From DMs during lockdown in 2020 to a surprise trip to Rome and a rose petal covered balcony proposal, discover the the engagement story with Mercedes Benson.
The story
Funny how life works. My fiancé slid into my DMs during lockdown in 2020, and we’ve spoken almost every day since. At the time, I’d just come out of a relationship and was deep in The Way of the Superior Man, trying to make sense of how men think, classic Virgo behaviour, trying to find the logic in it all. He replied to my story with a laughing emoji and said, “You’ll never understand men reading that book,” and honestly, that’s when I met my match. The debates started, and we haven’t stopped talking since. Five years later, here we are.
Dropping hints
Closed mouths don’t get fed. I was in my late 20s, and he was in his early 30s, so I knew I wasn’t just dating to vibe. From the outset, we had genuine conversations about marriage and timelines. If we weren’t aligned, it wouldn’t have gone much further.
I think it was summer 2022 when we took a trip to Barcelona, and I randomly said, “Let’s go ring window shopping.” He acted completely unbothered, but the man was taking mental notes, ring styles, sizes, the whole lot.
When it came to the actual proposal, it was always going to be either go big or keep it intimate, but never cringe. No crowds, no “Will you marry me?” signs. Whether it was the Eiffel Tower or the Pyramids, I just knew it had to be low-key, meaningful, and just us two.
The proposal
My fiancé isn’t the biggest fan of travelling, not that he hates it, but if given the choice, he’d rather hop on his motorbike and ride through country lanes than deal with airport security and passport queues. So you can imagine my confusion when he randomly put a “DO NOT MOVE” calendar invite in my diary with no explanation.
Fast forward three months to December 2024, and he surprised me with a trip to Rome. Italy had always held a soft spot in my heart, not just because of my Catholic upbringing, but also because, somehow, I’d never been there. With 30+ years on this earth, and it being my first time stepping foot in Italy, I was honestly over the moon.
We spent two days sightseeing, walking from the Spanish Steps to the Vatican, soaking it all in. It was romantic in every sense. Then came dinner at the Zuma rooftop, and for a tiny second, I thought, “Hmm…is it going to happen here?” But the night ended with a lovely meal, him taking all my pics (with no complaints), and us heading back to the hotel.
And that’s when it got interesting. The moment the door opened, I could hear Anita Baker playing faintly in the background…camera flashes going off…and I just froze. Laughing, crying, it was all happening at once. You dream of this moment when you’re younger, but seeing it unfold in real life? Unreal.
He led me out to the balcony, which I’d clocked earlier thinking “this thing is massive” and there it was: rose petals, candles, everything. Then he got down on one knee…and mispronounced my Nigerian name. But listen, a win is a win!
The ring
I’ve always dreamed of a classic round diamond, proper De Beers style, the kind you see in the old-school adverts. Luckily, he was already thinking along the same lines, so when I saw the ring, I was genuinely happy that he got it spot on. The size, the shape, everything was perfect. He later told me he’d bought it over a year ago, and the fact it had just been chilling in his room all that time? Hilarious. And actually, kind of adorable.
Engagement party
We haven’t done a single thing yet, and honestly, I’m way more relaxed than I expected. I think I’m just enjoying this season of being engaged, while also taking my time to figure out what I like before jumping into planning or reaching out to anyone.
We also bought our first home this year, which has been a significant moment in itself, so we’re planning to combine the engagement party with a housewarming. Feels like the perfect way to celebrate both chapters in one.
The outfit
He told me to keep it classy and suggested all black, so I went with a cute Zara dress — my go-to when I want to feel sexy but still modest. Paired it with my YSL sandal heels and slicked my hair back, because I’m all about a hassle-free look, especially when I’ve got no clue what the plans are. It turned out to be the perfect choice.
Wedding plans so far
I’m dreaming of a classic black and white wedding — something that feels like a sans serif font: clean, elegant, and romantic. It has to be intimate and abroad. Think lace details, lilies everywhere, and soft touches of pearls. Simple but timeless.
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