And just like that, we are all inundated with all things love. While you may or may not celebrate Valentine’s this month, take a moment to celebrate love, both new and old. We sat down with recently-engaged Cory and Alexandra to learn more about their new love and were inspired by their synchrony and mutual respect, not to mention the most perfectly planned proposal picnic…

Meaghan: How many years have you known each other?

Cory: We met on the Hinge dating app during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in November 2020. We moved in less than a year and a half later and were engaged for two years and one month.

Meaghan: When I first met with you, I was struck by how much of a team you already appeared to be—just very respectful and in sync with each other. What were your first impressions of each other?

Alexandra: I was an online dating pro by the time I came across Cory's profile, which was the quintessential "guy profile," including a fishing photo, running photo, etc. But he was so cute, so I gave it a shot! Cory was curious, earnest, and endearing in our first conversation, and I just wanted to keep talking to him. It was very natural.

Cory: I got very lucky when Alex chose to "swipe right" and start a first conversation. I immediately saw a woman with sophistication, independence, and genuine kindness in Alexandra. Alex's welcoming and comforting demeanor made it easy to open up from the outset.

Meaghan: Did you know your partner was "The One" quickly, or did it take time?

Cory: After the first conversation with Alex, I knew I wanted to be persistent about setting up the next one. And then the next. Each phone call or FaceTime seemed to get better, and I wasn't about to let the momentum fade. I knew she was special, and while I hoped to stay in the moment, I knew she could be the one.

Alexandra: For me, Cory was different from the beginning. We had so much time to build a solid foundation during the pandemic that I think I knew pretty early on that I was going to spend the rest of my life with him. We move to the same beat.

Meaghan: What went into your decision to have your engagement ring made with Alx&Co.?

Cory: We were working with family heirloom rings, so it was really important to have a designer with a good reputation that we could trust and someone who would work with us aesthetically, not against us. Alexandra learned of Alx&Co. through her hair stylist, and once we learned more about them, it was such an easy choice.

Meaghan: Tell us a bit about the history of your diamonds.

Alexandra: We were incredibly fortunate to have engagement rings from three grandmothers to incorporate into our engagement. Each ring was so unique and came with its own special history about its creation and the woman who wore it. The center stone in our ring belonged to Cory's paternal grandmother. It's a round, European Cut diamond that was originally worn by her grandmother-in-law (Cory's great-great-grandmother, around the turn of the century). The center stone is adorned by six marquis-cut diamonds (set to look more like pears), which were originally part of Cory's maternal grandmother's engagement ring. We are honored to carry these women with us.

Meaghan: Did you know what you wanted for a design before you came to us for your initial design consultation?

Cory: Alexandra had styles that she liked but no specific image in mind. We had the vision to incorporate stones from all three rings so that all of these amazing women would be blended into the ring, and it would become this incredibly unique future heirloom. Our partners at Alx&Co. designed a beautiful ring, but it was just more bling than Alex could handle on a daily basis! Meaghan and Tim helped us pare back the ring while still including stones from two of the original heirlooms. They were devoted to ensuring we were happy with the design. An organic, round, and classical vibe was what I was looking for, ultimately.

Meaghan: What surprised you most about the design process?

Cory: Getting to be up close and personal with the design process makes the ring all the more special. It was really a team effort that we got to lead.

Meaghan: Tell us about the proposal. Was it a surprise?

Cory: We agreed that Alexandra would lead the design process, but once the ring was ready, it was up to me as to when and how to propose.

Back in December, I blocked off a weekend on our shared calendar for the end of January. Alex noticed, and when she asked what was happening that weekend, I just told her to "keep those dates clear." While she didn't say it outright, I knew Alex didn't want to wait over a month longer for the proposal to happen. She knew the ring should have been ready. Nevertheless, she accepted the reality that she would likely wait a little longer than she expected.

But that wasn't the reality after all.

I had picked up Alex's beautiful ring from Alx&Co. right around that time and, unbeknownst to her, had arranged for a New Year's Eve weekend proposal and celebration.

On the morning of December 30, Alex's friend supported me in a covert nail appointment mission, where Alex reluctantly obliged and started to put the pieces together.

While the appointment took place, I set up a picnic blanket with a small bottle of champagne, flowers, and snacks in the park, where we spent our first outdoor COVID-19 dates. When Alex arrived, she looked down into the grassy park and saw me standing next to the picnic setup. She walked down the flight of wooden steps, walked over to me, and watched me get down on a knee. Of course, she said yes.

There were no pop-out surprises, hidden photographers, or family members hiding in the bushes. It was just us, the way we wanted it to be.

Meaghan: What are you most looking forward to on your wedding day?

Alexandra: Standing under our chuppah and committing ourselves to one another in front of our community of family and friends. Cory's dad is a rabbi and will be officiating. It will be a really special moment. 

Meaghan: Do you have any advice for other couples who are considering an engagement soon?

Cory and Alexandra: Do things your own way and communicate with each other about everything throughout the process.