Tiarney & Tayla’s Love Story

From a KFC shift to a beachside “yes”

Some love stories begin with grand gestures. Others start over chips, laughter, and a little bit of chaos. For Tiarney and Tayla, it all began eight years ago – behind the counter at KFC.

Tiarney had just transferred to a new store when she heard “this loud, rambunctious person” echoing through the space. That person was Tayla. What started as coworkers turned into something more as the two grew closer, day by day, shift by shift.

Eight years later, Tayla knew exactly what she wanted to do.

 

 

Knowing they were ‘the one’

For Tiarney, the feeling was instant. Tayla, on the other hand, took a little longer – about six months, white Tiarney admits that she fell in love with Tayla from the get-go. “I loved Tay before we even started dating, I think. So for me, I knew straight away.”

A proposal months in the making

Although Tayla was the one who proposed, Tiarney had been planning the proposal for a long time. She’d quietly drop clues and even quizzed Tayla regularly on diamond colour, clarity, and size.

“I basically gave her every step,” Tiarney laughs.

Knowing Tiarney’s love for beaches and flowers, Tayla returned to one of the most meaningful places in their relationship: Stanwell Beach Park, the site of one of their very first dates. There, she set up a breathtaking floral arrangement overlooking the ocean – no small task, but absolutely worth it.

The day it all happened

On the morning of the proposal, Tayla woke Tiarney with just two instructions: pack a bag and wear something extra nice. With Christmas approaching and family arriving soon, Tiarney had no idea what was coming – until they passed the sign for Stanwell Beach.

That’s when the tears started – not to mention the laughter!

From a dress zipper splitting open (fixed by Tayla just in time) to a lifesaver accidentally bogging a jet ski directly behind the flower arch, the moment was beautifully imperfect – and completely them. 

“As I saw the sign for the beach where we had our first date I knew and I started to get really emotional. Tay got a little bit emotional as well and from then it was basically laughter the whole time. My dress split open at the back completely but she managed to fix it. Then we're holding hands walking down the beach, still laughing, and I could see all the beautiful flowers kind of set up in an arch right near the ocean. 

“But then the lifesaver had bogged his jet ski in the direct centre of the flowers in the background so he was panicking, trying to get it off the sand, while another lifesaver was sprinting down the beach to help him. We were just walking very very slowly to try to get him out of the photos!”

Walking hand-in-hand down the beach, laughing through the nerves, Tayla stopped and dropped to one knee before asking the question.

“She had a little speech prepared” smiled Tiarney. “We held hands and then you got on one knee and proposed. And that was it. It was perfect.”

Of course, the answer was yes.

 

A ring designed with love

The ring itself was deeply personal. Crafted in yellow gold, just as Tiarney had always dreamed, the diamond setting was designed to resemble a tulip – a nod to her favourite flower. Beneath the setting sits a hidden pink diamond, a rare and meaningful detail that made the ring even more special.

“I wouldn’t change a thing,” Tiarney says.

A proposal that didn’t end at ‘yes’

After the beach, Tayla had planned one final surprise – dinner in the city and a hotel stay. It was there, after the emotion of the proposal, that they shared one of Tiarney’s favourite moments: the debrief.

Over dinner, Tayla revealed everything – meeting with Doug, choosing between diamonds,  keeping the secret, and even photos of the diamond held carefully in tweezers. After months of secrecy, being able to share the entire journey made the moment even more meaningful.

 

Their advice to other couples

Tiarney and Tayla’s biggest takeaway?

Don’t overthink it. Trust your gut. And really listen.

Whether it’s the proposal or the ring, listening to your partner is key. And even exploring engagement rings together doesn’t take away the magic. If anything, it makes it more special.

“Don't be afraid to go in and look at styles and try on styles together. I think that's really special. I don't think it takes away from the proposal. You still don't know when they're proposing. I just think it takes the pressure off.”

Because when it’s right, it doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be yours.

Watch Tiarney & Tayla’s full Love Story video here.