Some proposals are entirely spontaneous. Some are meticulously planned. And some involve a group of Australian friends, a beautifully timed excuse about running late, and a pergola decorated with nine and a half years of photographs.
Nathan and Catherine's falls firmly in the third category. And it is one of our favourite stories.
Nine and a Half Years
Nathan and Catherine had been together for nine and a half years when he proposed. Which is a long time and also, in retrospect, exactly the right amount of time to have accumulated enough photographs to decorate a pergola in a botanical garden in Australia.
The ring Nathan chose was bespoke - a combination of two designs he loved, worked together by Laura into something that existed nowhere else. When it arrived, Catherine loved it immediately. So did everyone who saw it.
She absolutely loves the ring and everyone is commenting on how beautiful it is. Nathan's words, "Thank you for being so accommodating and combining the two designs that I liked to create the ring - it was ideal"
The Plan
Nathan had planned everything in advance. They arrived in Australia on the Friday. The proposal was set for the Saturday.
The cover story was simple. They were going to a friend's house at 4.30pm. Perfectly ordinary. Nothing to see here.
Then, on the way, the friends messaged to say they were running late. Perhaps Nathan and Catherine should take a walk around the local botanical gardens while they waited - it was a beautiful spot, after all.
Catherine had no idea.
The Botanical Garden
When they arrived at the gardens and walked towards the pergola in the middle - the one overlooking the water - Catherine saw the photographs.
Nine and a half years of them. Strung across the pergola alongside two large bouquets of flowers and a bottle of champagne, waiting.
She could not believe it.
Nathan, by his own admission, stumbled over his words a little. But he got to the question. And she said yes.
"It was an amazing way to start our trip and we got to enjoy it with all our Australian friends for the next two weeks."
The friends who had been running late, of course, were not running late at all. They had been at the botanical garden, setting everything up.
Byron Bay
After the proposal and two weeks with their Australian friends, Nathan and Catherine did an engagement shoot with one of Catherine's favourite photographers on a beach near Byron Bay. The ring, the light, the people who had just agreed to spend their lives together.
We cannot think of a better way to mark the start of something.
Back to Newquay
Nathan and Catherine are coming back to see us soon - to have the ring slightly resized and to look at wedding bands. We are so glad.
Catherine also mentioned she loved hearing the story of Ethica - a mother and daughter business built on a genuine passion for sustainability. We think that says a great deal about who she is.
We cannot wait to see them both.
Congratulations Nathan and Catherine. Nine and a half years, a botanical garden in Australia, stumbled words, and a yes. It sounds absolutely perfect.
Share your Ethica love story with us >
If you have an Ethica ring and a story to tell, we would love to hear it. Get in touch and we would be honoured to share it, either click on the link or email us at info@ethicadiamonds.com
