Tina and Marco | The Classic Jeweller's lovers

In 2019, fate brought Tina and me together at a New Year's Eve gathering, hosted by a dear friend. Amidst the revelry, we played bingo and as the night progressed, I found myself transfixed by Tina's beauty and charm. When our mutual friend introduced us, I was struck by her radiance as we shook hands. As the evening wore on, she sat across from me and won round after round, leaving me both impressed and enamored.

Even though Tina went on a month-long holiday shortly after, I could not shake her from my thoughts. I made en effort to stay in touch despite the physical distance between us. Our bond only grew stronger when she returned, and we began spending time together regularly. From hikes to road trips and everything in between, we shared many memorable moments and I cherished every one of them.

It was on a serene day in Edinburgh, on March 21, 2020, that our love story reached new heights. Sitting atop a cliff, gazing out at the big waves and crystal-clear blue ocean, Tina uttered those three magical words that took my breath away. Overcome with emotion, I asked her to repeat herself and she confessed her love for me, agreeing to be my girlfriend. It was a moment that will forever be etched in my heart as a testament to the beauty and power of our true love.

That was so sweet, truly something we can see you re-telling your kids at the dinner table one day. We love the location you picked out for the proposal, what made you choose Bali as the destination?

As the years passed, my love for Tina grew stronger, and I knew with certainty that she was the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. With this realization, I resolved to propose to her and make our commitment official. After borders were opened, we longed for a holiday and decided on Bali, Indonesia. With Valentine's Day approaching, I saw it as the perfect occasion to pop the question.

I searched for the ideal spot to propose and was fortunate to have booked us into the exquisite Samabe Resorts, an exclusive honeymoon destination. The resort offered a range of romantic dinner options, including private cave, beach, cliff, and garden dining. Knowing how much Tina adored the beach, I knew the private beach at the resort, with its spectacular view of the clear blue ocean, white sands, and sunset, would be the perfect location to propose.

As soon as we arrived at the resort, I knew my instincts were right, and Tina would fall in love with the setting. The timing could not have been better, and I felt confident that this was the perfect moment to make our love official.

We love how much thought and effort and you put into the proposal as much as you did with her engagement ring. Tell us about your bespoke custom made engagement ring experience with The Classic Jewellers. 

Picking out the perfect engagement ring for Tina was a journey that I will always cherish. I knew I wanted to create something special that reflected her unique style and personality. With the help of Jess and Vy, the talented jewelers at The Classic Jewellers, I was able to bring my vision to life.

From the moment I walked into their store, I felt at ease. Jess and Vy took the time to get to know me and Tina, and truly understood what she would love. They suggested a beautiful gold band with a big rock that was bold, elegant, and minimalistic - just like Tina. What made the experience even more memorable was meeting the skilled head jeweller, Meng who executes his work with such passion and expertise. Their warm and friendly demeanor put me at ease, and it was clear that they genuinely cared about making my proposal special.

I can not express how thankful I am to the team for helping me craft the perfect ring that captured Tina's essence and made her heart skip a beat. Their commitment to craftsmanship and attention to detail is unmatched, and I'm forever grateful for their contribution to our love story. 

Thank you for your kind words Marco, it was a pleasure working with you. We are in awe of how beautiful your proposal looked, tell us about the moment.

I have to admit, we were both a bit worried about how our photos would turn out. We were sweating profusely in the scorching heat on our way down to the beach, and I was especially nervous. Tina looked stunning, but she was already complaining about her hair and makeup before we even arrived. I couldn't help but chuckle to myself, knowing that her tears would surely ruin her makeup anyway.

Despite our concerns, we were overjoyed to see how beautifully the pictures and video turned out. They captured such intimate and heartfelt moments that we will treasure for a lifetime. Looking back, I can't help but feel grateful for those precious memories that we shared together on that special day.

I'm sure these are moments that you will treasure for a lifetime. How did you manage to keep the whole thing under the radar? 

Keeping the proposal a secret for six months was definitely a challenge, but I managed to pull it off. I didn't want to spoil the surprise for Tina, so I didn't tell anyone - not even our parents or closest friends. When it came to the ring, I took extra precautions to ensure that Tina wouldn't accidentally stumble upon it. I kept it with the jewellers and picked it up just two days before we left for Bali. To be safe, I entrusted it to my mum because I knew that Tina has a tendency to snoop around my things.

Proposing during our holiday travels was a risk, but it was worth it. Definitely gave me peace of mind to have jewellery insurance which The Classic Jewellers recommended.  I wanted it to be a special and intimate moment between just the two of us. Keeping the ring close was important, so I kept it in my carry-on luggage and checked on it frequently during our journey. Once we arrived at our destination, I made sure to hide it somewhere that Tina wouldn't accidentally stumble upon it.

My biggest advice for anyone planning to propose is to pay attention to your partner's likes and dislikes. Getting engaged is a once-in-a-lifetime moment, so make it as special and personal as possible. It's not just about your partner, it's about the both of you. So go the extra mile and make it a moment to remember.

We can see you went to great lengths to keep the whole proposal a surprise element. What was the highlight of the proposal for you? 

My heart skipped a beat as Tina finally realised what was happening. The beach was empty except for us, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore was the only thing we could hear. As soon as she saw the petals scattered on the sand, her eyes widened. She knew. The moment was finally here. 

I couldn't help but feel my own nerves start to get the best of me as I took her hand in mine. Her palms were damp, and her fingers trembled, but her gaze never left mine. And in that moment, I knew that I was the luckiest man alive. 

As the photographer and videographer emerged from their hiding spots, capturing every precious moment, Tina's eyes filled with tears, and her smile lit up the entire beach. It was as if time had stood still, and all that mattered was the two of us, standing there together, on the edge of forever.

And as I dropped to one knee, holding out the ring that I had so carefully chosen for her, I knew without a doubt that she was the one. Her blue dress billowed in the sea breeze, and her eyes sparkled with joy as she said yes. It was the happiest moment of my life, and I knew that I was going to spend the rest of my days loving this beautiful, perfect woman.

We're all tearing up reading that! Congratulations once again on your engagement Tina and Marco, we can't see what the future holds for both of you.