We're Engaged!
Alex and I met on April 11, 2013 in Lexington, Virginia. He was a senior at Roanoke College and I was a freshman at Washington and Lee University. After matching on Tinder and chatting about mutual friends, we met for a first date at the Natural Bridge, a local state park.
After 7 years, 5 months and 1 day of dating (but whose counting?), Alex proposed at the very same spot we had our first date. It was the most perfect, thoughtful and romantic proposal I could have imagined. He got down on one knee with the most spectacular ring I’ve ever seen and told me that he has loved me since that very first date and that he will love me forever more! He even went above and beyond by hiring local photographer, Kevin Remington, to capture the moment perfectly. We have been on cloud nine this entire week and can’t wait to be married.
After snapping a few photos at the Natural Bridge, we went back to our hotel to get cleaned up as we had just visited the Safari Park prior to the Natural Bridge. Kevin then took a few more photos for us on Washington and Lee’s campus. It was so special that Alex proposed in the same place where we spent so much time in the early years of our relationship. Looking at these photos reminds me of when we first fell in love!
This photo was taken on W&L’s Colonnade.
Anyway, enough of us. Take a look at this ring! Of course, I had sent Alex many photos of engagement rings that I liked while we were dating. Almost all of the rings were antique rings from the 1800s and early 1900s. You know how I love antiques.
Alex, in search of a more modern-style ring, went to Barsky Diamonds on Philadelphia’s Jewelers Row. After looking at what felt like hundreds of different stones, he finally found a round brilliant that stood out! He paired it with two smaller round brilliant stones on either side and a rose gold band. Although it wasn’t the ring I expected, I absolutely love it. It is beautiful; a delightful, unique and sparkly ring that I will cherish forever. Even more important to me than the ring was all of the thought and time Alex put into picking out the perfect style for me. I am so lucky! We are both ecstatic with the ring and he couldn’t speak more highly of his experience shopping at Barsky.
I couldn’t resist photographing my rose gold engagement ring with one of my favorite roses, Francis Meilland!
I am already thinking about wedding bands. Can you blame me? I am thinking about a simple gold band and love this one from Erstwhile Jewelry. That being said, I don’t know if I will be able to resist something with a bit of sparkle! If I do decide to choose a band with diamonds, I am determined to find something antique. I also think I will mix gold or silver with the rose gold. It is very trendy right now to mix metals and you already know I love to mix old and new!
What band would you pair with this engagement ring? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
The first seven photos in this post are by Kevin Remington Photography.
