Abby & Ryan || The Calumet Club

The Proposal of Abby & Ryan

Ryan and Abby met through an online dating app when the pandemic started. Abby is a doctor, and Ryan is an accountant, and they wouldn’t have met without the dating app. After talking on FaceTime, they decided to meet in person. They had their first date at DeVou Park in April 2020, where they enjoyed a lovely picnic with Abby’s favorite food, Chick-fil-A. They walked around the park, saw the sunset over Cincinnati, and ate Graeter’s ice cream that Ryan had brought in a cooler. It was a fantastic first date, and they started dating each other, both very happy.
Later, Abby and Ryan went to Alms Park for a picnic with their friends, where they discovered that they both loved exploring local parks. Ryan was already there when Abby arrived, which surprised her since he was usually late. They went around the park to the main lookout, where some people and their pets enjoyed the view. Ryan originally planned to propose there, but it didn’t work out. He then suggested they go to the terrace to see the Ohio River view from above. Abby led the way up to the second floor of the structure. As they stood there, Ryan hugged her from behind, and Abby could feel his heart beating fast. She turned around to check on him; he was down on one knee! After promising to love her forever, Ryan proposed to Abby and asked her to marry him, and she said yes! Their friends were waiting below, taking pictures of the proposal. They had brought another Chick-fil-A picnic to celebrate the occasion. Ryan had visited the park a week earlier to find the perfect proposal spot and drove two hours out of town to ask Abby’s parents for permission in person.

The Wedding of Abby & Ryan

Abby and Ryan’s wedding day was truly magical, even though it snowed unexpectedly in early November. They got ready in the morning at The Calumet Club, a historic building in New Albany, IN, where the bridesmaids and Abby witnessed the snowfall covering the roads. Although the groom had trouble getting out of the driveway, the snow created a breathtaking backdrop for their photos.
Abby looked absolutely stunning in her bridal hair and makeup, and her dress perfectly matched her personality and style. Ryan and Abby had a first look at the church before the ceremony, with just the wedding party present, and it was precisely as Abby had always imagined!
Their wedding ceremony was a catholic service, where close family and friends read beautiful passages. The flower girls forgot to throw their petals on the way down, but they made up for it during the procession outside the church! Abby and Ryan greeted each guest during the receiving line as they left the church to thank them.
The reception was an elegant and warm environment, with delicious home-style food and beautiful, rich decor. Ryan and Abby shared their first dance to Shania Twain’s “From This Moment On,” as they love 90’s country music! The best man gave a humorous speech teasing the bride and making jabs at family sports rivalries. The maid of honor’s speech was heartfelt and brought tears to many eyes. Thankfully, the cake cutting was calm, and Abby enjoyed the tasty cake while dancing on the floor!
The DJ kept the guests dancing all evening with popular wedding songs. Ultimately, they celebrated with all their loved ones and enjoyed the beginning of their new life together!

Abby’s Bridal & Formal Experience

Bridal and Formal was my first and only dress shop experience. My mother, sister (maid of honor), future mother-in-law, and bridesmaids joined me. Immediately, we were met at the door with the team and taken back to the comfortable try-on region that afforded us privacy. My consultant took me to the dress floor to choose what I liked. I came to the shop with a good idea of what I wanted. Sensing that I was overwhelmed, she did a fantastic job of helping me select dresses to start the process! I had tried on a few that I liked but weren’t “the one.” She challenged me to try on a dress that the sample was not the traditional white I was looking for, reassuring me it could be ordered in my color choice. As soon as I tried the dress on, I knew it was exactly what I wanted, classic and elegant. We did one more comparison with a prior dress but then returned to “my” dress. I ordered it that day to be made in an ivory white, trusting her guidance on the color choice. I canceled another dress shop appointment for that afternoon because I knew it would not beat my experience at Bridal and Formal or have a more perfect dress for me! Later, I tried to find my dress through Google, but I needed help remembering the designer or style. I called the number on a business card I was given at the shop, thinking it was the store number. Surprisingly, it was my actual bridal consultant’s cell phone number!! She answered and was so grateful to help me figure out the exact information on my dress.
When I got to pick up my dress, it was the first time I saw it in the ivory. I got to try it on and even compare different earring choices with it. The consultants were fantastic about getting me information for alterations. My consultant made me feel comfortable during the entire process, from helping me get into and out of dresses to reassuring me when I was conflicted between style options. She gave her expert opinion when needed and allowed my family and friends to share their views. She is the one who knew exactly what dresses to pull based on my vision. I honestly would not have found my dream dress without her!