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Our Engagement Story

Our Engagement Story

Today we’re celebrating 1 year since we got engaged officially. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate this, than to share with you this story that’s so close to my heart. There is a very good explanation why, in the first sentence, I wrote the word officially. Read our engagement story below and you’ll find it out.

Last February, one evening at a glass of wine we were talking about Valentine’s Day plans. We are not big fans of the holiday itself, but we have promised ourselves we will use this opportunity each year to create time and space to celebrate our relationship. Since our first time in Nice, France in 2018 it has been a dream for us to come back and stay at the hotel Le Negresco.

smileyioana.com | Our Engagement Story - Nice 2019
Le Negresco, Nice 2019

Besides being a symbol for Nice, Le Negresco is a peace of history. The hotel was built from a dream by the Romanian Alexandru Negrescu in 1913. I’m not going to burden you with historical information. But while we were there, we carefully researched everything we could read online about this landmark. Lucky enough that February is a low season on the Cote D’Azur and for Valentine’s Day, the hotel created an undeinable offer. One glass of wine later, we booked 3 nights with that package and direct flights from Stuttgart to Nice. (it was still in the low cost times).

It was love at first sight. We loved everything the moment we crossed the magnificent entrance to Nice’s landmark and we were inside: the elegance, the taste, the scent, the fresh flowers, the polite staff and of course the art collections. In The Royal Lounge and halls, Le Negresco hosts over 5000 pieces of art from around the world, including a 16,000 crystal chandelier from Czar Nichols II , Salvador Dali paintings and from many other famous artist.

Our hearts were bursting with joy and happiness. Everything was beyond expected or than we could have imagined. The hotel was so comfortable and they made you feel like they had the most valued guests. On our first evening at dinner, Andrei asked me what would I think if the next day we would have “Breakfast At Tiffany’s” to make official our relationship in such a elegant and dreamy ambiance. (Breakfast at Tiffany’s is a 1961 movie with Audrey Hepburn, that involves a diamond ring and a beautiful relationship). I could see that he was nervous. I was shaking and looking at him with big eyes. Immediately I said yes and asked him (to make sure) that he knows what Tiffany is.

As promised, the next day we found our way to the store wandering the streets of Nice. On the corner of one street we found a local jewelry store, family owned, where I tried an engagement ring for the first time. It was discreet, elegant, and it had only one small stone. I did not know what to say, because I had nothing to compare it to.

smileyioana.com | Our Engagement Story - Nice 2020

Later that day we made it to Tiffany’s. There I tried those gorgeous sparkling big diamond rings. My mind went back to the local store immediately, where I tried the ring for the first time. I told Andrei I want that one and I was sure as I would ever be. That fine ring represented us both better and what truly we love: elegance, simplicity, locally made, family owned, with a story and, of course, a lot of spontaneity.

We went back running to make it before closing time. We bought that first ring. There was just more little detail: it needed a size adjustment. When this was happening it was Saturday evening. Sunday there had closed. It was the longest Sunday of my life. I was waiting with excitement for early Monday to come that I receive that beautiful, little, shiny piece of jewelry.

Monday he gave me the ring in one of my favorite places, at the beach. It was a windy and a very warm day of February. The waves were smashing before us and we promised to love, support and take care of each other for as long as we can.

DISCLAIMER: this is my version of our engagement story. Also there is no affiliation or any remuneration from any of the above mentioned parts.

What do you think about our engagement story? For more travel stories follow smileyioana on social media: Instagram @smileyioana and Pinterest @smileyioana.

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