Congratulations, Laura! Tell us all the details about the proposal…
My fiancé William and I have been together since we were 17, our first proper date was actually on my 17th birthday!
Fast-forward 8.5 years, we popped on a plane to Hawaii for our first-holiday post-Covid. I had a feeling the question was coming on this trip as we had looked at rings together the year before and he was adamant to take the first flight we could!
On the second night of our vacation, he had organised an early reservation for dinner at one of the restaurants within our hotel, La Mer. Our table was situated in front of open french doors overlooking the sun setting on the ocean. We started the evening with Bulgarian caviar and champagne. Just as I was having a ‘Pretty Woman’ moment unsure about what caviar etiquette was in this fancy restaurant (AKA sending an SOS text to mum asking if I can use my hands to pick up the blini), he got down on his knee.
The next thing I know a row of five white-glove servers behind us start clapping and the two American couples on our right who we later got chatting with, started cheering! They also kindly covered our champagne bill for the evening which added to the surreal feeling that made the night seem more like a scene from a romantic movie.
To be completely honest, I did not think it was going to happen this night! I kept looking down at his pockets on the way to the restaurant and there was no box outline to be seen…turns out he just decided to just slip the ring straight into his pocket instead!
We need to know everything about your gorgeous engagement ring. How did you find your dream ring?
I visited Partridge Jewellers twice with William, the first time was definitely more of a browse as I wasn’t quite sure what I liked at this stage. The second was when I knew what I liked and there were a few options! However, none of them were the ‘one’… I found the team at Partridge Jewellers to be extremely helpful when it came to talking about what was possible e.g. designing my own setting and sourcing the right diamond….but that was when I left it up to William because I wanted him to have full control over the process after he understood the assignment.
I love the simplicity of a round brilliant-cut diamond set on a yellow-gold band. William worked closely with Partridge Jewellers to source a loose diamond and have it set on a custom setting to fit the brief perfectly.
William, tell us about what this process was like for you.
Laura provided a few hints to what style ring she liked… A solitaire diamond set on a thin yellow gold band. To begin with, I struggled to find the perfect stone in the correct setting, as we found a few good stones, but nothing stood out at the time. One of the staff at Partridge Jeweller’s texted me one morning and managed to source a loose diamond which was the exact cut, colour, carat & clarity I was looking for. I hadn’t seen it yet but I knew this was going to be the one! It was then set in a custom setting with six claws and I couldn’t have been more pleased with the outcome.
Finding the dream engagement ring that will be cherished for life can be a little daunting. What advice would you give to anyone who’s currently searching for the perfect piece?
William – I learned that buying an engagement ring is something you need to take step by step and be patient with. It took a few visits to compare and contrast the vast amount of options available and assemble something that was a perfect fit for Laura. I would advise anyone looking for an engagement ring to give yourself ample time to start your search, engage a specialist, look around at all the possible options and finally pick what best represents your significant other.
Laura – I learnt that there is more to a diamond than meets the eye…! It wasn’t until we began looking that I realised how different a stone can be to the naked eye. My advice would be to research what makes a high-quality diamond and don’t be afraid to ask questions / view GIA reports etc. But also it’s such a fun process and exciting time in your life so soak up all the moments.
Tell us a little bit about your engagement escape to Hawaii and your must-do activities.
We stayed at The Halekulani hotel which was incredible, the staff went above and beyond and it will always hold a special place in our hearts – they also have a famous Sunday Brunch which is definitely worth it (but make sure you book well in advance!).
I would recommend hiring a convertible and taking a trip around the island up to the North Shore. It’s a beautiful drive and there are so many stunning beaches to stop at along the way, one we went to was Kailua.
A few foodie spots to note were Morimoto, Banan (soft serve), Kona Coffee Purveyors (you will see the line out the door by 8am – they also have amazing pastries), Orchids, The Tommy Bahama bar, Poke Bowl hole in the walls…. and of course La Mer if you are celebrating something special!
We went on a catamaran tour to snorkel with turtles which was super fun… also KoKo Head is worth the climb!
We can’t wait to hear all about the big day! What can you tell us in the meanwhile.
Our wedding will be late this summer. Inspired by the Italian countryside… we can’t wait!
