alexas and took her to the front of the boat and pulled out a stunning ring purchased from Koerber’s Fine Jewelry. Speechless for maybe the first time in her life, Alexas couldn’t stop smiling as Shane slid the ring on her finger.

When they got back to the dock and up to the pool deck at the hotel they were greeted with a champagne toast, celebratory lemon drop shots, balloons and roses.

So, what does a woman who works in the catering business decide to do? Get married during what the industry is calling “the wedding boom,” of course.

Alexas and Shane officially set a date in September 2022 and have already booked Stumler’s Catering (of course), The Calumet Club as the venue, The Juicebox Heroes for the tunes, and Naomi Ruth Photography and are nearly finished determining their remaining vendors. What else would you expect when a wedding aficionado gets engaged?