Ben and Sara's Engagement Photo
I have been tagged by Camille (my sister-in-law) to share the events of how Ben and I met. Conveniently this all happened 5 years ago! This November 27th will be our 5th year Anniversary! So here are some common questions we get from those who don't know us very well. Sorry....I'm long winded. Enjoy.
1.) How did you guys meet?Background: Ben was currently working for my uncle at Teraflex at the time. My cousin (Ben Falkner) also happened to work there so they were friends.
So, my cousin called me up one day and asked if I wanted to go see the Testaments with "us". I assumed this would include some of his siblings. So, I debated whether to even shower after work because I was dead, but hesitantly I did. When they came and picked me up, I couldn't help but notice it was all couples in the car. As we were heading downtown he asks me, "So do you know Ben Ridges who we set you up with?". I immediately thought to myself "I didn't know this was a date?!" so I replied, "No." So we met Ben at Carl's Junior downtown and rode over to the ZCMI Center and went to the food court for dinner. I wasn't sure if Ben was going to pay for me or if he even considered this a date so I said I wasn't hungry and just got a water to drink to avoid the awkwardness. I in fact was hungry. So we went and saw the Testaments. It was good. Then we went to Leatherby's after for ice cream...so I was starving by this time so I got a HUGE cup/bowl/gallon of Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream...and I ate it all...well I could have if everyone wasn't waiting for me to finish! I stopped hoovering the ice cream to look lady-like or whatever and we left. They dropped Ben off at his car and then dropped me off at home.
I think Ben said maybe 10 words to me the whole night...which I understand now being married to him for 5 years. I had fun but I thought I would never see him again. Little did I know...as I was eating my three pounds of ice cream Ben was falling in love....awwww.
So, not expecting to ever hear from him again I get a call a week later and it's Ben. He asked me to go to little Moab with him and we were inseparable ever since.
That date also happened to be the first date for Ben (my cousin) and his wife, Kim!...Interesting. There must have been something in the water...or ice cream.
....I sure am glad I showered.
2.) How long did you wait to get married?Here is the time frame for some significant events that year....We met May 15th (while I was still in High School mind you) and had the blind so-called "date". Then he called back a week later and we went to little Moab on May 25th. We were inseparable from then on. I graduated from High School on June 10th or so. We got engaged on July 22nd and got married on Wednesday November 27th 2002 in the Salt Lake Temple. The wedding was originally scheduled for December 21st, but due to some unforseen changes in circumstance we moved the wedding up.
3.) How did Ben propose?
Well, he took me up in the hills behind his house to see a waterfall and have a picnic. Ben had to baja the Blazer he was driving to get it up where he wanted to go. He showed me the waterfall and stealthly snuck away to initiate his plan. As I came around to the front of the car he had a blanket laid out. While on his knees he handed me some flowers, opened the ring box and asked me if I would marry him. Of course I said yes and hugged him. We stayed up there a little bit while we watched the sunset creep across the sky. I still remember the vivid colors of the clouds and how blue the sky was that evening. The song by Shawn Colvin called "Never Saw Blue Like That" seemed to perfectly depict the atmosphere and experience that day. That is why I had my sister-in-law Camille sing and play it for me at our wedding.
4.) What was the reception like?
The reception was beautiful! It was held at the Alumni House at the University of Utah on Saturday November 30th. A ring ceremony was held for those who were unable to attend the temple sealing. It was awesome. I had Camille and Tyler (a neighbor) sing 'The Prayer' ( in both English and Italian). My uncle Ronny, read a wedding blessing in Hebrew and we exchanged the rings. It was magical. I hope somebody got it on tape...I still haven't seen any film of it. (If you have a copy please let me know!)
I refused to have a line because...let's be honest...who wants to stand in a line to talk to the bride and groom or people you don't even know. On the flip side...I wasn't going to make my people stand in a line to talk to people they don't know. I wanted it to be fun and relaxing for everyone. Anyway...I wandered around and chatted with people and it turned out great. I had on a big pair of fluffy white socks to keep my tootsies warm. The cake was of course my favorite with Spice Cake and Buttercream Frosting. The flowers I chose were Stargazer Lilies and the decoration colors were Ivory and Red. It turned out absolutely fabulous! My dress was Ivory with champagne accents and a long train that busteled in the back.
So, my cousin called me up one day and asked if I wanted to go see the Testaments with "us". I assumed this would include some of his siblings. So, I debated whether to even shower after work because I was dead, but hesitantly I did. When they came and picked me up, I couldn't help but notice it was all couples in the car. As we were heading downtown he asks me, "So do you know Ben Ridges who we set you up with?". I immediately thought to myself "I didn't know this was a date?!" so I replied, "No." So we met Ben at Carl's Junior downtown and rode over to the ZCMI Center and went to the food court for dinner. I wasn't sure if Ben was going to pay for me or if he even considered this a date so I said I wasn't hungry and just got a water to drink to avoid the awkwardness. I in fact was hungry. So we went and saw the Testaments. It was good. Then we went to Leatherby's after for ice cream...so I was starving by this time so I got a HUGE cup/bowl/gallon of Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream...and I ate it all...well I could have if everyone wasn't waiting for me to finish! I stopped hoovering the ice cream to look lady-like or whatever and we left. They dropped Ben off at his car and then dropped me off at home.
I think Ben said maybe 10 words to me the whole night...which I understand now being married to him for 5 years. I had fun but I thought I would never see him again. Little did I know...as I was eating my three pounds of ice cream Ben was falling in love....awwww.
So, not expecting to ever hear from him again I get a call a week later and it's Ben. He asked me to go to little Moab with him and we were inseparable ever since.
That date also happened to be the first date for Ben (my cousin) and his wife, Kim!...Interesting. There must have been something in the water...or ice cream.
....I sure am glad I showered.
2.) How long did you wait to get married?Here is the time frame for some significant events that year....We met May 15th (while I was still in High School mind you) and had the blind so-called "date". Then he called back a week later and we went to little Moab on May 25th. We were inseparable from then on. I graduated from High School on June 10th or so. We got engaged on July 22nd and got married on Wednesday November 27th 2002 in the Salt Lake Temple. The wedding was originally scheduled for December 21st, but due to some unforseen changes in circumstance we moved the wedding up.
3.) How did Ben propose?
Well, he took me up in the hills behind his house to see a waterfall and have a picnic. Ben had to baja the Blazer he was driving to get it up where he wanted to go. He showed me the waterfall and stealthly snuck away to initiate his plan. As I came around to the front of the car he had a blanket laid out. While on his knees he handed me some flowers, opened the ring box and asked me if I would marry him. Of course I said yes and hugged him. We stayed up there a little bit while we watched the sunset creep across the sky. I still remember the vivid colors of the clouds and how blue the sky was that evening. The song by Shawn Colvin called "Never Saw Blue Like That" seemed to perfectly depict the atmosphere and experience that day. That is why I had my sister-in-law Camille sing and play it for me at our wedding.
4.) What was the reception like?
The reception was beautiful! It was held at the Alumni House at the University of Utah on Saturday November 30th. A ring ceremony was held for those who were unable to attend the temple sealing. It was awesome. I had Camille and Tyler (a neighbor) sing 'The Prayer' ( in both English and Italian). My uncle Ronny, read a wedding blessing in Hebrew and we exchanged the rings. It was magical. I hope somebody got it on tape...I still haven't seen any film of it. (If you have a copy please let me know!)
I refused to have a line because...let's be honest...who wants to stand in a line to talk to the bride and groom or people you don't even know. On the flip side...I wasn't going to make my people stand in a line to talk to people they don't know. I wanted it to be fun and relaxing for everyone. Anyway...I wandered around and chatted with people and it turned out great. I had on a big pair of fluffy white socks to keep my tootsies warm. The cake was of course my favorite with Spice Cake and Buttercream Frosting. The flowers I chose were Stargazer Lilies and the decoration colors were Ivory and Red. It turned out absolutely fabulous! My dress was Ivory with champagne accents and a long train that busteled in the back.
5.) Where did you go on your honeymoon?
We couldn't go on a honeymoon so we stayed at the Anniversary Inn for two nights in the Country Garden Suite. We went to the Salt City Jail for dinner the night of our wedding and it was good and cheap...Bonus! The next day was Thanksgiving so we spent the day relaxing and lounging around. That night, we went to have dinner somewhere...and the only place that was nice enough and open was Spencer's Steakhouse...and what an excellent choice that was! It is now a tradition. We try to go back to Spencer's every year for our anniversary because it is so dang good! I definately recommend the steak...or the seafood pasta...or the Bleu Cheese Iceberg Head...or the......mmmm.....
3 comments:
It's always nice to hear things from your perspective...since in our minds Ben is totally un-romantic. :) I enjoyed the details.
I never knew that you didn't know the first date was a date! That is crazy! Those Bens I tell you what! Thanks for sharing your story with us!
-The other Ben's wife, Kim
I had no idea you didn't know that was a date as well!!! How funny! Well...I think Niel and I just rubbed off on you all. WE were engaged when we went with you 4 on that first date. I didn't really remember much about it eccept that I thought you were kind of quiet too, but now I can see why. That is so cute how he proposed. I never heard about that. How fun. You guys are so cute!
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