The Proposal of a Lifetime
An Interview with Lionel & Venetia on their special day
She said yes!
So Venetia, did you know what Lionel was planning the whole time?
Well I knew that he was planning something big and that he started months in advance because silly Lionel could barely keep his excitement in!! 🤣
Venetia surprised when she realised Lionel had invited their close friends and created a special set up in her childhood home
How did you feel in the months leading up to the proposal? Did you suspect anything?
I did not expect it at all!!! Which is not exactly a feat because I’ve been told I’m oblivious (cue the funny ring photos he managed to take without me noticing)
Lionel created a secret Instagram account to document photos he had taken of the ring without Venetia suspecting anything (he even put it on her finger one night when she was asleep!)
I initially thought our engagement would be in Korea so I was really looking forward to the trip to see what he had planned.
Venetia’s ring amongst the cherry blossoms in Korea after their proposal
While I was in bliss and excited for what’s to come, poor Lionel went through all the nerve wrecking parent meetings, stressful planning and “bleeding pockets” on his own.
How did the proposal day unfold for you?
The proposal was out of this world. Lionel really thought through every little detail - from creating a video with our friends’ well wishes, to ensuring that our dog was present to even coordinating the dress code. It was a lot to take in within a short span of a few hours but luckily I have photos and videos to remember the occasion.
Watching the special video Lionel prepared for her
The highlight of the day would definitely be the RING!!!!! When he knelt on one knee and put the ring on - No one in the world could ever make me happier than Lionel did. I’m so lucky to have him!!
Venetia’s custom Oval diamond ring
Our chat with Lionel
Lionel and Venetia celebrating with friends
Hi Lionel, CONGRATULATIONS on getting engaged! Will you share a little bit about the planning that went into your proposal?
A lot of thought went behind the venue of the proposal. Venetia has always wanted a Disney proposal but that couldn't happen because of all the travel restrictions, so the main idea was to bring the magical proposal to her instead.
Even before that day, I also made her a special video…
For the day itself there were other considerations as well, such as family, our new puppy, the uniqueness of the venue, etc. All of which eventually led to the proposal unfolding at her house where she grew up.
Even their adorable puppy Kumi was there for the big moment!
How did the actual day go?
It was a nerve wrecking day. I was reciting the script in my head, fretting over the weather forecast, coordinating Venetia's friends and the vendors all while spending the day with her.
I have never been so nervous in my life and I can still vividly remember how my hands were shaking as I drove her up to the venue.
However, I couldn't have been more blessed as everything went according to plan with the perfect weather, the beautiful setup and media, the presence of her friends and family and most importantly, I didn't forget my script.
Setting up for the big moment
How did you feel when you popped the question?
It was funny because she didn't even let me finish the question. She started nodding her head and saying yes repeatedly when I said "Will you".
But a whole wave of comfort just swept past me as I placed the ring on her finger because the girl of my dreams is now my fiancée.
Overcome with emotion when he popped the question
Why did you choose August Bespoke over other jewellers in Singapore?
August Bespoke was recommended to me by a family friend and initially I was speaking to a ton of other jewellers in the market, but what made Amanda stand out among the rest was her attention to detail, her knowledge, and ultimately her service.
We felt so taken care of by her and she was the only one who truly made us feel that we can just rely and depend on her to produce a ring that is truly to our expectations.
A close up of Venetia’s unique Oval Halo ring
What was your experience like working with August Bespoke?
We really wanted someone to bounce our ideas off of, we didn't want just another jeweller who would say yes to all of our inputs and create a ring simply based on that. We truly valued the discussions, ideations and most importantly the rejections from Amanda of some of our ideas because the ring couldn't have been more perfect.
Being in the service line as well, it really isn't easy rejecting a customers' idea but we both agreed that we would have made a grave mistake with the ring's design if Amanda didn't put a stop to some of our ideas. Kudos to her!
What would you say to other couples in your shoes? Any advice for them on how to approach the process?
No two couples are the same and Amanda really captured the essence of this. I'm really thankful that after the initial consultation, she analysed the whole situation and invited me to bring Venetia into the discussion. We couldn't have been more grateful for this foresight of hers.
Up close and personal with Venetia’s unique Halo ring
Going with a bespoke jeweller means having the flexibility to create whatever ring that you desire, however with this flexibility comes decisions. It can get overwhelming with all of the C's and the secrecy, and your budget could very well balloon out of control with all of the excitement but my advice is to really find a jeweller that you can trust, a jeweller who can keep you in check.
Finding the perfect diamond is similar to finding a partner, there will always be a better one out there but as long as it is perfect for you, it is the perfect one for you. I'm glad to have found my perfect someone and I'm glad that Amanda was there to find us our perfect diamond.
Cheers to a lifetime of happiness ahead
CONGRATULATIONS again to one of the sweetest couples we know. Thank you for choosing us to be a part of your magical love story!
For more heartwarming proposal stories, see our hashtag #augustbespokeproposal on Instagram.
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