Tell us your love story — how did you meet, when did you know they were the one? :
We got engaged in Fiji after three days of scuba diving — including two intense shark dives — and a seven-course dinner in a mangrove tree, complete with flying foxes, lightning storms, and a surprise proposal. Two years before this trip, we visited Point No Point Studio and fell in love with the kite-cut, salt-and-pepper style. We knew that was the ring. But life took a turn. I lost my sister, and we both completely pivoted our careers. Engagement went on hold while we navigated grief, change, and growth.
Fast forward two years: we were invited to a wedding in Melbourne and decided to turn it into a full adventure — starting with a week in Fiji. I wanted the proposal to be a surprise. So I played it cool, didn’t bring up rings again, made sure we didn’t “have time” to shop before the trip, and secretly bought a temporary ring. I even ordered a ring sizer kit — because I didn’t want to try measuring her finger while she slept (though I briefly considered it 😆). We landed in Fiji after a long journey from Seattle, flew into Nadi, and drove down to a small resort on the southern coast. I had two options: propose when the moment felt right, or stick to the plan — a private, seven-course dinner in a mangrove tree overlooking the ocean.
There were a lot of tempting moments along the way, but I stuck to the plan. One of the big things we had booked on this trip was scuba diving — including two shark dives with bull, tiger, reef, and nurse sharks. No cage. Just protocols and nerves. We were both way out of our comfort zone, but wanted the experience. Then came our 3-year anniversary — and the day before the proposal.
That night we took part in a traditional kava ceremony, which left us both feeling a little off. Then a storm rolled through and knocked out the power. When it came back on, there was a beeping alarm going off in our room. We looked everywhere but couldn’t find the source. It was late, and we had to be up early for the shark dive, so we put in earplugs and tried to get some sleep. In the morning, the power was out again — and this time there was no running water either. The beeping alarm was still going. I picked up the phone to call the front desk, and we realized it was the phone itself making the noise. After unplugging it and plugging it back in, the sound finally stopped.
At breakfast, the staff — who didn’t know I was proposing — almost spoiled the surprise by handing us a menu for a 7-course dinner. I had told them it was a surprise, but thankfully Haley assumed it was just something for our anniversary. We got to the dive shop and went through a long safety briefing. The kind that makes you more nervous. On the boat ride out to the dive site, we were still deciding if we were actually going to go through with it. At one point, I looked over and saw one of the guides praying — which, given everything we were already feeling, didn’t exactly help calm our nerves. All the while, I’m checking my gear, trying not to panic, and thinking, Please let me live long enough to propose tonight.
The dive was intense. We descended using a line due to the current and had to kick hard to reach the site. Immediately, we saw 14-foot bull sharks, reef sharks, black tips, white tips, and a massive goliath grouper. It was wild and unforgettable.
That evening, we walked out to our private table in the mangroves — just us, a chef, and a waiter. There was a bottle of champagne on ice waiting for us. Flying foxes were gliding overhead, the tide lapping beneath us, thunder rumbling in the distance. We were also planning to exchange anniversary cards, and I asked to go first. I read her my card — which turned out to be my proposal — through tears of joy. Then I got down on one knee. Haley was completely shocked. She was crying so hard she forgot to say yes. After a long pause, I finally said, “Sooo…” and she burst out laughing through tears and said yes. We were so overwhelmed with emotion we barely ate the dinner. Lightning lit up the ocean in the distance, and somehow there was no rain — just this surreal, glowing moment suspended in time.
On the walk back to the resort, Haley went up to the first staff member she saw, hugged her, and said, “I’m engaged!” through tears. The woman hugged her back and said, “No one told us it was an engagement!” It was perfect.
Then, on the last day of our trip — now in Melbourne — we made good on a promise. The first time we talked about the shark dives, Haley said, “If we do this, we have to get matching shark tattoos.” She didn’t think I’d actually say yes, but I agreed immediately. (What she didn’t know was that I was already planning to propose, and in my mind, the tattoo was my version of an engagement ring.)
We found a shop and got the tattoos at the same time with two different artists. When we got back home, our first weekend back, we visited Point No Point Studio and picked out the real ring together — the one that felt like us. And the rest is history in the making.
