Proposal Stories: Pip & Vince

Pip and Vince first met while studying at Cardiff University and have been together ever since. ‘We met at Cardiff University and have been together for just under eight years,’ Vince said.

Approaching almost a decade together, the idea of a proposal wasn’t exactly off the radar – especially with a long-awaited holiday to South Africa on the horizon. ‘I think everyone, including Pip, had it in their heads that I was going to propose there,’ Vince admitted. But that expectation gave him the perfect opportunity to do something completely unexpected. Instead of waiting for a big trip, he decided to surprise everyone – and ask Pip to marry him somewhere far closer to home.

Just before Christmas, the couple planned a festive day together in London – a bit of shopping, a drink and a dinner to kick off the festive season. That morning, Vince suggested one of their favourite rituals: ‘One of our favourite things to do together is get a coffee and a pastry and go for a long morning walk in one of London’s parks or commons,’ he said. ‘Our favourite is Richmond Park, so that morning I suggested we go there.’

After walking up Richmond Hill, they stopped on a bench to take in the view, one of their favourites in the city. ‘It was there and then that I pulled out the Queensmith box and asked the question,’ Vince said.

He admitted the nerves got the better of him for a moment: ‘The way I asked Pip to marry me can only be described as how Harry Potter asks Cho Chang to the ball,’ he laughed. ‘I sort of blurted it out.’

For Pip, the moment couldn’t have been more perfect. ‘I was completely shocked as I wasn’t expecting it at all,’ she said. ‘But of course it was the best surprise ever.’

After Pip said yes, the couple celebrated in style with a stay at Claridge’s that evening. ‘It was Christmas Eve the next day too, so we got to see family immediately afterwards – it made Christmas even more special,’ said Vince.

Planning a proposal in London? Check out our guide on where to propose in Richmond.

Vince designed Pip’s engagement ring with Queensmith, drawing inspiration from her love of yellow gold and pear cut diamonds. ‘Having Queensmith’s expertise throughout the process was imperative. I learned so much, especially about the 4Cs, and it really helped to choose the right diamond,’ he said.

He wanted a bespoke engagement ring design that would feel entirely personal: ‘I didn’t want anything pre-made as I knew Pip would have wanted a design that’s totally unique to her.’ The custom ring is similar to our Bardot Scallop ring setting, with a hidden diamond set bezel.

For Pip, the finished ring was everything she had hoped for. ‘I absolutely love the pear shape – it adds a bit of uniqueness as it’s not a shape I see very often. My favourite bit is the hidden halo, which adds a lovely surprise when you notice it! I also love that overall the ring is still very classic and timeless. Plus it’s so sparkly all the time!’

After creating the engagement ring, Pip and Vince knew they wanted to return to Queensmith for their wedding bands. ‘From my initial meeting with Eddi, right through to picking up our wedding rings, the service that Queensmith provided was nothing short of incredible,’ said Vince.

Pip explored a few styles before finding the perfect match. ‘I wanted something quite modern that would also stand out on its own,’ she said. ‘After a pear shape, my second favourite shape is an emerald cut diamond, so I really wanted to incorporate that somehow. I love how it’s completely different from my engagement ring, but the two still complement each other very well.’

Vince chose a classic 4mm Light Court wedding ring – simple, timeless and a perfect reflection of his own understated style.

Pip and Vince were married on 27th September 2025 at the breathtaking Brympton House in Somerset, a historic country estate full of charm. ‘It’s a big country house that has a lot of character and the grounds are amazing – there’s so many places to explore,’ said Pip. ‘We stayed onsite and partied alongside our family and friends all weekend! It just felt like one big house party with all of our favourite people.’

The week before, the weather had been unpredictable, and rain was forecast for their big day. But a little pre-wedding magic came to their rescue. ‘One of my friends sent me a link to an Etsy Witch who was on sale for £8.99 and had amazing reviews from other brides in the same situation,’ she laughed. ‘In a desperate attempt to at least try something, I paid and got the witch to cast a good weather spell. Apparently the spell would be stronger if you lit a candle and manifested good weather, so I got all of my friends to do just that.’

The spells and manifestations seemed to do the trick! ‘The day of our wedding, there was no rain at all and the sun even came out during our reception drinks,’ Pip said. ‘So whether it was the witch, the candle manifesting or the two sausages we planted under an apple tree on Friday night (because pork and apple go together?), who knows! But something or someone out there was definitely watching over us.’

Photographer: @abibuckphotography
Venue: @brymptonhouse
Styling: @brymptonstyling
Hair & Makeup: @alysonpeacockbridal
Wedding dress: @janehillbridal @carolinearthurbridal
Florist: @ivoryflowersbristol
Caterer: @the_frenchkitchen