Buying an engagement ring is only the beginning of the rest of your life. We know how exciting and overwhelming the journey is, and we are thrilled to be a part of it. Choosing an engagement ring isn't always easy, but at Fink’s Jewelers, our sales professionals will guide you through every step! Robert and Lauren were happy to share their engagement story with us, and we are more than thrilled to share it with you!
Meet Robert and Lauren!
Robert and Lauren were both attending Appalachian State University in the mountains of Boone, NC. Oddly enough, despite being in the same small major, they did not meet or even share a class together for the whole first year of college. Lauren remembers walking into class the first day of her sophomore year and thinking to herself, "Wow...who is he? He is pretty cute." Over the next year and a half, they were in almost every class together and developed a close friendship that turned into more. He was the perfect guy for Lauren, and she realized how fast she was falling. Plus, they have the same favorite pizza, and he loved her dog like his own. That by itself is a win.
Robert and Lauren have always loved lighthouses and went on a road trip to see all the lighthouses on the North Carolina coast. They were at the Old Baldy lighthouse, sitting on the stone steps, when Robert gifted Lauren with a Pandora bracelet accompanied by a quaint silver lighthouse charm. He asked if she would be his girlfriend. Robert gave Lauren the bracelet to record the many adventures that they would have together as a couple. After years of learning, growing, and laughing alongside each other, Robert knew that it was time to propose to Lauren.
How did you know you were ready to get engaged?
Lauren: I knew I wanted to marry Robert about a year and a half into us dating. I knew for sure because my dad actually liked him. My dad has never been fond of anyone I have dated, but he liked Robert. Family is very important to me, and it was great to see him interact so flawlessly with them. I am blessed to have found someone so selfless, encouraging, and kind.
How did you plan your proposal?
Robert: After months of planning, I found out that my family and Lauren would be going on a cruise of the North-Eastern states and Canada. This was the perfect opportunity to get everyone involved to help create the perfect surprise. My mom and sister could treat her to a spa day to get her nails done, I could ask her at an exotic location special to us, and plenty of pictures could be taken of us without it being obvious.
The last part of the plan was to find where exactly on this grand adventure to ask for her hand in marriage. After days of relentlessly researching all of our stops along the cruise, I finally stumbled upon Peggy’s Cove lighthouse. It was perfect. A Nicholas Sparks tier community with the world’s most photographed lighthouse, the very symbol of which our relationship began. I was sure it was going to be a perfect romantic story to tell for generations, and one that would end with Lauren happily saying,” Yes!”
Lauren said “YES!” to a platinum four-prong engagement ring featuring 1.50ct round solitaire diamond center stone.
What do you love about your ring?
Lauren: Where to begin? In taste, I have always been minimalistic. I wanted an engagement ring that would never go out of style, and I wanted a thin band. These things were set in stone. However, I changed my mind quite often on what cut I wanted and how I wanted the diamonds arranged. Poor Robert had his work cut out for him. I would show him photos of engagement rings I liked and then show him completely different photos the next day.
This engagement ring is a testament of how well Robby knows me even when I don’t seem to know myself. I remember seeing it for the first time as he asked me to spend the rest of my life with him, and it was absolutely everything I have ever wanted. It was a showstopper for sure. I love how it looks on my hand, how it shines in the light, how it is simple but extremely elegant. I could go on and on — it feels like something out of a fairytale!
What advice do you have for couples that are thinking about getting engaged?
Robert: Do your research, do your research, do your research. However, the worst thing that you can do is jump in half-cocked. It can be such a fun process to figure out the style, cut, stone choice, proposal plans, etc. Talk with your significant other, figure out their likes/dislikes in an engagement ring, “dream proposal,” and other things that make them unique. I promise the more work you do on the front end, the smoother everything will go later. It will give you the confidence and peace of mind to ask the biggest question of your life.
Lauren: My advice would be to focus on your partner’s face, their emotions, and the words that they are saying. I remember only being able to think to myself, “Ahh, is this really happening? It’s happening… It’s happening… It’s happening!” I wish I would have focused more on the moment and not let my mind run away with excitement.
What made you choose Fink’s Jewelers?
Robert: While I was trying to secretively find out what Lauren’s dream engagement ring was, I was also conducting a smaller but equally important operation: finding the perfect diamond engagement ring retailer. It is easy to get lost in the sheer number of jewelry stores in the world, but I had a couple of important qualities in mind that the company must exhibit if I was going to make such a large investment in them.
First and foremost, I wanted a local company. One that would appreciate the process and time that selecting the perfect engagement ring takes. I also wanted them to show that they were willing to put considerable time into providing quality products. Lastly, I wanted a company that took pride in protecting their products for a lifetime. After conducting online research, I decided to go in and meet with the team at Fink’s. I had a basic idea of what to expect from reviews and the claims on their website: great customer service, all diamonds carefully chosen by their specialist, Clif, and more. Even still, they took my expectations and blew them out of the water.
Nancy, my personal sales professional, lead me through every step in the ring selection process, took the time to learn exactly what I wanted, and even had the in-house designers custom make Lauren’s perfect ring. She contacted me regularly throughout the process and used her experience in the field to offer the right solutions if I was ever confused or needed help making an important decision. It was all these little things that made me feel like more than just a customer. It created a bond and trust in the people working there. So much so that I couldn’t wait to introduce Lauren to everyone as the store. It was truly an experience that was better than I ever could have hoped for.
Regardless of if you are just getting started in your engagement ring search or already have every detail planned out, we are here for you. As Robert has shown, there is so much that goes into the perfect proposal than just saying, “Will you marry me?” Visit us today, and our dedicated sales professionals will work with you every step of the way to ensure your engagement ring is everything you imagined.