Okochi Sanso Garden in the Arashiyama area of Kyoto, Japan

The rings were fully customized based on my ideal of what a traditional, men’s engagement ring would look like; a simple, elegant design with an inset diamond as a reimagining of the classic engagement ring.

The Proposal

It was our first full day on our second trip to Kyoto, a place we returned after falling in love with Japan last year. The Arashiyama area of Kyoto, filled with temples and a bamboo forest, is as close to magic as you can find. In that area there’s a villa that was built up in the 1930s around the grounds of a temple. It’s filled with gardens, moss, and amazing views. When we reached the top of a hill, surrounded by mountains with cherry blossoms, I asked a sweet Australian stranger if she would mind taking a picture of us. To her and Matt’s shock, I got on my knee and proposed.