JOURNAL
Amie and Shell's Double NYC Proposal
Amie and Shell's double NYC proposal is a story that we've been eagerly wanting to share, and definitely one that we'll be re-telling for years to come! Both Amie and Shell who have been longtime clients of ours, came to RUUSK (unbeknownst to each other), both wanting to create special engagement rings for their significant other. Not only that...they also individually wanted to surprise the other and propose on their upcoming Christmas trip to NYC. With such a big secret to keep, we worked with girls individually and it was such a honour to be able to create such meaningful pieces for them, especially knowing what was going to unfold... What are your star signs? Libra and Aries Who proposed first? Amie got in first with a proposal, but only by one day! Amie, tell us how you proposed to Shell? Where were you? What made you pick that moment? We had been planning to go overseas for Christmas and eventually decided on New York City for the bucket-list white Christmas we both wanted. Forsaking a big grand gesture, it meant more to me to create an intimate moment to ask her where it was just the two of us. Our holiday was our Christmas gift to each other but to make it feel a little more festive we agreed to get each other a small surprise to open on Christmas day - a perfect solution to the issue of hiding the ring! I set up a decoy present a couple of weeks earlier to make it less obvious and packed both it and the ring wrapped for Shell to open on Christmas morning. We were staying in an adorable apartment in the Meatpacking district and fatefully the owner had put up a small Christmas tree for us perfectly decorated with fairy lights, a single yellow taxi ornament and topped with a glittering unicorn. It was absolutely perfect! I barely slept a wink on Christmas Eve. I had written a short speech before we left that I had trying to memorise up until that day, so at 6am on Christmas morning I was wide awake with excitement and nervous anticipation trying to recite my speech in my head. Shell was fast asleep next to me for what felt like an eternity but eventually she woke up and we put on our tacky Christmas themed pyjamas we had bought specially for the trip and went to open the gifts under the tree. Shell had confessed the night before she didn’t have a gift ready for me to open on Christmas Day (all the while she had ring ready and waiting for her own proposal) so I said it’s okay, you open one and I will open one for us both. Sitting on the floor under our little NY Christmas tree directly opposite her, I gave her the other present to open first, which she opened to find a NYC snow globe engraved reading “and so our biggest adventure begins” with the date 25.12.2019. Michelle burst into tears, making my heart temporarily stop with fear, when I asked her what/s wrong and she replied ‘nothing, I’m just happy’ I took a deep breath and nervously asked her if she wanted me to open the other present and she nodded. I fumbled open the wrapping paper to reveal the small white box, looked up at Shell and forgot everything I had prepared to say! I started to give a very jumbled, disjointed and teary version of it and eventually got the the point, opened the box and asked “Will you marry me and share forever with me?” To my relief and pure joy she said yes. In fact she took the ring herself and put it straight on her finger, and then said, “oh wait - you’re supposed to do that!” We both laughed and smiled and kissed to seal the deal. It’s safe to say it was the best Christmas ever. Shell, were you surprised when Amie proposed to you? How did you feel? Christmas morning rolled around and Amie was so excited for me to open my present. I opened the snow Globe and read “and so our biggest adventure begins”. I burst into tears.. I think I scared Amie a bit. Until I could catch my breath,I was crying because I was so unbelievably happy as I knew that she was about to ask me to spend my life with her. My heart has never felt like it did in that moment. Amie unwrapped the ring and proposed... I just felt my body flood with joy, tears ran down my face, my heart was so content. And how and where did you eventually propose to Amie? When thinking of proposing to Amie I had so many grand plans. The plan I had hoped for was that I could propose to Amie in the snow. She had never seen/experienced falling snow before. Knowing I wanted to spend my life with Amie, going forward I just wanted to experience every one of life's firsts with her. I made a plan that, if it didn’t snow before Christmas Eve, I would propose to her then - ironically thinking Christmas was too obvious in case she was onto me. When Amie proposed to me on Christmas morning I was so confused and actually nearly out of pure joy got the ring and proposed to her right there and then, but I stopped myself thinking she deserved her day and a surprise of her own. In the morning I took Amie for a walk on the High Line, then we went to Central Park to explore. While walking through Central Park I took us away from the crowds and made Amie jump a fence “for a picture”. In a grass field in the park I put the ring box up my sleeve while I set the camera up. I came over so confident, knowing what I had planned to say. We posed for a “picture” and I turned to Amie... all of the words I had prepared were gone, I did get out that I loved her and wanted to spend my whole life with her. I got down on one knee and asked Amie to marry me. I can confidently say she was surprised and had no idea that I also had a ring and a RUUSK ring at that. She burst out laughing and said “YES, OF COURSE I WILL MARRY YOU”. Amie, what did you think when Shell proposed to you and realised you both had been planning to propose to each other on the same trip? I was in total disbelief and shock when Shell proposed to me on boxing day - she didn’t give anything away! Although in hindsight she was a bit anxious and I did think it was weird that she wasn’t interested in looking at any of the main attractions in Central Park. When she asked me to go and pose for the photo, I was so clueless that I didn’t even realise she was proposing to me until half way through when she dropped down onto one knee and pulled out the ring - I actually burst out laughing out of pure happiness. I have never smiled so much in my whole life! We both found it hilarious that we had been planning to propose on the same trip, and each designed two very similar yet perfectly individual rings from RUUSK. We remarked about how Tania must have felt keeping our rings a secret from each of us and knowing that both of us were planning to propose. When we finally ran out of laughter, we had to then deliberate about how we were going to announce our second engagement in two days! All in all it couldn’t have gone better if we had planned it. It seemed tragically romantic but it was no doubt that we were both on the same page and both definitely ready for this huge commitment and next step in our relationship. It showed we are more in sync that we realised! Did either of you have an inkling about any of this? Amie: I personally had no idea whatsoever that Shell was going to propose to me. Maybe because I was so focused on my own proposal to her and trying to keep it a secret! Even when a friend had joked to me before the holiday “what if Shell is planning to propose as well?” I didn’t consider that was going to happen! Shell is typically terrible a keeping secrets - she is the kind of person who agonises and deliberates and has to talk about everything! I knew that she wanted to get married because naturally as two women we had talked about our dreams and plans for our future together a lot, but she had me tricked into believing that she wanted to buy me a ring that she couldn’t afford it at the time! Shell: I had a sneaky suspicion that Amie may propose, knowing me too well she threw me off her tracks though. I was extremely surprised Amie had bought me a RUUSK ring. Probably because I couldn’t believe Tania had pulled off such a surprise with no hint or even slight slip up while she was working with both of us in secret, all the while knowing what each other was planning and working on. I must say I honestly had no idea, when Amie and I could both finally tell each other everything we both laughed thinking about how we both had no idea through the whole process. What do you both love about your rings? Amie: I’m absolutely in love with my ring, I don’t think I could have chosen anything more perfect than what Shell and Tania created. I love the brushed gold finish that makes it feel a little less ‘bling’ and makes the gold a perfect colour to perfectly compliment the warm and rustic tone of the champagne diamond Shell chose for me. The two tiny clear diamonds either side of the centre stone are such a nice, simple addition that makes it feel really bespoke and one of a kind. My band is perfectly thin and dainty and so unbelievably light I have to double check it is still on my finger at times! More than anything I love what it represents and its sentimental value. The thought and attention to detail that went into it makes it so special just like our love. (Amie's Bespoke Engagement ring: Solitaire Champagne Diamond ring with flush-set Clear Diamonds in band, contact us to create your bespoke piece, shop similar engagement bands) Shell: I love my ring. Every part of it makes it special to me. The fact that Amie picked the details and designed it, the fact that Tania so carefully and wonderfully made it a reality. Amie picked a salt and pepper diamond for my ring. She said to me once when describing why she loved those diamonds - “they are perfectly, imperfect” She said when she proposed that she chose this stone because it reminded her of me as it is beautiful, rare and truly one of a kind, not in spite of its flaws, but because of them. I love that everyday my ring reminds me of my Amie. That in everything there is beauty and perfection in its own right. The True North cut into the front ties into the RUUSK necklace I bought for Amie on our first Christmas together as a couple. Everyday I look down to my ring and I smile, it’s perfect. (Shell's bespoke Engagement ring; custom carved Salt and Pepper Solitaire Diamond with star-set Diamond in the bezel, contact us to create your bespoke piece, shop similar engagement bands)) How was your experience with RUUSK? We have had the best experience with RUUSK. We have both always adored and admired Tania’s work and all of her beautiful RUUSK pieces she has made that are distinctly different and unique from any other jeweller we have seen - which is probably why we both went to her to create our special rings. This is not the first time Tania has played a part in our love story either! We put Tania in the same position of having to keep a secret from the other but that time it was with necklaces! Christmas of 2018 unbeknownst to each other we both asked Tania to create a special necklace for the other which she pulled off perfectly - and I vaguely recall assuring her we wouldn’t do that to her again! The thing we love most about RUUSK is that every single piece of jewellery has its own personal story and is made with love both from the customers purpose and Tania’s passion for her craft that is expressed so clearly in the details. We are certain this is not the last time RUUSK will feature in our story!
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RUUSK Couples: Carmen & Gábor
Having met whilst they were in Budapest, Hungary, Carmen and Gábor celebrated their wedding festivities along the beautiful coast of the Great Ocean Road in Victoria. The highlight of their day was celebrating amongst their closest family and friends at King Parrot Cottages, nestled in the bushlands of the Otway Ranges. Gábor and Carmen's wedding bands represented their own individual styles, with Gábor opting for a Round yellow gold band featuring a flush-set Sapphire, while Carmen's white gold Wave Band with flush-set diamonds paired perfectly with her engagement ring. What are your star signs? Aquarius and Gemini Where was your first date? A little restaurant in Budapest, Hungary (city we first met). Describe each other in three words. Gábor is funny, affectionate, supportive. Carmen is spontaneous, beautiful, considerate. Where did you get married? We fell in love with our venue, King Parrot Cottages. It’s close to one of our favourite coastal towns along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria. There are multiple cottages scattered around the huge property that we had our close friends and family stay in. We had the whole venue to ourselves for a few days, so the celebrations lasted all weekend! What did you love most about your wedding? We enjoyed having a small and intimate setting with our closest friends and family, but honestly we loved everyone who was there, from the caterers to the guys behind the cameras and DJ - they all made it so much fun and we had a ball! The food was pretty amazing too! What do you love most about your rings, how did you find your experience with RUUSK? We were looking around for rings for a while and just never found anything that we both really loved. Gabor was the one who found RUUSK. From the very beginning, once we got in touch with Tania, it was such an easy process to design the rings and overall was such a pleasant experience that made it all the more special. We received two stunning pieces that we both could not wait to wear! Carmen's wave ring fits perfectly with her engagement ring and Gabor loves the weight of his and the sapphire gem. Featuring Gábor's 5mm Round Band customised with a Sapphire and Carmen's Wave Band. What excites you most about life together? All the adventures! We love living life together and just excited to be creating so many new memories. Photographer: Nic Stephens | @nicstephensphotography Wedding dress designer: Spell and the Gypsy | @spell_bride Hair & Make up: Genna Nelson and Jenna Keast | @makeupbygennanelson and Jenna Keast Flowers: Thistle Flower Studio | @thistleflowerstudio Celebrant (and DJ!): Sean Whelan @marrymesean_celebrant Shop wedding bands for him here and for her here. To enquire about creating your own special bespoke piece, contact us here.
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RUUSK Couples: Bri & Theo
Bri and Theo exchanged vows under the backdrop of Theo's childhood home, surrounded by beautiful gumtrees in the bushlands of Forcett, south-east of Tasmania. They celebrated their special day amongst their nearest and dearest (pets included), and with the surprise of rain, their plans of an outdoor wedding were diverted into the beautiful and intimate walls of the local town hall. Having commemorated Theo's family roots, Bri commemorated hers with an heirloom passed down to her from her late grandmother. The heirloom eternity ring was given new life through the creation of their wedding bands, both featuring diamonds from the original piece, commemorating the past, present and the future of their family. Describe each other in three words. Theo to Bri: Supportive, loving and loyal. Bri to Theo: Inspiring, inquisitive and calming. Where did you get married? We got married in bushland around Theo’s childhood home in Forcett, Tasmania. Our closest friends and family gathered under gumtrees in an intimate ceremony to watch us tie the knot. What did you love most about your wedding? We loved being able to have all our family and friends (and pets!) together in one place to celebrate and party with us! What do you love most about your rings? We love the heirloom diamonds in both of our rings. Bri’s late grandmother’s eternity ring was passed on to her from one of her aunties. We knew immediately we wanted to incorporate some of the tiny diamonds from her ring into our wedding bands. Featuring Rose Gold Thin New Moon Ring & Rose Gold 6.5mm Round Ring (customised with heirloom diamond) What excites you most about life together? Being able to work towards building our forever home and starting our family together. It’s nice to know that whatever life throws at us, good and bad, we’ll always have each other to lean on. Photographer: Jon Gazzignato Wedding dress designer: Spell Bride Shop wedding bands for her and him. To customise your wedding band, contact us.
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RUUSK Couples: Ben & Matt
Being surrounded by their nearest and dearest in the mountainous regions of Chiang Mai, in Northern Thailand was the highlight of their special day for Ben and Matt. Their forever bands not only commemorated their union but also represented their love for each other, especially in times when they couldn't be together. Ben's white gold band features a flush set diamond which pairs perfectly with Matt's white gold square band. Describe each other in three words. Ben to Matt: cute, understanding, supportive Matt to Ben: Vivacious, trustworthy, empathetic Where did you get married? The Rati Lanna Resort in Chiang Mai, Thailand What did you love most about your wedding? Ben: Everything, especially my groom with the big smile on his face. Matt: I wouldn’t change a thing about it – although all the guests from both sides had to travel to be there and it was amazing and such an honour that so many loved ones were there to support us. What excites you most about life together? Ben: Sharing every moment together.Matt: Growing in sync and facing life’s challenges and celebrations as one. What do you love most about your rings? Ben: I always want to have Matt in my pocket. But it is unlikely. The rings, at least, can do the job. Matt: The memory of wonderful, personalised service from Tania, and supporting ethically created jewellery and an Australian local talent. Featuring: Mini Luna Diamond Ring and 5mm Square Band Photography: 258 Photogaphy
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RUUSK Couples: Clara & Jake
Having had their first date at Turimetta Beach, this secluded, seaside location also became the place where Jake asked Clara to marry him. With a shared love of the beach, the pair exchanged vows amongst their closest family and friends at Wiltshire Park in Palm beach. Their wedding bands were nothing they had ever actually pictured them to be - Clara's beautiful Diamond Wave band featured 18 Bead-set clear diamonds, which paired perfectly with her engagement ring. And Jake's Oval Signet ring was a modern take on the classic round shape. What are your Star signs? We are both Libra. Where was your first date? Turimetta Beach, same place Jake proposed. Describe Jake in three words. Intelligent, handsome, positive Where did you get married?Ceremony: Palm Beach & Wiltshire Park Reception: Moby Dicks, Whale Beach What did you love most about your wedding?We loved how fun it was, everyone was so happy and ready to party and the photos show just that! What do you love most about your rings, how did you find your experience with RUUSK? We loved how it was nothing we ever pictured when looking for our wedding bands, Clara’s engagement ring looks like it was made perfectly for her wedding band, the wave fit perfectly under her engagement ring. Jake loves how unique his ring is, he has always wanted a signet ring for his wedding band but wanted a different take on it and the large oval signet does just that! Tania was incredible to work with! So kind and so lovely, she also created a tiny signet for Clara’s maid of honour at the last second which was so nice of her to fit that in for us! (Featuring White Gold Diamond Wave Ring and White Gold Men's Large Oval Signet Ring.) What excites you most about life together? We are so excited to experience every high and low together, enjoy the blessings in life and the hardships but together. Shop Clara's Diamond Wave band and Jake's Oval Signet ring. Photographer: @charlotteextonphotographyWedding dress designer: @enzoani + @eternalbridalHair & Make up: @andreablack_makeupFlowers: @florafolk_Celebrant: @mitchhammond
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RUUSK Couples: Angela & David
Having exchanged vows at beautiful villa in Canggu, Bali amongst their nearest and dearest, Angela and David's bohemian-esque wedding not only celebrated their union, but also that of both their families. By also incorporating part of Angela's heritage, the couple paid respects to the elders in their families through a traditional Chinese tea ceremony. We had the honour of creating Angela and David's beautiful engagement ring and weddings bands. Using the diamonds from a ring that had been passed down to her from her late grandma, Angela's engagement ring commemorated her family and her new life with David (who also played a major role in the design process!). Their wedding bands were customised and hand engraved with their initials and the date of their special day. Describe each other in three words. Angela describing David: affectionate, sharp and adventurous David describing Angela: thoughtful, kind, and positive. Where did you get married? We got married at The Villa Sanctuary in Canggu, Bali. What did you love most about your wedding? David: I loved having all our friends and family being there to celebrate our special day. It really means a lot when so many people travel from all corners of the world to be part of our wedding. Angela, you also incorporated the Chinese tea ceremony into your special day, why was this important for you to celebrate? We always wanted to do a Chinese tea ceremony to incorporate some culture in a very non-religious and non-traditional wedding. It was also a great way to have our families be a part of the wedding (both of us also chose to walk down the aisle with both our parents as we wanted both to be equally involved). After all, marriage is not just a union between two people but two families. It was our opportunity to thank family members for all that they have done for us thus far and it was beautiful also for the elders who took part in the ceremony, who got to have a quieter moment with us to give us their well wishes to us in person (amidst the hullabaloo of a wedding!) We actually thought the tea ceremony was gonna be quite a boring part for the guests (especially the westerners) but everyone thought it was so moving and beautiful. We’re so glad we did it now! It was definitely a special part of the wedding. What do you love most about your rings? Angela: I love both my engagement rings and wedding band, they go so well together even though they’re different colours. Most of all I love that David designed the ring himself with diamonds from my grandma who recently passed. The rings not only remind me of our love for each other but also my mum, grandma and family. David: I love the fact that they are unique and one of a kind. It means so much more knowing that the ring we wear was made with love and passion and we were involved in helping to create them. What excites you most about life together? Angela: We’re actually having a baby soon so excited about being more than just the two of us and being a family. Excited to see David be a father as I think he’ll be so good at it. David: Building a family and watching our children grow up. I’m not sure if this next stage in life is scary or exciting though! Shop engagement rings here. Shop wedding bands for him here and for her here. To enquire about creating your own special bespoke piece, contact us here.
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RUUSK Couples: Ingrid & Daniel
Ingrid and Daniel shared their special day with their closest family and friends under the backdrop of a Spanish castle. Ingrid's bespoke Engagement and wedding band, designed by RUUSK, tied in beautifully with the modern yet vintage feel on their special day.
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RUUSK Couples: Stacey & Ash
Stacey and Ash celebrated their special day in the whimsical hills of the Byron hinterland in an intimate ceremony amongst their closest family and friends. With a love for handmade detail, the expectant couple chose RUUSK to create their bespoke pieces.
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RUUSK Couples: Anna & Tim
Both Anna and Tim are originally from the UK but call Australia home. For their wedding, they travelled back to Tim's hometown in Ireland to tie the knot. They chose to create bespoke rings with RUUSK so that no matter where they end up, they'll always carry a piece of Australia with them.
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