Proposal Stories: Ella & Samuel

Samuel and Ella met online in late December 2024. 'Ella lived just thirty minutes up the road, and our first date was on 30 December,' Samuel shared. That first date quickly turned into a second on New Year’s Eve. 'From that point on we were almost inseparable. Things moved quickly, but it felt natural, and I now genuinely understand the phrase once you know, you know.'

Although getting engaged was something they had already discussed, the proposal plan was kept a total secret. 'The proposal itself was a complete surprise for Ella,' Samuel said. While the couple chose to design the engagement ring together, Samuel ensured, 'everything after that, ordering the ring, collecting it, asking her parents for their blessing, and planning the proposal, was kept as a surprise.'

Samuel chose Vienna for a reason. 'Vienna was always the plan for me, as it was the first place we travelled to together and somewhere we both love,' he explained. 'Schönbrunn was new to both of us, but it provided the perfect backdrop. There was something really romantic about proposing somewhere that overlooks the entire city.'

On the day itself, Samuel was calmer than he expected. 'There was a plan, and I was focused on sticking to it,' Samuel said, though he admits he worried Ella might realise what was coming. 'As it turns out, I was overthinking it, as she later told me she had no idea.'

For Ella, the proposal exceeded every expectation. 'That morning we walked through Schönbrunn Palace and stopped at the viewpoint in front of the Gloriette,' she recounted. 'Samuel asked someone to take our photo, which he often does, so I thought nothing of it. I later found out she was our engagement photographer, Katerina, who would be capturing the moment. That was when Samuel got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.'

'It was incredibly special and completely exceeded anything I had imagined,' Ella shared. 'Samuel put so much thought into every detail, which is very much him – to the point he stopped running a few weeks prior to avoid a knee injury on the day, in case he couldn’t get back up!'

Samuel and Ella designed their engagement ring together, a decision both of them now wholeheartedly recommend. 'Designing the ring together before the proposal was really special, and personally I think it should become the new norm,' Samuel said. 'It is a great thing to do together, as long as the proposal itself stays a secret.'

Working with Lexia at Queensmith made the process feel approachable and personal. 'We both went in knowing very little, but the process never felt intimidating,' Samuel explained. 'The experience felt personal and well thought through, which made it genuinely enjoyable.'

That experience culminated in a bespoke solitaire engagement ring in 18k yellow gold, set with an oval cut diamond – a shape beloved for its sparkle and softly elongated, elegant finish.

For Ella, the finished ring is everything she hoped for. 'The ring is absolutely stunning. I love the oval shape, but my favourite detail is the hidden halo. I am completely obsessed with it,' she said. 'It feels timeless and elegant, and I already catch myself admiring it throughout the day.'

She also reflected on the experience itself: 'Visiting Queensmith and trying on different styles was such a special experience. Being able to explore different shapes together took away a lot of pressure and made the whole process feel relaxed and enjoyable.'

After the proposal, Samuel and Ella headed back into Vienna to celebrate. 'We found a rooftop bar overlooking St Stephen’s Cathedral, and shared a couple of glasses of champagne while taking in our first afternoon and evening as fiancé and fiancée,' Samuel said.

But it was the quieter details, revealed afterwards, that made the experience even more meaningful. 'He also gave me a notebook where he had written these notes and left space for the photos from the disposable camera,' Ella shared. 'We have since decided to keep using it by writing a letter to each other on every anniversary, which feels like a really meaningful way to mark our life together.'

Among those memories was one unexpected highlight. 'He even managed to get a photo of our cat inspecting the ring, which might be my favourite part.'

And do we hear wedding bells any time soon? 'We are very much enjoying being engaged at the moment,' Ella said. 'But we're thinking 2027, though we haven't chosen a location yet.' Northumberland and Market Harborough are both firmly in consideration, with both holding special significance for the couple. We can't wait to see where their story leads next.

Photography: Katerina Fajmon (@katerina.fajmon)