Joseph & Vanessa: The Ingredients to a Perfect Proposal

Every wedding begins with an engagement and the details behind proposals are unique, and completely personal, to each couple. Some proposals are spontaneous, sealed with courage, a ring and a floor to kneel on. Other proposals are methodically, with the ring holder planning every minute of the event. Today's story details Joseph, our scrupulously sentimental customer, who knew exactly how to pull off a truly one-of-a-kind proposal to his girlfriend Vanessa.

Joseph and Vanessa met in college, where they both felt an instant connection. Over a lovely pasta dinner, the two found that they couldn't stop talking on their first date. The first date led to an immediate second, and before they knew it, Joseph and Vanessa made their relationship "official" by the end of the weekend.

"I knew she was the one for me and there was no hesitation to look ahead at all that was to come with this special person I was so lucky to get to know," Joseph said when thinking of their first date. They were the same thoughts he'd have leading up to their engagement night.

Being the meticulous planner that he was, Joseph visited local jewelers and combed online sites for 18 months in search of the perfect diamond. "Brian Gavin was the only place where I found all Signature cut diamonds; always meeting my picky standards as well as the AGS triple zero. As soon as I saw Brian Gavin Blue, I immediately fell in love with it and knew Vanessa would love it, too," he said.

The BGD team did their best to find Joseph the exact Brian Gavin Blue diamond he wanted. Our team worked to design "The Vaness" setting to accommodate the 1.37ct H VVS2 Brian Gavin Blue stone, featuring a pave diamond twist on each side.

Professional, "yet friendly and concise," are the three words Joseph used to describe our team's service. "They never guided me wrong. Even for the engraving they told me it would be too small to see with the naked eye and they didn't want to take my money for nothing. Honesty was refreshing," he exclaimed.

" was ready for pick-up two months before the proposal date. Communication was always very prompt," Joseph remembered. Once the ring shipped, our team eagerly waited for news of the couple's proposal.

Joseph's knack for personalization didn't stop with the ring; he dreamed up a larger than life proposal, too. A nautical limo would set sail on the banks of the Saint-Lawrence River in Montreal at sunset, stocked with champagne, a guitar, 36 roses to signify 36 months together, and "The Vanessa" ring, of course.

The centerpiece of the evening was a custom menu, created by Joseph, which signified a special milestone with every course using food from each restaurant. Pasta from the date where it all began, slices from the pizzeria where Vanessa agreed to be his girlfriend, Portuguese-style chicken from the spot they said, "I love you," their first date — a feast baked in their favorite moments from the last three years.

Nervous but ready, Joseph got down on one knee to propose. Vanessa shares the romantic moment with us:

"I was shocked and overcome with emotion but managed to get a 'yes' out, completely overjoyed! It was the perfect, most romantic setting. Once all of the kissing and hugging was done and I finally took the time to look at what he had slipped on my finger, I saw the most beautiful elegant ring ever! I could not have imagined anything better. I loved the original color of the diamond as the last rays of hit it. Joseph definitely went all out and I could not have

asked for a better proposal, a better ring or a better partner."

Vanessa's ring was like nothing she's seen before, which made it all the more special. "I would say it is a unique and brilliant engagement ring that gets many compliments and will be a heirloom for our future family," Joseph remarked.

"I look most forward to finally marrying my best friend and being surrounded by all the people I care about, knowing we will have a lifetime of happiness together to enjoy," Vanessa excitedly shared. The two are set to tie the knot in August of 2018 and dream of a honeymoon in Greece.

We're thankful that Brian Gavin Diamonds got to be one ingredient in Joseph and Vanessa's love story. Visit our website to learn about our custom rings and make a setting in your own namesake.