Engagement Ring Love Stories 2024
If you’re familiar with York Jewellers you’ll know that there are few things we appreciate more than a good love story.
We’ve been fortunate enough to be part of several over the years, and we’d like to share some of these in the latest instalment of our Engagement Ring Love Stories series.
As we update this blog you’ll read tear-jerking tales, gain some insight to the ring buying process, and might even pick up an idea or two for your own engagement.
You can also catch up on last year’s stories, discover the best times to propose, and download our engagement ring buyer’s guide via the links below.
Engagement Ring Love Stories 2023
Allara and Matt - A Tropical Proposal
To paraphrase a famous early 90s ballad, Matt would do anything for love. This even includes sacrificing his taste buds.
He was so smitten by Allara - a young lady he had just gotten to know in the eastern suburbs of Sydney - that he put on a brave face and ate tomato on their first date. As an avid tomato-hater, it was a monumental deal.
“It was probably from there that I knew he was a keeper,” laughed Alllara.
“We just gelled, we just clicked. It was easy, fun, and everything just felt right. We moved in together pretty quickly after that.”
Things may have been moving fast, but Matt had no doubt that Allara was the one. He just needed to wait for the right moment to pop the question.
“Allara was putting a few hints out there about a proposal and I kept palming it off. I just kept saying, ‘Five years, five years, five years’. She finally stopped dropping hints and everything fell into place so I could surprise her,” he explained.
Matt knew little about what style of engagement ring Allara wanted, so he looked to our jewellery experts for guidance.
“I walked in there and said to Doug: ‘Mate, I really don't don't know what I'm looking for here.”
“Allara's a minimalistic type of person, and I need something that's beautiful without being too outrageous."
“I think the hardest part was trying to pick the cut of the diamond. But Doug helped a lot with that and suggested the round type as a classic and subtle option. By the second time I went in we had the design sorted.”
With the ring taken care of, all that was left was to choose where the engagement would take place. He discussed his options with the York team before deciding to pop the question on a holiday to Cairns.
There he decorated a cosy venue with roses, candles, red carpet, and bright “Will You Marry Me?” signage. The answer from Allara was an emphatic yes.
“I was shocked. I was speechless. I think it was very emotional for me because I was convinced it wasn't going to happen. Matt had obviously told me multiple times, ‘Ah, you know, it's so far away, it doesn't matter, whenever it happens’. So I just believed it,” she said.
“I think he did a really great job with putting together something that was simple but elegant. It's so me,” she said.
Reflecting on his experience at York, Matt noted: “they're all outstanding people and they're very welcoming. They're very easy going, very helpful. It was an absolute breeze using them, and I really couldn't recommend anyone else. They make the whole experience so much more than just walking into a store and buying the ring. They make it very special for you.”
Ashlyn and Rhys - The Perfect Pairing
Things have always been effortless for Ashlyn and Rhys.
The two naturally hit it off after meeting at a friend’s party, and it didn’t take long for their easy-flowing conversation to blossom into a loving relationship.
They ticked off a number of life goals together over the next 6 years, including finding their own place and welcoming a puppy into the family. But one important milestone remained - tying the knot.
“It was something that I wanted to do for a long time, but we just needed to wait for the right moment,” explained Rhys.
When that moment struck, they visited York together and began searching for their ideal engagement ring.
The couple said they immediately felt at home, with Jeweller Kellie leaving a particular impression.“She was awesome from the start. She was on top of any questions or anything I needed straight away. And she really made it easy to learn. There was a lot of back and forth about the type of diamond and everything, but she made it a really easy process,” said Rhys.
“Even since, Kellie’s been amazing. Every time we go in there, she's amazing,” Ashlyn agreed.
After confirming the sizing and style, the ring was soon with Rhys, who had arranged to pop the question on a wine tour with friends.
“It’s hard to surprise someone that's on edge waiting, but it worked out really well,” Rhys joked.
“I thought that we were just going away with friends for a weekend, it was a complete surprise when we were there,” Ashlyn said.
Now engaged, the next step was to choose their wedding bands. Returning to York for these was only natural given their experience with the engagement ring.
While Rhys had a particular vision in mind for his ring, Ashlyn was less sure of hers. Nonetheless, Head Jeweller Douglas Ely helped ensure both found pieces they could cherish for years to come.
“I had my dad's ring and I wanted that to be a part of my wedding band, so they incorporated the gold from it in my own design. It was a super easy process,” Rhys said.
“Douglas was amazing. He was super patient with us when we were designing our rings, particularly mine as I was really trying to figure out what I wanted. We ended up chatting to him for ages and he really got a good feel for us. Every time we go in there he remembers us, and I think that that just adds a different level of quality to York,” Ashlyn added.The couple are now happily married and still keep in touch with the team at York.
Christian and Tiana - A Dream Come True
Tiana and Christian's story began where so many do nowadays - online.
After catching each other's eye and exchanging some kind words, their natural rapport carried into their first in-person meeting.
“We were like two best friends. There wasn't anything awkward or ‘first date-y’ about it. It was good, really good,” Tiana confessed.
“The banter was kind of always there, and it was nice to have this genuine bond with someone, whether it was in conversation or unspoken.”
“My parents actually told me, ‘Don't let this one go’. I had a bit of a laugh at that,” Christian added.
“From my own point of view, I think it was the fact that she took a genuine interest in things that I liked. That’s always important, especially as the relationship progresses.”
With Tiana’s sister engaged only six months into her own relationship, the thought of an early proposal was always something that was front-of-mind for the loved up couple.
“It brought light to our relationship and made us think, ‘Oh, I could see a future with you’,” Tiana explained.
Sure enough, it was just six months before Christian began the hunt for the perfect engagement ring. Luckily, he had a fair amount of help in doing so.
“There were a lot of hints early on. She had her own Pinterest board full of designs and ideas, so that gave me a good indication of what I needed to put into it.”
“I went and saw Douglas at York Jewellers. His father made my mum’s ring, and he actually made my sister’s ring, so I knew what kind of workmanship he was capable of.”
The “secret” was very much out that a proposal was coming, so Christain decided to bring Tiana along to try some of the rings on.
“It was always really welcoming going in there and just having a play with different designs. All my questions were always answered,” Tiana said.
“We were treated like family every time we went. It was great.”
With the ring now in-hand, Christian decided to pop the question in “the most magical place on Earth” - Disney World.
Avoiding a few potential slip-ups along the way - including nearly revealing the ring while going through airport security - the plan went off without a hitch.
“I had organised to take photos for her birthday in front of the Disney castle, so she was dressed up nicely for that.”
“It was kind of candid because there's so many photographers in the park. I wasn't expecting him to do anything, but as we were taking photos the photographer told me to turn around, and I could see Christian's shadow lowering. I was like, "Yep, this is the moment," Tiana said.
The answer was a resounding “yes”, one that they had both been anticipating from the beginning.