Doug & Anna

Q: When did you first meet and how?

A: We met in the spring of 2012 on a camping trip with mutual friends in our home state, Missouri. Sparks flew while we were stargazing around the campfire, pondering what could exist beyond our solar system. After the trip we got to know each other over weekly dates to the movies, ice cream shops, and local events. When we both finished college, we moved across the country together from St. Louis to San Diego, where we live today.

Q: What about the design made you choose this ring to be the one?

A: After a few months of research, I chose 5 of my favorite F&B ring designs and from those, Doug chose “the one.” We love the Daisy ring because it’s simple with unique details. People are always telling me that they’ve never seen a ring like it. We also enjoy exploring the outdoors together, so with the floral setting it’s like I always have a little piece of nature with me.

Q: In each your own words, can you describe what the days leading up to the proposal were like? Can you tell us about the proposal? (Feel free to be as detailed as possible!)

A: Doug: We decided to take an "impromptu" trip to San Francisco over the Christmas holiday. I had researched some locations that I thought would be fun to propose at, but I didn't have one picked out, so I decided I would just bring the ring with us wherever we went and pull it out when the moment seemed right.

On the way up the 15 in CA we saw the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch lighting up the sky. We had no clue what it was, and I thought I was going to have to propose before the end of the world. Luckily the world kept turning and we were able to enjoy the show from the side of the highway. We got to San Francisco early the next morning and had a blast exploring, all the while I was carrying the ring with me.

On Christmas Eve we decided to rent some bikes and ride across the Golden Gate Bridge. We made our destination an overlook (called Battery Spencer I think?) on the Northwest side of the bridge that has a beautiful view of the bridge and the cliffs to the West. We biked across the bridge, and even though we were tired we dragged ourselves up the hill to the overlook and found a corner to ourselves. It was overcast, but the sun was peeking through the clouds and reflecting off of the water. The surf was crashing against the cliffs below, and the Golden Gate bridge and San Francisco was to our backs. It was beautiful. I told Anna to look off to the West towards the cliffs so I could get a picture of her. While she was turned around I got the ring out, got down on one knee, and asked her to marry me.

She said yes. :)

We held each other for a while just enjoying the view and the moment. Then we FaceTime'd our parents. After talking with them for a bit, a group who was having a picnic at the overlook congratulated us, and shared some champagne with us. It was the perfect addition to the moment.

That night we ate dinner in Chinatown. Afterwards we were feeling tired but celebratory, so we decided to go find champagne. Luckily there was a liquor store (Broadway Liquor) open on Christmas Eve, and we bought a bottle of "the best champagne you have." But by the time we had walked back to our hotel we were so tired that we just fell asleep. The bottle is still in our fridge. We're planning on opening it at our wedding. :)

Anna: Just before the week of Christmas 2017, Doug suggested that we take a spur of the moment trip to San Francisco. During the first few days of the trip, I noticed that he kept having to “check his backpack for something.”

For Christmas Eve, he planned an all-day bike ride around the city where we rode from Union Station to Pier 39, to Fisherman’s Warf, and eventually to the Golden Gate Bridge. When we crossed the bridge, Doug insisted that we climb up the hill to the viewing area that looks back over the bridge and city. Low on energy and short on time with the bike rentals, we dragged our bikes to the top of the hill and started taking photos.

Doug asked me to turn around and look out at the horizon while he took my photo from behind. After posing for what seemed like 10 minutes, I turned around and asked, “Did you get the picture yet?” and noticed him fumbling around with something in his backpack. He replied, “No, turn back around.” My memory of some moments after that is blurry from nerves because that’s when I knew what was about to happen. Eventually I turned around saw Doug on one knee, proposing to me! I immediately said, “Yes!”

After a few minutes of celebrating and calling our families, a stranger walks up to us with champagne, congratulating us and saying he and his friends saw the whole thing happen. We threw back the champagne, sped back to Union Station to return the bikes, and pulled up 3 minutes before the shop closed. We celebrated with dinner in Chinatown and bought a fancy bottle of champagne that we still haven’t opened to this day.

Q: How was your overall experience with Fire & Brilliance? How did you first hear about us?

A: We first discovered Fire & Brilliance during our research on Moissanite stones, while watching Michael’s educational YouTube videos. The company has exceeded all of my expectations from a ring company, especially after shopping around at local jewelers who wouldn’t even consider selling us Moissanite. Before purchasing, I was able to contact F&B via Instagram (so convenient!) and received timely, informative responses. We feel great about purchasing a Moissanite ring from F&B and I love how the company is so interactive with customers on social media. 

Q: Lastly, we wanted to ask something of each our clients (for yourself or for both of you to answer) to be featured a question that is unique to their story.

What do you believe is most important in a relationship?

A: Doug: Openness, honesty, understanding, and the ability to laugh together no matter what.

Anna: Kind and loving communication and honesty. Also must love my cat ;)

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Photos | Astray Photography