THE BEGINNING...
One summer day in 2010, our friend Rebecca convinced Jeff to drive down to DC for a happy hour. Rebecca was running late and instructed Jeff to find "three girls in black dresses" at the bar. Jeff, being extremely suave, approached three hot ladies and introduced himself to Jana and her two friends. For the next year, Jana and Jeff hung out as just friends until a group trip to Cape Cod. In the most cliche way possible, they drove to the beach alone at midnight and found a sky full of shooting stars.
Two days later, they went to Mathilde's apartment in Boston for July 4th fireworks. Jeff, being a mastermind, asked Jana to hold his keys in her purse while they were running around the city. The next day Jana was about to board her flight back to DC when she got a call. Jeff couldn't start his car because his keys were still in her purse. Jana decided to skip her flight, return Jeff's keys, and drive with him back to DC. After an amazing weekend and an 8 hour drive home the rest, as they say, is history.
HOW HE PROPOSED
THE ENGAGEMENT...
It was a random November Saturday that started off like any other. Jeff and Jana went to brunch, and then lazed around the house. Jeff asked Jana if she wanted to go to the park with the Iwo Jima memorial and the Netherlands Carillon bell tower to take some photos of the DC skyline. There was nothing unusual about this plan since Jana and Jeff often stroll to that park to enjoy the view or take photos. Having had lots of experience with Jeff's photography sessions, Jana grabbed her kindle before heading out the door. When Jeff asked why she was bringing it, she pronounced "because this will be really boring for me." Turns out, it was the least boring day ever. They got to the park and Jeff set up the tripod and then asked Jana if he could take some photos with her in them.
Initially she resisted, but Jeff said he just wanted to try a technique with a silloutte and the skyline. Jana relented and Jeff told her where to stand and look at the skyline, while he started fiddling with the camera. Then Jana heard Jeff say "honey, turn around" and when she did (thinking something was wrong with the camera) Jeff was down on one knee, with the ring, and asked her "Will you marry me?" In disbelief, Jana's first words were not "Yes" but rather "Is this real?" (to which Jeff jokingly confirmed that both the proposal and the ring were real; Jana did manage to say "Yes" at some point during this exchange). Lots of hugs, kisses, and happy tears followed.