Leila and Richard
Five years ago this week, I joined Match.com as I became disillusioned with free dating sites and trying to find someone who I wanted to eventually spend the rest of my life with. I was...
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How and where did you first meet? How long have you been together?
We met online on a dating app and decided to have our first date at an Italian restaurant at Bella Italia in Kingston. We’ve been together for 10 years.
Tell us about the proposal - where was it, and what made it special?
It was New Year’s Eve 2025, and the sun was shining, so we decided to make the most of the day and go for a long walk in Richmond. We stopped by a hill with gorgeous treetops and the biggest sunset we’d ever seen, so we chased the sun to watch it go down. Shortly after, he found a quiet spot and proposed. It was such a lovely way to end the year and start a new chapter together!
What inspired the design of your engagement ring? Were there any personal details, ideas, or styles you wanted it to reflect? Malishka knew she wanted an oval ring with a diamond halo, but didn’t want a traditional diamond and ideally wanted a ruby or something in the red/pink colour range. After looking at rubies for a while, I came across a peach-pink diamond that I felt suited her perfectly. It sparkled beautifully in the light, and she’s absolutely thrilled with the colour! What was your experience like creating your bespoke ring with us? Was there a particular moment in the process that you loved the most? The experience fantastic and Alicja was so helpful! We had a fantastic time looking at the different stones and understanding the intricacies of how the ring comes together with the different setting options. How did it feel seeing the finished ring for the first time? Surreal! I was already looking forward to seeing it but in the end it looked better than I imagined. What advice would you give to couples beggining the engagement ring journey? Don’t underestimate the research! Explore different stone cuts and styles beforehand, as having a few references definitely helped me feel more at ease. But most importantly, stay open-minded. Your appointment is the perfect opportunity to ask lots of questions, validate what you like or discover something completely unexpected!
