Conrad Indianapolis and Artsgarden

Ceremony and Reception

Ceremony

Summer

Our Wedding

During our sophomore year at Samford, Julianna and I had two classes together. She sat in the front row, and I’m not sure she noticed me, but I immediately noticed not only how beautiful Julianna was but also how she was clearly the smartest person in those classes. After months of waiting for her to be single, I finally had a chance to ask Julianna out and invited her to my spring Sigma Chi formal. At the dance, my friends thought I was “spitting game,” but in actuality, Julianna and I were in an intense conversation about the intersection between faith and economics. After realizing I had found someone who enjoyed talking about these things as much as I did (and who also happened to be a Purdue fan), I knew Julianna was special. We then went on dates and kept up talking all summer before junior year when we officially started dating.&nbsp;&nbsp; The first year of our relationship, we discovered how competitive we are. We also learned how much we both like cooking, going on walks, and exercising. Junior year also brought wonderful (and humbling) experiences meeting each other’s families, with Andrew face-planting nearly every hundred feet while skiing for the first time and Julianna being coerced into a game of fishbowl with the Smiths. We have loved our families’ shared enjoyment of the Midwest's favorite card game, Euchre, and have carried our Midwestern pride well through four years at Samford.&nbsp;&nbsp; And now a few words from Julianna…I confess I didn’t know Andrew when he asked me to that Sigma Chi formal. But I was so excited he did. Right away, I felt comfortable around him, and we talked easily about so many different topics. I was excited after the dance when he invited me on a picnic (and laughed when we discovered no forks with the takeout!). A few days later, he asked me to play pickleball, and then for coffee and a walk. That summer, he was away at Campus Outreach Beach Project, and Bella kept an eye on him for me—“Julianna, he must be serious about you; he’s not flirting with any of the girls here.” Then junior year began, we started dating, and I saw first-hand what an amazing job he did as fraternity pledge dad and how he served as a thoughtful listener and Christian mentor to many young men on campus. As Andrew and I started our senior year, we were looking for more ways to spend time together. (We both had pretty full schedules with internships, work, intramurals, etc.) We realized that going to the same church might be a great way to do that. I had been really active in my local church, but I made the decision to start attending Andrew’s church with him, Oak Mountain Presbyterian. This move turned out to be such a gift, as it introduced me to Walker and Sarah Byrd, the Life-Group they lead, and many other members of the congregation. Since Andrew and I are both business majors, we have also enjoyed continuing to take classes together, and Andrew tells me he’s happy he can now focus on the professors.&nbsp;&nbsp; Finally, after months of planning, Andrew proposed to Julianna on January 19th (sorry, Xander, for doing it on your birthday). Since then, they have frequently reflected on the Lord’s provision as they wrap up their time with friends they love, in a city they love, and at the school the Lord used to bring them together. They hope to continue fostering these relationships in the years ahead as they move into the next season of life in St. Louis. They are so excited to see what God has in store for them and how He will use marriage as a joy and a means of growing their hearts in deeper understanding of His love for them.&nbsp;

Our Story

These photos were taken by Abigail McCall, @abigailmcallphoto, a friend from Samford who generously took our photos. We loved using her and her experience in the Birmingham community for our engagement pictures! Isaac Forst, @forst_foto, took our engagement photos in the moment! As a fellow Sigma Chi fraternity brother, it was fun to have him capture January 19th! Additionally, my roommate, Bella Taylor, graciously designed our logo and Save the Date cards. Her artwork and talent is featured on @bellataylor.designs.

Photos

Anna Binkley

Xander Smith

Catherine Eckerle

Cole Anderton

Shealy George

Lincoln Chimento

Kara Hummer

Ethan Haggerty

Jordyn Parmley

Luke Harms

Paige Stafford

Jack Hewitt

Payton Stafford

Jo Jenkins

Bella Taylor

Davis Mobley

Hannah Wleklinski

Jonah Stauffer

Michael Argentine

Thomas Argentine

Wedding Party

We recommend formal attire for the wedding, meaning a suit for men and dressy outfit for women, such as a long dress, cocktail dress, or pantsuit. The wedding party will be in tuxedos and long gowns, but we don’t expect all of our guests to!

Attire

We are so excited to welcome you to Indiana! The wedding on Saturday will be in downtown Indianapolis at the Conrad Hotel and adjoining Artsgarden. All guests should drive to the Conrad which will provide valet parking at a discounted rate. The entrance to the Artsgarden is through the main Conrad Indianapolis entrance (see address below). For those of you staying overnight in Indianapolis, Andrew and I have reserved a block of rooms at the Conrad for both Friday and Saturday night. Reserve your room in the link below. King and double rooms will be available at a significant discount when you mention the Argentine/Smith wedding. When you call, please mention this block of rooms. If you would like to stay elsewhere, we will be providing other options soon. We are so excited to see you! <a href="https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/indcici-asb-c06ba6b9-8bfa-4733-9667-5c3d4432f558/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/indcici-asb-c06ba6b9-8bfa-4733-9667-5c3d4432f558/</a>

Conrad Indianapolis

Recommended Attire

We recommend formal attire for the wedding, meaning a suit for men and dressy outfit for women, such as a long dress, cocktail dress, or pantsuit. The wedding party will be in tuxedos and long gowns, but we don’t expect all of our guests to!

Recommendations for the area

If you’ve never been to Indy or are looking to try some of my favorite places, here are my (Julianna) recommendations!  Zionsville is about 30 minutes from downtown. It has a charming village—a quaint area with shops and restaurants along brick-paved Main Street. Try The Scoop for ice cream, browse home goods at FiveThirty Home or Blooms by Dragonfly, walk alongside the Cobblestone Grill alley patio, or stroll through Lions or Lincoln Park, each a block or two off Main.   In Indianapolis, there are many restaurants within walking distance of the Conrad, from fast food to fine cuisine. We particularly like Oceanaire and Weber Grill.   There are extensive gardens at Newfields, and there is a pretty walk along the city’s canal. Last fall, Andrew and I rented a paddle boat to see the city from the water!   I hope this gives you a picture of what’s available in the area if you have time before or after the wedding and want to explore. We are so glad you are making the trip and are really looking forward to seeing you!

Travel and Attire

Things to Do

Registry

Julianna & Andrew

Julianna & Andrew

Wedding Party