Alexas Gregory & Shane Armstrong
AN ENGAGING ENGAGEMENT Stumler ’ s Catering wedding aficionado to be married in September 2022
COURTESY PHOTOShane 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
46 EXTOL : AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2021