As the great philosopher of love, Tina Turner once asked, “What’s love got to do with it?” In this case, absolutely everything.
After starting as friends and eventually dating, I knew it was time to ask Tayler, my girlfriend of almost three years, to be my wife. I couldn’t have done it without the team at Exclusively Diamonds.
For years, I had joked with family that I would never propose with a ring, only with a gold chain and a luxury timepiece, and that an engagement wouldn’t happen until 2036. My gold chain and timepiece have been part of my style since I was 18, and with Tayler and her friends always teasing me about them, I decided those two pieces would be the perfect way to propose.
I originally planned to ask her in January 2026 around my birthday, when I felt ready. I could handle all the friendly pressure from family, but it was Sarah, Maria, and Sarah who finally broke me. They knew how happy it would make Tayler and helped give me the push I needed.
The week before the proposal, I stopped into Exclusively Diamonds to pick up the gold chain and luxury timepiece. The team made the moment feel so special. I brought everything home to pack for our trip to Fort Myers for Tayler’s birthday.
There was just one problem, Tayler is a proud present snooper. So I triple wrapped the gifts. First in paper grocery bags, then into a Costco shipping bag, and finally sealed with layers of shipping tape. For four days I paraded the mysterious package around, teasing her, putting it on display, then hiding it again. She had no clue.
On November 4th, it finally happened. That morning we went on a fan boat ride to see alligators, her favorite Florida activity. Later, we headed to the pool for happy hour and sunset, overlooking a lake with the perfect western view. I tucked a bottle of champagne and the heavily wrapped package into our bag.
When it was time, I handed her scissors and let her work through the tamper proof layers. As soon as she saw the beautiful wrapping from Exclusively Diamonds, she said, “Are you joking?” I told her we both knew I couldn’t wrap gifts that well. She opened the luxury timepiece first, then the chain. Completely blindsided. While she was still laughing in disbelief, I asked her to be my wife. She said yes.
We toasted under the sunset, and just when she thought the surprises were over, I pulled out a ring, slipped it on her finger, and told her she needed it to complete the look. She was even more shocked. She always believed I was a man of my word about never buying a ring. She now calls it the Exclusively Diamonds Engagement Kit.
That night, a full moon rose as we drove back. My grandmother loved the full moon, and seeing it felt like she was there celebrating with us. The celebration began at sunset and has not stopped since.
The team at Exclusively Diamonds is simply the best. They cared, they educated me, and they helped create a moment that is impossible to put into words. Tayler has never considered herself a jewelry person, yet somehow everything felt natural on her from the very first second.
Thank you, Exclusively Diamonds, for helping make this unforgettable.