Proposal Stories: Koen & Diana

Koen and Diana’s story began in the most unexpected of ways – through Diana’s mum. After graduating, Koen spent a summer working at an Italian restaurant where her mother worked too. ‘One day she told me her daughter was going to London for an internship and she asked me for tips, since she knew I’d visit London now and then with my dad and brother to watch Chelsea games,’ Koen recalled.

He asked Diana’s mum to pass on his number, and from there a spark was lit. ‘We hit it off instantly, without any expectations at first,’ he said. ‘But over nine years later, here we are! We even got married on the date we “officially” started our relationship: 26th July.’

After eight years together, Koen knew it was time. A health scare sealed the decision for him: ‘Getting hospitalised was like a wake-up call,’ he explained. ‘Love isn’t just creating beautiful memories, it’s also about having each other’s back in the bad times. Diana stayed with me all night. She was so caring and sweet; I realised I’d be stupid not to ask her to become my wife as soon as possible.’

In the pastel-painted harbour town of Portofino, Diana set out on what she thought was a simple walk, but soon realised Koen had planned something far more meaningful. At each stop, she discovered a letter, a small gift or a message from someone she loved, guiding her closer to the moment Koen had been planning for months.

‘We share a very special bond with Italy in general, so it was always going to happen there,’ Koen explained. ‘Then I had to think long and hard about what would be the most enchanting place to organise my scavenger hunt proposal. Finally, I decided to go with Portofino.’

The letters and clues were deeply personal. Her best friend Sarah, who had also helped Koen design the engagement ring, wrote one of the messages. Friends Maaike and Marrit recorded video clips for her to uncover along the way. At the church in Portofino, a bouquet of flowers and a handwritten note from her mum were waiting. ‘It was so sweet how my closest friends and my mum got included as well, even from a distance,’ Diana said.

Even the town’s locals became part of the plan. When a harbour bar closed for renovations at the last minute, Koen asked a nearby resident to hand Diana her next clue. ‘She wasn’t just happy to do so – she said she was honoured!’ he recalled. ‘The ladies in the church even kept an eye on the flowers and letter for me. I guess Italians really value romance.’

When Diana reached the final stop, Koen was waiting. On a quiet square, surrounded by Portofino’s colourful streets, he got down on one knee. ‘I was overjoyed and at the same time so emotional – happy tears,’ Diana remembered. ‘The proposal was so romantic, well-thought out and planned perfectly. Thinking back to it still makes me emotional.’

When it came to the ring, Koen had a clear vision. ‘It is the perfect ring. It’s timeless and elegant, just like Diana,’ he said. ‘It has a beautiful shape and the perfect size diamond – present, but not flashy. I was quite happy that Sarah and I immediately agreed on it.’

The result was a timeless solitaire engagement ring in platinum, set with a round brilliant cut lab grown diamond. Later, Diana paired it with a delicate platinum scallop set diamond wedding ring, while Koen chose a classic platinum court wedding band. ‘Now that Diana’s wearing the wedding ring as well, it really is the perfect pair. They fit seamlessly,’ Koen added.

For Diana, it was love at first sight. ‘Yes, it’s perfect. It’s so sophisticated and timeless with the right diamond size as well. I do have quite small fingers, so I never wanted something too big,’ she said.

In true Italian style, Koen and Diana returned to Tuscany to celebrate their wedding. On the 26th July, surrounded by forty of their closest family and friends, they tied the knot at Villa Belpoggio.

‘The whole wedding literally felt like being the main character in a film,’ Koen said. Guests were serenaded by a violinist, enjoyed aperitivo by the pool with cocktails served from a Fiat 500 and dined al fresco at one long, candlelit table in the garden. The night ended with music, dancing and even a spontaneous midnight swim.

The celebrations continued the next day with a pool party complete with ice cream served from a Vespa and pizzas from a classic Ape – the perfect finale to their Italian wedding weekend.