Text by Lori Ann Schulten

When Bridget Hobing got a call from her college sorority sister, Sandy Apple, to attend a concert, she had no idea it was to meet her future soul mate Jason Karem. She was persuaded to go on this "group date", and was a little apprehensive about being set up. She went out after work with friends to muster up enough courage to go through with it, but at the last minute she made a desperate attempt to as she called it, "chicken out". Her sorority sister, Sandy was not having it. She went and picked Bridget up and they arrived at the Palace one hour late. So much for making a good impression.

Though the first date got off to a late start Jason asked Bridget out again. This time they went to a local hot spot called The Come Back Inn. They danced, talked, and within three months they were a couple. Bridget said, "I knew that Jason was the one". The courtship lasted for two years, and on December21, 2001 they exchanged their wedding vows.

the anticipated event
The proposal came when Jason Karem a Sales Manager for ADP and Bridget Hobing the Youth Service Coordinator for Highland Middle School went on what Bridget believed to be a business tripJason had made arrangements to extend the vacation a few more days. They were in the land of white sandy beaches, blue skies, and crisp Pacific air. They were vacationing in Kaui, Hawaii. Jason was indeed going to propose to Bridget. Jason had made arrangements to walk on the beach in the moonlight with a bottle of wine and propose, but Bridget suggested they just walk around the hotel. Jason was disappointed but agreed. They walked for about a half an hour when the anticipation had been too much for Jason. They stopped on the sidewalk outside the hotel, and with the moonlight behind him Jason got down on one knee took Bridget's hand and said. "Bridget will you marry me?" Bridget feeling overwhelmed and tears in her eyes said yes. As she recounts the event for me now I see tears in her eyes. For Bridget the snooping paid off Jason later told her that he had wanted to propose a half an hour after they got off the plane.

the big day
Bridget and Jason planned a wedding in about four months. Jason proposed on August 10, 2001, andon December21, 2001 they became husband and wife. There was a lot of preparation and planning. Bridget said that she had always loved the Garden Court at the Louisville Seminary, so they chose this for the ceremony and the reception. Their motif was Christmas. The Garden Court was decorated with Christmas trees, wreaths, red berries and mistletoe. The bride wore a beautiful white gown it was simple yet elegant. The groom wore a classic black tux. The ring was a very important part of the ceremony. The stone came from Henley's, the mounting from a jeweler in Miami, and the design was a replica of one Bridget had seen in In Style magazine. It was platinum with diamonds surrounding the band, and the stone was in the shape of heart. For Bridget and Jason everything had to be perfect. The bridesmaids wore black floor length evening gowns and the groomsmen wore a traditional black tux. The flowers carried by the bride and bridesmaids were red berries. The groom and the groomsmen wore mistletoe on their lapels. There were about 35 guests in attendance at the ceremony on this brisk December day to share with Bridget and Jason. With the anticipation of Christmas just days away the perfect gift of love was about to be exchanged. For Bridget she was Cinderella and Jason was her Prince Charming it was at that moment that her fairy tale came to life. The wedding was followed by a reception. Bridget and Jason wanted very much to create a personal atmosphere. There were around 125 guests in attendance at the reception. The holiday atmosphere was draped about the room. The lights from the Christmas trees, candle-lit scones, and candled lamps on the table set the perfect mood. It gave everyone a sense of warmth and coziness. Bridget and Jason wanted all their family and closest friend's to know how special they were to them, and how much it meant for them to share their big day. The guest could have easily exceeded 400, but then it would not have been as intimate. The guest mingled, danced, and partied well into the night Near the end Bridget and Jason were able to sneak off to enjoy their first night as husband and wife.

the honeymoon
They honeymooned in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico for about four days. On their wedding night Bridget gave Jason a card that she had found just months into their relationship The
card said, "To the one I want to spend my life with." Bridget originally wanted to give this to Jason on their first wedding anniversary, but it was on their wedding night that she declared he was the one. She even put the receipt in the card so that Jason knew just how much she loved him. The four days in Mexico would only be the beginning for Bridget and Jason Karem.