The Jewelry Center Couple: Alex & Isabelle

Hi Isabelle! Thanks for taking time to talk to us more about you and Alex! You two are now engaged but we want to know how it all started! How did you two meet?

We met while in undergrad at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Alex lived with two of my close friends from high school so we had been at the same social events here and there but didn’t really meet until our senior year.

What was your first date?

For our first date we went to a local Madison bar and grill, Echo Tap, for dinner. It was walking distance from our respective apartments and was a favorite of both of ours, which we didn’t know that until we got there. Afterwards we hung out and watched 50 First Dates (a personal favorite).

Your ring is beautiful and we understand that Alex custom designed the ring at our Greenfield location. Did Alex surprise you or did you have insight on the design process?

It was a complete surprise! We were living in Houston, TX at the time and it was during the height of the pandemic so Alex (not knowing where to begin) contacted Dean to start the whole process. They worked together remotely to find styles that I might like and they created a few different ring designs. With a little input from my best friend, Alex chose the final design and added aquamarine to the band because I love the color blue. Even though I had no say in the ring I absolutely love it and the fact that it’s a little different than just having diamonds.

Fast forward to the proposal, how did Alex propose? Were you expecting it?

Alex proposed on a road trip vacation to New Orleans. Our first morning there it was raining heavily but I was not going to let that ruin our plans. I dragged Alex through the rain to Café Du Monde where we enjoyed coffee and beignets and attempted to wait out the rain. Finally, the rain let up and we decided to walk back to the hotel. As we began our walk a city worker was opening the gates to Jackson Square park and we decided to check it out. We were the only two people in the park and Alex turned to me and said “There is a question I’d like to ask you!” He got down on one knee, pulled out the ring, and I started crying all the happy tears. Although we were soaking wet the whole thing was perfect. There was even a street musician playing jazz nearby. It all happened in the morning so we had the whole day to celebrate together (rain or shine).

I wasn’t expecting it but we had been dating for five years so I was ready for it!

Have you two begun wedding planning?

We have! We will be enjoying a long engagement until 12/31/2022 when we will ring in the new year with our friends and family in the third ward of downtown Milwaukee.

Anything else you’d like to share with us about your experience with The Jewelry Center?

Although I didn’t have much to do with the pre-engagement process, Dean and the entire team at The Jewelry Center were so helpful with everything that came afterwards. I had to get my ring resized, which was a breeze. We were in town for a friends wedding and had a short window, but we were able to drop off the ring and picked it up the next day. We even picked out and ordered Alex’s wedding band while we were there. Overall, I am so pleased with TJC and cannot wait to pick out (or design) my wedding band.