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
Dani and Brett - "A Bit of a Setup"
Brett and Dani’s love story began with a twist of fate and a dash of humour. “A bit of a setup,” as Brett would put it.
They met at a friend’s Australia Day Barbecue, where Brett and Dani were the only two singles invited.
Brett was lucky he didn’t destroy his future chances of a date based on his choice of attire, Dani exclaiming, “He was lucky he got another date after he wore that ugly mustard-coloured T-shirt!”
Brett knew Dani was the one and wouldn’t let their temporary living apart stop him from planning a proposal during a virtual tour of Norah Head Lighthouse.
The tour was so entertaining that Dani almost didn’t notice Brett’s gallant proposal having to ask again, “I need to know, 'cause I need to get up! I can’t get off my knee!”
Dani’s engagement ring was left to Brett, who made certain he knew the importance of making it the right style for her and that “it was the one that he would ask Dani to be his wife with.”
York’s Diamond specialist, Kellie, “was very helpful” in assisting Brett with hand-picking the diamonds, the ring, and the engagement ring design.
Emotional words from Dani describe the ring as, “Perfect! That’s what it is!”
Abbey and Hamish - Highschool Sweethearts
Ever since Abbey was in high school she’s had eyes for only one person - Hamish.
Competition for Hamish was fierce amongst her classmates, but Abbey had calculated a plan to catch his attention - constantly asking to borrow his calculator.
Simple though it may be, this strategy was a certified success. Shortly after it was implemented Hamish asked her to the school formal and their ever-evolving relationship began.
Their romance blossomed over the course of the eight years that followed. With mutual respect, support, and love, it was an effortless connection. Of course, their shared sense of humour helped too.
With such a powerful bond between the couple, it was little surprise when the topic of engagement entered conversation.
“I slyly asked ‘if we were going to get engaged, what sort of ring would you want?’, ” Hamish said.
“I didn’t really have a specific ring in mind,” Abbey answered, “But I knew I wanted a radiant cut diamond and a petite band.”
After a recommendation from Hamish’s mum, who had previously had a family heirloom remade at York, Hamish paid a visit to our Penrith store to bring the engagement ring to life.
“[York Managing Director] Douglas spent hours with me collaborating on and explaining different designs,” Hamish said.
“It was really easy as a complete jewellery novice, I actually came out thinking I know a thing or two about diamonds,” he laughed.
The result of these consultations was a beautiful yellow gold and radiant diamond piece that simply has to be seen to be truly appreciated (view it for yourself via the images below).
As for the proposal, Hamish chose to pop the question at a beachside locale that had served as an important backdrop for their story.
Abbey’s family had a house at Kiama, so after a relaxing walk around the headland, Hamish got down on one knee amongst the picturesque coastal surrounds. It completely caught Abbey off-guard, but the answer was never in question: a decisive YES.
They newly-engaged couple then enjoyed a meticulously-prepared picnic on the beach together, before celebrating with friends and family.
“It’s exactly what I wanted,” Hamish said.
“It’s exactly what I wanted too,” Abbey agreed.
Kel and Bec - A Storied Romance
As Kel knelt down on one knee and proposed to long-time partner Bec under Brisbane’s Story Bridge, the couple couldn’t help but picture the effortless romance that had led them to this milestone moment.
They first met at a party in Penrith, and after developing an easy rapport, decided to take a first date together at Marks Park in Tamarama.
Little did they know that this scenic picnic spot would become one of their most treasured locales - a constant in their lives that they would revisit every anniversary to remind them of when love for one another flourished.
After just a few years together it was clear that both considered the other “the one”. It’s little surprise, then, that engagement ring shopping followed in short order.
“Bec was dropping a few different hints here and there, taking me into York Jewellers and showing me different rings she liked,” Kel said.
“The staff there were really helpful,” Bec added.
“They really helped me narrow down different shapes and sizes, even what carat size I wanted and all that kind of thing. They weren't going to let me put something on my finger that wasn't going to suit me.”
The message was delivered loud and clear to Kel, who now had the intel needed to secure the perfect ring for Bec.
When he decided the time was right, he reached out to Tiarney - his connection at York Jewellers - and gave the OK to begin the ring-making process. It was in his hands and ready to go in just a matter of days.
The pair were now living together in Brisbane so he devised a picnic proposal that was reminiscent of their times together at Marks Park. It caught Bec by surprise, but there was no doubt about the answer - an emphatic ‘Yes!’.
“I ended up with something that I loved and that I'll love for a lifetime and can't stop staring at it.” Bec said about the ring (and possibly Kel).
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.