Connor and I met at the YMCA. We both signed up for a boot camp workout class. The teacher was intense and lived for running. On this one day in May of 2008 we had to run a lot. I was having a hard time keeping up. Connor was wearing a burgundy Carnegie Melon t-shirt. It was very easy to spot the shirt against the green foliage. I followed that bright spot for about an hour and half. At the end of class, I went up to thank him for wearing the shirt. I would have been lost without him. The next class, he ran with me. We didn’t start dating for a while, but it started the conversation.
Better Together
Welcome Page Why We Eloped Our Wedding Honeymoon Little Details Photos Trash the Dress About the Bride About the Groom Guest Information Engagement Pictures Welcome.htmlElopement.htmlCeremony.htmlHoneymoon.htmlLittle_Details.htmlPhotos.htmlTrash_the_Dress.htmlAbout_the_Bride.htmlAbout_the_Groom.htmlGuest_Information.htmlGuest_Information.htmlEngagment_Pictures.htmlshapeimage_9_link_0shapeimage_9_link_1shapeimage_9_link_2shapeimage_9_link_3shapeimage_9_link_4shapeimage_9_link_5shapeimage_9_link_6shapeimage_9_link_7shapeimage_9_link_8shapeimage_9_link_9shapeimage_9_link_10shapeimage_9_link_11
Love
As a Rose absorbs nutrients it thrives to see the sun the essence to life. The Rose becomes more beautiful and provides joy to those who can behold it's beauty. Fortunate is the Man who can see the Rose within a Woman. Blessed is the Man who this Woman holds to be her nutrient, her sunshine
The Story of Us


Contact Info Chris’ email: fargets@yahoo.com Connor’s email: andrewcarnegie@gmail.com mailto:andrewcarnegie@gmail.comshapeimage_19_link_0
He said... How should I propose to Chris Warner?  Good question and not easy to answer.  A lot of thought went into this.  First of all, I knew it should be fun, include pictures and make for a good story due to the following: 1. Chris would get the question, “How did he ask?” and 2. Chris would want to scrapbook it.  That being said, I knew it should personal, romantic and fun!  I figured the proposal should include traveling and animals, since Chris loves both of those things.  I looked around the area to see what there was locally.  The best I could come up with was the Venture Aquarium in New Jersey, across from Philly.  But that didn’t seem to be good enough.   I decided to take a quiz on the internet for suggestions on where to propose.  The answer certainly didn’t surprise me: “a foreign country”.  The next scheduled foreign country trip was Italy and Greece this coming summer, but I didn’t want to wait that long.   I began looking at air fare to places in the Caribbean, Mexico, and even places in Europe.  But the cost of travel didn’t make sense for being there just a short weekend.  So much for going someplace warm.  I looked into places we could go in the US.  I found a really great deal to Boston.  Besides being a great deal, I also chose Boston because Chris and I mentioned that we wanted to go there together sometime.  So, it was on our list.  Also, it has animals!  The aquarium is one of the best in the country. I decided to purchase plane tickets and make it happen.  I knew Chris had a three day weekend due to Martin Luther King Day.  The only thing I told Chris was to not make plans that weekend.  Later, I informed Chris we were getting on an air plane and to pack for cold weather... the rest was a surprise (she didn’t figure it out until we got to the airport).   The rest of the plans were really just looking around to see what there was to do.  I knew I wanted to go to the aquarium, but I wanted to do something nice in the evening.  I found tickets to the Boston Symphony.  I didn’t pick the restaurant until we were in Boston.  I settled on a nice romantic dinner at a “fancy” steak house. That’s basically it.  I setup an outline for the trip... flights, hotel, aquarium, concert and dinner.  The rest I made up as I went along.  I really didn’t know when I was going to propose.  The whole day, the ring was burning a hole in my pocket.  I settled on dinner, since that seemed to make the most sense.  I think it was the best choice... more personal that way.  All though, if I had to do it over again, I may have just proposed first thing in the morning to get it over with... since that’s pretty much all I was thinking about all day.  I’m just impressed I was able to hide a 2” black cube (ring box) from Chris all day.  No easy feat!      In the end, I hit all of the basic requirements: there was traveling, the trip was fun, included animals, was personal, romantic and we took lots of pictures!  
She said... Connor told me not to make plans for our anniversary on this past year.  I thought, he meant to go to a movie, maybe dinner....possibly go to NYC to see a show.  I had no idea what he was really up too.  

On Tuesday, he told me that he bought airline tickets to somewhere cold and I needed to pack a bag.  He wouldn't tell me where.  Despite my best efforts, I was unable to get it out of him.  On Friday, we left for the airport after school. 

He was able to keep it a secret until we arrived at our gate.  We were going to Boston!! I knew he had a whole day planned, but I still didn't know the details.  

The next morning he took me to the Boston Aquarium.  I loved it!  We played with penguins,  enjoyed the sea horses, and held starfish.  It was a really nice day.  

That evening, he had tickets to see the Boston Symphony and they were featuring a German pianist.   It was a really really neat to listen too.  After we walked to a restaurant called Flemmings.   It is a "fancy-pants" steakhouse.   I think I had the best steak that I have ever eaten.  It just melted in your mouth.  We were wrapping up dinner and I said something like this was a perfect anniversary.... he said good... I'm hoping for a lot more and he had the ring in his hand.  Will you marry me?  I said yes.  

After we finished dinner, the waiter came back to pick up the check.  Noticed something was up and said, "what's going on here?"  Then he realized we just got engaged... he was very excited for us.  He took the check and disappeared for awhile.  Now, we had already declined desert...but he showed up with creme brulee with a lit candle and said "You got engaged...you have to have desert... I don't care if you eat it.... but you should get it".  He gave us his card and made us promise to invite him to the wedding.  

That is my story and I’m sticking to it!! Connor did a great job.  I was very surprised. 
The Proposal
Connor forgot to mention that he considered dressing up like a penguin and proposing outside the aquarium. Not seriously... of course... the fact he even thought it makes me laugh.