Proposal Stories: Serena & Alex

Serena and Alex met in September 2017 after matching on Tinder. 'We went on our first date in Brighton, after Serena called me out for having terrible chat over text,' Alex laughed. Luckily, his in-person charm did the job. ‘I think my chat must have been a little better on the day as we’ve now been together for 8 amazing years!’

By 2023, Serena had given Alex a not-so-subtle nudge: ‘For Serena’s birthday in 2023 we went engagement ring shopping! (Her idea – I think it was a not-so-subtle kick up the butt),’ Alex admitted. Queensmith was an easy choice. ‘The friendly, welcoming staff and the attention to detail in that first meeting left a lasting impression… it was this level of genuine care and pride in their work that really sealed the deal.’

When the time came to propose, Alex had the perfect plan. ‘I proposed while we were on holiday in Madeira… I knew we were going to have a lovely time, and that she might be expecting the proposal. So, what followed was a masterclass in lying to my (soon to be) fiancée!’ he joked. He even collaborated with Serena’s mum to smuggle the ring out to avoid suspicion, and reserved a cabana overlooking the ocean at their hotel.

The day itself was packed with adventure. ‘The morning of the proposal, we got up at 4:30am for a 3-hour sunrise mountain hike… so by the evening we were both quite tired. But when I proposed, all that tiredness was instantly forgotten,’ Alex remembered.

As he led Serena to the cabana, she began to suspect something. ‘As he led me down to a beautiful cabana overlooking the sea and I saw a bottle of champagne on ice, I got a feeling in the pit of my stomach and my hands started shaking,’ she recalled. ‘Something about it felt different… until he pulled out the ring, I was still reminding myself not to read too much into it, just in case.’

She didn’t have to wait long. ‘According to Alex, I said (yelled) yes before his knee even touched the ground – but I’m pretty sure he grazed the floor!’

For Serena, the perfect ring was a classic solitaire engagement ring: a plain yellow gold band with a brilliant round cut lab grown diamond. ‘I wanted something elegant and simple, and I wanted to give her a ring she would want to wear forever,’ Alex said. ‘I also made sure that the ring was made with a wedding band in mind, so the clearance of the diamond allows the wedding ring to butt up flush.’

Serena couldn’t have been happier: ‘Alex got me the perfect ring because it’s exactly what I asked for with a slightly bigger diamond! I wanted something really simple and classic… I still love looking at it every day and can’t imagine wearing another ring.’

The Queensmith experience was a highlight for Alex: ‘Being able to go to the shop and talk with the experts and craftspeople about the ring and the stone… I was made to feel so comfortable by the team and they really helped me to create the perfect ring for Serena.’

Having loved their experience with Queensmith, Serena and Alex knew there was only one place they wanted to return to for their wedding rings. ‘For us, investing in our rings was important because they last beyond the wedding day – you’ll be wearing them forever,’ Serena explained.

Unlike with her engagement ring, she wasn’t sure what style she wanted at first. ‘I knew I wanted something that complemented my engagement ring and didn’t overpower it,’ she said. After trying several designs, it was the Montez Diamond Eternity Ring that felt just right. ‘Once I tried it on, it was perfect. It’s interesting, a little bit fun, and I love it.’

Alex had a clear vision from the start. ‘I knew I wanted a simple wedding band in yellow gold because it felt like a timeless symbol of marriage,’ he said. Since the wedding, he hasn’t taken it off once. Serena added: ‘We’re both big fans of just waving our hands around at each other.’

Eight years to the day after they first met, Serena and Alex tied the knot at Millbridge Court in Surrey. ‘It was important to us to get married on our anniversary,’ Serena explained. ‘When you marry in the UK, the weather is the one thing you can’t control. We figured if we chose a date that already meant something to us, we wouldn’t regret it if the weather was terrible!’

Their instincts proved right. After a long, hot summer, rain fell steadily from dawn to dusk. ‘It’s pouring in most of our photos, but our photographer is incredible – so the umbrellas behind us are the only clue!’ said Serena. Far from spoiling the day, the storm only added to its warmth. ‘We wouldn’t have changed it for the world,’ she added.

The couple wove their personalities and heritage through every detail. Serena’s bespoke wedding dress fused her Indian-British heritage, and their menu reflected their love of food with dishes from burrata to samosas, gnocchi to paneer. ‘We had a menu that reflected us to a tee and was perfectly executed.’ Serena smiled.

Flowers, music and speeches added layers of meaning. Frankie Lane Flowers filled the venue with colour, glowing against candlelight as guests listened to laughter and clinking glasses. Serena and Alex opted for six speeches rather than the traditional three, making space for voices from both sides of the family and their closest friends. ‘It didn’t sit right that traditionally, only men speak at a wedding,’ Serena said. 'We might be biased, but everyone smashed it. There was laughter, there were tears, there were beautiful things said… and jokes we’ll let slide!’

For Alex and Serena, the day was about one thing above all: joy. ‘That’s what we felt, marrying each other, that’s what weddings are about for us, and it’s how we wanted our loved ones to feel,’ said Serena. As the rain fell outside, the couple ended their night in a room brimming with colour, warmth and celebration. ‘Seeing all of the carefully chosen details come together, along with our beautiful rings of course, was worth every second of planning and saving. Neither of us stopped smiling from the moment we took each other’s hand at the end of the aisle.’

Photographer: @photosfromsophie
Venue: @millbridgecourt
Florist: @frankielaneflowers
Caterer: @kalmkitchenltd
Serena's wedding dress: @chamakbykohl & @atelier_by_khosh
Hair & Makeup: @hollyannbridal
Alex’s suit: @richardjamesofficial
Serena's evening dress: @coastfashion