Proposal Stories: Ariana & Jay

Jay and Ariana’s story began back in 2014 at a junior tennis tournament, though, at the time, their connection didn’t quite take off. ‘I had the biggest crush on her,’ admitted Jay, ‘but it wasn’t reciprocated!’ Fast forward six years to 2020, when the two reconnected, and Jay was ready to try again. ‘Fortunately, I had grown a bit taller, taken my braces off, and put some muscles on, so my odds looked much better.’ The couple have been inseparable ever since, and after four years together, they are now celebrating their first year of marriage.

The proposal came as a complete surprise to Ariana, though it was a meticulously planned event by Jay. ‘I wanted to do it on holiday, so I picked Santorini,’ Jay explained. However, getting Ariana to agree on the destination wasn’t easy. Ariana had her heart set on France, especially as she was planning a separate trip to Greece with her friends. But Jay, determined to make his proposal perfect, had to advocate strongly for Santorini. ‘That was stressful!’ he admits.

Once the destination was set, Jay secretly planned everything in advance, including booking a honeymoon suite for the week and hiring a local photographer to capture the moment. ‘I felt pretty confident, but there’s always that element of nerves!’ On the day of the proposal, amidst the stunning backdrop of Santorini, Jay got down on one knee and asked Ariana to spend forever with him. ‘The proposal was completely unexpected and it was the best moment ever,’ said Ariana. ‘I felt super excited, especially since I could tell how much he cared to plan it out.’

After the big moment, the couple spent the day celebrating together before calling friends and family to share the exciting news. Following their Santorini getaway, they flew straight to Romania to celebrate with Ariana’s parents.

When it came to choosing the perfect engagement ring, Jay wanted something timeless and elegant. ‘I chose a gold solitaire ring with a round diamond,’ Jay said. While the couple hadn’t explicitly discussed ring preferences, he knew that Ariana only wore gold jewellery, which made the decision a bit easier. ‘I wanted something classy that would withstand the test of time, and the team at Queensmith were amazing in helping me design the ring and pick the diamond.’

For Jay, the personalisation process was his favourite part. ‘It was so fun picking every detail of the ring – from the diamond, metal, style, to the number of prongs. Queensmith really helped bring my vision to life.’ The final result was a Fontaine Solitaire Classic Six-Claw engagement ring in 18k yellow gold with a 1ct round brilliant diamond.

Ariana, who describes herself as ‘extremely picky and indecisive,’ was relieved Jay took the lead on choosing the ring. ‘I didn’t have a dream engagement ring in mind, and I was so happy with what he picked. I love it and wouldn’t change a thing.’

The couple returned to Queensmith to choose their wedding rings for the big day. Ariana decided on a bespoke 3mm 36% diamond set wedding band in 18k yellow gold, which paired beautifully with her round solitaire engagement ring. The 2.5mm Classic 7 Stone Eternity diamond wedding ring in 18k yellow gold is a similar design, but we highly recommend you browse our range of wedding rings, or book an appointment with us, to find a style that suits you and sits perfectly alongside your engagement ring.

Ariana and Jay tied the knot in October 2023 at the breathtaking Harlaxton Manor in Grantham. ‘It was the most beautiful day, it still feels like a dream,’ Ariana shared. Planning a wedding can often be stressful, but for the couple, it was also filled with excitement and love. ‘It was very fun, and stressful, organising the day, but it felt so special to have all our friends and family come from various places around the world to celebrate us.’

Their wedding day was the perfect culmination of their journey together, filled with love and memories they’ll cherish forever. We’re so happy to have been part of their story, creating a timeless engagement ring and wedding rings for this stylish couple, and we wish them a lifetime of happiness ahead.

Wedding Photography
Emmylou Kelly
@emmylou.kelly
emmyloukelly.com/