The story
My fiancé Charlie and I technically met during our time at school, but we didn’t really look at each other twice. If we did, it would be because our older sisters – Anna and Frankie – were best friends, marking the beginning of our families becoming increasingly intertwined. After school, we both went to different universities and didn’t think much of each other, until we both moved to London. I’d been travelling in South America and he had just moved back from living in Luxembourg, and our sisters were adamant that we went on a date. So, we gave into the pressure and went for a drink at Mr Foggs, and the rest is history. Before you know it, lockdown hit and we were spending our honeymoon phase in an empty capital city, which was surreal, but strangely romantic. Six years on, and we’re engaged!
Dropping hints
Absolutely. I recently heard on a podcast that around 95% of people know when they’re going to get engaged, and I’m pretty certain this statistic is true. I told my best friends to mark their diaries as I’d cracked the case – project ‘engagement’ was underway. To his credit, he kept up a great poker face and it wasn’t due to his lack of trying that I figured it out – I just know him too well, and the timing was too perfect.
The proposal
His Dad spends a lot of his time living in Provence, so we like to visit every summer. This time, we planned to spend a week with his Dad and step mum before driving from his house over to a chateau that our friends had rented a couple of hours from there. On the way, he surprised me by booking us into the most beautiful hotel I’ve ever been to – Les Sources de Caudalie – for two nights. During our stay, he took me on a vineyard tour and proposed to me surrounded by vineyards. It was peaceful and quiet, and utterly perfect. The hotel had thought of every single detail, so we popped the champagne, called our loved ones and discussed every detail that he hadn’t been able to tell me over the past few months.
The ring
Charlie’s friend proposed to his now wife a few years ago with a beautiful ring, so he reached out to the same jeweller in Hatton Garden to make mine. I had no idea he and his sister were attending ring appointments over the months leading up to the proposal – luckily I never checked Find My Friends! The ring is a bezel cut, yellow gold trilogy ring, similar to a design I’d shown him a year before. It feels modern and timeless, and I know I’ll never want anything else.
Engagement party
Arriving at the house in France that we’d rented with our friends was genuinely the most special part of it all. My best friends, who are conveniently all my bridesmaids, were waiting with their partners when we arrived, and had champagne, balloons, bridal accessories and a beautiful breakfast waiting for us – I have never felt more loved in my entire life. We spent the week swimming, drinking wine and playing games, and it was utterly perfect.
The outfit
I actually chose a white dress, just to make him nervous – that should tell you a lot about me! He kept his cool though and didn’t even raise an eyebrow, so I was very impressed. We were in the countryside so I just wore a long, white sundress from Zara with a crochet cardigan over the top, and my sandals.
Wedding plans so far
We’re going to get married in my Granny’s garden, just like my parents did. It overlooks the farm where my Mum grew up, and there are lots of special memories there. In the evening, we’ll have the reception in a gorgeous venue called Odo’s Barn, which is run by my incredible Auntie Charlotte – I feel so lucky to have a wedding expert in the family, she’s made the planning very easy!
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