Matt and I have a lot of the same friends and had known each other for eight years before we started dating. Every party or event we were both invited to, we just seemed to gravitate towards each other and spent the whole time together. I have always thought he was one of the most genuine and thoughtful men I’d ever met. We have always been interested in each other, but we never said anything about it because one of us was always seeing someone when the other was single.

Last November we both finally ended up single and Matt had asked me to go with him to an all-day event called Punkin Chunkin that he attends with his family every year. It sounded like fun so I said yes. As the day progressed, we both made it quite obvious that we had ulterior motives and finally confessed how we have been feeling all along. Seven months later, he proposed after asking my parents for their blessing. We both love anything outdoors so he took me out on a fishing trip on Beltzville Lake in Lehighton, PA where we rented a boat. He asked me to look for a black and purple lure (that I soon learned didn’t exist) in the tackle box and I couldn’t find it, so he said he would find it and I turned my back to him just long enough for him to reach in his pocket to get the ring. He said “here it is I found it” so I turned back to face him and my first reaction was “that’s not a black and purple lure!” He then asked me to marry him and, of course, I said yes! We are planning a wedding for October 12, 2012.

Matt found the ring when he went to Benari in Exton. Helen did an excellent job assisting him in finding a ring that was perfect for me! We will definitely be repeat clients of hers!

Rick and I had been dating for three and a half years prior to our recent engagement. We were introduced on a summer night in Wildwood, a night which I had no desire to go out. I’m sure glad I did though. We instantly fell in love and I didn’t think I could be any happier.

Rick’s a police officer working nights so we don’t get much time to spend together. When we do see each other we usually just spend night in watching movies and enjoying each other’s company. I recently went to Orlando with the cheerleading team that I coach for a long weekend. Rick saw the perfect opportunity to head to Benari and pick out the perfect ring, that was a Friday afternoon before he had to work the weekend. I didn’t return home until Monday afternoon. He held onto the ring for 5 days with no mention of it to anyone.

That Tuesday was Valentine’s Day, a day I never thought he would propose on, but also happens to be the day the my grandfather proppsed to my grandmother 58 years ago. He picked me up with a dozen beautiful red roses in hand and off we went to, what was a surprise to me, FOGO DE CHAO. Dinner was delicious and we had a great time. Somehow, I’m still not sure how, Rick ate and was perfectly calm. There was no hint at all that he would be proposing just a short time later.

He then took me to my second surprise, the airport to watch the planes take off and land, one of our favorite things to do. It started to rain and Rick seemed to be really bummed about it so we headed out to what he said was “my next surprise.”

In my head I was thinking we were heading home, little did I know he had a few tricks up his sleeve. He had called my dad earlier in the night asking for his blessing and of course my dad was more than happy to give it.

We pulled into the parking lot of a local bar coincidentally he parked in the same parking spot that we had shared our first kiss three and a half years earlier. Instantly I got butterflies in my stomach. He came and got me out of his truck and asked if I knew where we were. I said of course I did. He then said “this is the first place we kissed, it’s also the place I am going to ask you to marry me.” I was shocked and happier than I have ever been. I said yes between the tears of happiness.

My ring is absolutely beautiful thanks to my amazing fiance and the help he had from Ron from Benari.

Stephen and I met the night before my first class as a college student. I can truly say that the first time I looked at him, I knew we’d be together. Crazy, I know. We started talking every once in a while, and looking for excuses to see each other again. Shortly after, he asked me to be his girlfriend.

3 years after we began dating, Stephen led me on a little scavenger hunt through the places most important to us. I ended up at Longwood Gardens, and he had left a map there for me with my favorite place in the park circled. I met him there, and there he was, on one knee. The ring was in a box shaped like a book, and on the front of the book it said, “Chapter Two.” He then asked if I was ready to start the second chapter of our lives together. Of course I said yes, and we are getting married on October 12. I love him.

Justin and I met in high school when I senior and he was in community school playing soccer and getting his pre-rec classes accomplished. We were introduced by our best friends who had also been dating at the time, we instantly hit it off. Our first date was a Sixers game, YES we are obsessed with PHILLY SPORTS . We had tons in common but grew to love a lot of new things as a couple as the time went by. That summer I was off to LaSalle and ironically enough Justin was transferring right down the street to Temple University. We decided to stay together and see how things went being at different schools fresh into college. I wound up cheering for LaSalle and joining a sorority, and as Justin was in his third year of college things got rather BUSY. We made it work though!! We would take public transportation to see one another and even go to the student centers together when we knew we HAD to study but just wanted the other around. We had our ups and downs like many couples do. Separated for a while here and there throughout college but our hearts never truly left one another. We both graduated and luckily landed jobs in our fields within a year after graduation. Justin and I knew we were meant to be together and never let the bumps of life come between us! On December 9th 2011 Justin got down on his knee in Rittenhouse Square and asked me if I would spend the rest of my life with him. My initial reaction, was are you serious?!!? He did good I had NOO idea, and that of course was followed with a quick YESSS of course, and on that cold crisp night in Rittenhouse Sqaure my life to me was perfect. I knew I was about to start planning a wedding with not only the man of my dreams but my very very best friend. Justin I love you thanks for making my life feel whole.

For two police officers, a normal first date was out of the question. Since a mutual friend introduced us and we didn’t know too much about each other, we decided to go to the shooting range and then out for dinner as a first date. As luck would have it, we fell in love.

About a year and a half later, my family was visiting from Florida for the holidays. Joe mentioned that it would be fun to hang out with my family and go shooting. I thought it was a great idea since both of my brothers and my dad enjoy a night out at the range. Joe took care of everything, renting out a section of the range so we could all be close to each other. About a day or two before we were scheduled to go shooting, our friend who set us up called and said he was going to be home for the holidays to visit friends and family. I told him about our shooting excursion and invited him to come along. Little did I know everyone already knew of these plans, and that was the real reason he was coming in to visit.

We were all at the range. It was my two brothers, my dad, our friend who introduced us, Joe’s brother and another one of our good friends. Joe and I were strategically positioned in the center lane with everyone else on each side. My dad mentioned having a new gun to try out so I went down to the first lane where he was and tried it out. After I was done, I went back to the center lane that Joe and I were sharing. Joe said he was done shooting, and asked me if I could bring back his target which was all the way at the 25 yard line. I thought it was weird that he was shooting his target at the farthest distance when everyone else was shooting closer, but then again Joe always liked to perfect his skills. As I began bringing the target back, I turned around to ask him a question and saw him down on one knee with the ring displayed! Everyone was taking pictures and someone mentioned “Did you see the target?” I turned around and, on the target I was bringing back for Joe, said “Will you marry me?” Obviously I said yes, and he put the ring on my finger. Oh my god, how that rock sparkled! As if that weren’t enough, I noticed in the viewing window (where people who weren’t shooting can watch those who were), both his whole family and my whole family came to watch the proposal. We went outside to thank everyone and show them my beautiful ring. Joe then mentioned that there was an engagement party back at his parent’s house, ready for us to celebrate. I was still in shock. It was one of the best nights of my life. I have the best fiancé and the perfect ring which reminds me of that night every time I look at it.

Chris and I got engaged at our home. Chris told me he wanted to go out to dinner that night to celebrate our one year anniversary of buying our house. He told me to be ready sharply at 7:00 PM. When I came downstairs Chris had all the lights dimmed, a bunch of candles lit, and music playing in the background. He had a bottle of champagne out and said he wanted to do a toast for our one year anniversary of living together. Next, Chris presented me with two dozen long stem roses. Then, Chris got down on one knee and popped the question!! He opened the yellow Benari box and all I could see was bling:-) The ring was so sparkly I couldn’t even tell what it looked like at first…plus I was crying uncontrollably so I had a hard time seeing through the tears. The ring is a Tacori setting with a beautiful round diamond. That wasn’t the only surprise Chris had in store for me that night…he had all of our closest friends and family over that night for a surprise party. Everyone knew about the proposal for a couple of weeks before. It was a magical night!

My fiance, Kyle, and I met at a college party almost five years ago. After I graduated in 2009, we moved from a beautiful beach town in NJ to West Chester, PA. We try to take a trip back to the area a couple of times a year.

We planned a trip for Labor Day weekend to go up and visit some friends. The plan (at least in my head) was I would drop him off at his friends house in central Jersey, go to North Jersey to a friends party and pick him up the next day. The night before we were going to go, I mentioned how I really wasn’t feeling the trip. I was on the road a lot for work and wanted a weekend of relaxing at home. Kyle gave me a ridiculous look and I assumed he really wanted to see his friends and take my car.

The next day, we drove up to Jersey and Kyle drove knowing I would be a pain. Kyle said we would meet up with one of his friends around school and I would go north from there. On the way up, I even asked if we could skip the shore traffic and drop him at his friends along the way, needless to say that got shot down. When we approached our neck of the woods, he said his friend was running late and we should stop somewhere to kill time. He suggested we go to the coffee shop where we had our first date and I suggested the ice cream place that closed at the end of the summer. (Clearly, I was really determined to ruin my own proposal). I thought it was weird that he wanted to stop for coffee, considering he never drinks it and had a red bull during our ride.

After our coffee stop, where he sat nervously staring into my eyes, we headed to the boardwalk for a walk on the beach. I am obsessed with the beach and have to stop by the boardwalk with any trip to Long Branch. On a first date, we also ended the evening with a walk along the boardwalk and beach. We strolled down onto the beach and after a few minutes of walking he told me to wait. He got down on one knee, said he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me and asked me to marry him. It’s a good thing he didn’t have a long speech prepared, because I immediately said yes and dove into his arms. He is quite the trickster, we’ve talked about marriage in the past but he always said he wanted to wait a few more years!

It turns out I was never going to my friends house, he just told her to invite me. He got us a hotel in the area and our friends came out to celebrate afterward. My friends were so impressed that he picked out such a beautiful ring-without any hints from me or anyone’s help! I couldn’t have asked for a more romantic and perfect proposal, it is amazing how well he knows me!

Engagement Date: 6/21/2011
Wedding Date: Summer 2013

Matt and I live next to a park where we frequently like to go on walks together. I was in class that evening, so he asked me to text him when I got out. He claimed that he was running errands, but that he would head home when I finished class. I got let out early, so I texted him like he asked me to.

When I got home, we left for our walk right away. He seemed to be in a rush, but I took it as him just wanting to enjoy the beautiful weather. At about the halfway point of our walk, we rounded a bend near a small sheltered bench. I saw a woman bending down, looking at something on the bench. Matt pointed it out, too, saying “I wonder what all these people are looking at!” Of course, this further aroused my curiosity, so we just had to stop at the bench!

As I walked in front of it, I saw that someone had placed a large bouquet of roses at the corner where the bench met the railing, and a book propped in front of the bouquet. Matt quickly pulled a post-it off of the book that I later found out said ‘Please do not remove. I’ll be back soon to propose’. That’s when I noticed that the book had a picture of Matt and I on the front of it, with the title “Once Upon a Time”.

I knew what this had to be, and had to know what was in this book! I sat on the bench and began to read it. It was a story, written and illustrated by Matt, that narrated how we met, how we fell in love, and how he knew that he wanted to marry me. The last page had a drawing of an engagement ring, and finished with: “As Sierra turned to the final page, she realized that Matt was down on one knee asking if she’ll marry him, and she said…” Sure enough, Matt was down on one knee with a gorgeous Benari ring. Of course, I said yes.

Engagement Date: 4/09/2011
Wedding Date: 6/30/2012

Jay and I had been dating for almost two years when he invited me to a charity gala for his company at a beautiful banquet hall. We got all dressed up and headed to the event. I handed over the tickets to the maitre’d and she directed us to our event. We go to the event room where we were directed and it’s unlit except for a chandelier over the dance floor and a fireplace in the corner. Jay tells me our life together has always been about “making moments” and, after a few minutes of a speech I couldn’t hear through my crying, asks me to marry him. After I say, “Yes,” an acoustic guitarist and a singer hidden in an upstairs balcony begin playing Train’s “Marry Me.” It was the best gala that never happened!

Jay tells me we’re going to have dinner at a restaurant where we shared one of our first dates. What a surprise when I found our families there, waiting to celebrate with us.

I am such a lucky girl and I’ll never forget that day.