Childhood sweethearts turned soulmates, Ella and Sammy’s decade-long love story reached a dreamlike crescendo on a sun-drenched Florentine hillside, complete with a hidden ring in a sock, a breathtaking sunset proposal and a celebration that felt straight out of a film.
The story…
We have been together since we were 15, meeting in secondary school and becoming inseparable ever since. It all happened on our 10th anniversary, 4 September 2025 – a milestone moment that felt both surreal and deeply special.
Dropping hints…
As we’ve been together for so long, marriage was always something we spoke about and were both so excited for. There had definitely been hints, not just from me but from lots of our friends and family too. I had never hinted at what kind of proposal I imagined, mainly because I didn’t actually have a vision for it, but I had sent plenty of hints about ring styles. Sammy still managed to design a ring even more perfect than anything I’d dreamed of.
The proposal
We travelled to Florence, Italy early that morning, spent the day getting our bearings, enjoying lunch and then a hotel nap after the early start. I truly didn’t think it was going to happen after Sammy had been so chilled and relaxed all day, even through the airport and security. At one point, we swapped bags because mine was too heavy – little did I know I was carrying my own engagement ring in his bag, tucked inside his socks, all day!
That evening, Sammy suggested we go for a little walk before dinner, which he’d booked to celebrate our anniversary, to a viewpoint to watch the sunset. After a 20-minute taxi ride we were dropped at a beautiful hotel in the hills, and what was meant to be a short stroll became a bit of a hike after Sammy accidentally took us the wrong way… me in ballet pumps and a white linen dress, not ideal.
Eventually, after a few wrong turns, he led us to the most incredible viewpoint with absolutely no one around – just us, the most magical sunset and the whole of Florence below. He said the most beautiful words, got down on one knee and asked me to marry him with my dream ring.
After soaking up every moment, we wandered through the sweetest little village back to the hotel, where he had booked a Michelin-starred dinner at Serrae Villa Fiesole, complete with a panoramic-view table. He had even arranged for a bouquet of flowers picked from the hillside where he proposed to be waiting for me. We spent the evening listening to bossa nova music, eating the most delicious food and reliving every detail of how he had planned the perfect proposal.
The ring
Sammy designed my dream ring with Diana Porter, a Bristol-based designer I’ve adored for years and already own pieces from. It’s an emerald-cut diamond on a bold cigar-style band crafted from Fairtrade yellow gold. Not only is it the most beautiful design, but it’s also incredibly meaningful – designed with so much love and care by the team and by my fiancé. It’s a piece I’ll treasure forever.
Engagement party & celebrations
When we got home from our holiday, both our mums, my sister and two of my best friends had decorated our whole flat – it was the sweetest surprise.
After sharing the news with friends and family and seeing how excited everyone was, we knew we wanted to celebrate with them all. We’ve planned a party at a local Bristol venue and we can’t wait!
The outfit
I was wearing something that ended up feeling perfectly suited to the moment, even though it wasn’t planned at all. I’d packed a few dresses for the holiday and chose a linen halterneck mini dress with ballet pumps. The only thing that raised my suspicions was Sammy trying to convince me not to wear pumps to dinner – clearly, he had the walk to the viewpoint in mind.
Wedding plans so far…
Since getting engaged, wedding planning is all I can think about. Pinterest has become my new obsession. We’d love to get married in the UK so we can have all our favourite people there, but we’re planning to weave in Italian influences as a nod to our engagement. A towering tiramisu cake and an Aperol spritz tower are non-negotiables.
I’m also loving the idea of a sunset-inspired colour palette for the styling, reflecting the moment we got engaged and the flowers from that unforgettable night.
READ NEXT: Our Social Editor Shares How To Plan The Ultimate Engagement Party
