This week we are featuring a sweet couple that was truly a treat to work with, Jenna and Brogan. From the moment that Brogan walked into our Santa Monica showroom with a custom hummingbird (common theme!) ring idea in mind to when he left with a beautiful (seriously – one of our favorite diamonds to date!) Old European Simple Solitaire, to bringing his soon-to-be bride, Jenna, into the showroom after he popped the question, they were a pleasure to have and we can’t wait to see where life takes them. Read on for this story of two lovebirds!
Names: Jenna Harling & Brogan Dunphy
Current Location: Palms, CA
Meeting Location: Santa Monica, CA
Meeting Date: 7/3/2015
Wedding Location + Date: 10/11/2020 in Camarillo, CA
The day you met… tell us everything!
Jenna: We met the night before Independence Day, 2015. I had just moved back from my completing my MBA in Scotland & Brogan had bonded with some of my old high school friends but we had yet to meet. I was headed down to the beach with a friend when I came upon Brogan and two of our mutual friends waiting for dinner reservations. Our eyes met & it was like the world melted away. I got butterflies & I could feel the static electricity between us. They invited us to join them & we decided to take them up on the offer. He was not only handsome but the conversation flowed freely, always finding a way to make me laugh. Having just moved back, we took it slow & after a couple of years of floating in & out of each other’s lives, we decided to make it official. It’s been a dream ever since, always finding ways to make the other smile or show each other how much we love one another. We’re constantly building each other up & learning how to blossom into our better selves. He is the turtle to my hummingbird, my perfect complement & other half.
Ok… so how did he pop the question!
Jenna: During our annual Ugly Sweater Party, I thought I was planning a typical evening with friends & family. While I was busy hosting, Brogan was busy planning his surprise proposal. Everyone seemed to know what would happen but me! Working with our closest friends, he had my best friend plant a neatly wrapped box under the tree with a beautiful (handmade) hummingbird to draw me in. During the number draw, he let me pick both numbers (a back-up in case I didn’t choose his present), landing me with an 11 & 14. During the White Elephant exchange, when it was my turn to pick, he nonchalantly pointed out the beautiful gift. I gasped in delight & unknowingly questioned “who put a hummingbird on it?! Did you do it on purpose?” As I start to unwrap the present, Brogan slips past to prepare. I’m busy focusing on carefully unwrapping the present, with the palpable tension in the air, everyone with their cameras up to catch the moment. As our friends & family jokingly tried to hurry me along for the next number, I opened the lid & removed a piece of paper with the words “Will you marry me?”. I look up & Brogan is down on one knee. I was in utter disbelief & quietly questioned if this was real before smiling, “Of course.” With a kiss & hearts filled with happiness, he slipped the most delicate, sparkly engagement ring on my finger & voila, we were engaged!
When did you know that your significant other was the one?
Brogan: I knew when I told her I loved her. We’ve had a natural progression in our relationship to where we’ve been able to know each other as people then friends and more than friends and next family.
Jenna: I knew when he’d find ways to just be there for me, never expecting anything in return other than my smile or laugh. Maybe even from the first day we met & I felt the electricity between our souls.
What is your favorite thing about your significant other?
Brogan: I could never pick one thing about Jenna. Her smile gives my soul shivers, her laugh makes me feel complete. Her intentions with every interaction are more pure than imaginable, she shares enough love to save the world. Jenna Harling is my unicorn.
Jenna: I don’t know if there’s only one favorite, I love the way he makes me want to be a better person. He’s thoughtful, kind, selfless, confident, always going above & beyond to make those around him feel special. He’d give the shirt off his back to someone in need, all while working toward a goal to always be better than he was yesterday.
Brogan, what made you choose this stunning Old European Simple Solitaire ring?!
I found SKFJ when I first started planning the proposal. My initial thought was that we could custom design something with hummingbirds (Jenna shares a special relationship with them). I met with some of the ladies in the office and discussed options on the custom piece all whilst sharing the SKFJ online gallery with Jenna’s closest friends. I stumbled upon the simple solitaire and immediately thought it was perfect. Jenna and I had begun to discuss the next step of engagement and unwittingly came into SKFJ to “explore her favorite styles”. Jenna made her way around the showroom & chose the same simple solitaire I had picked as her dream ring.
Do you have any notable stories that have stood out over the years – hilarious, sentimental, anything!
We landed a free trip to Hawaii about a month into our relationship. As a couple we are a pretty lucky team. All our friends thought we were going to elope… we can do our 50-year wedding ceremony in Hawaii.
What’s your favorite go-to date night idea?
We love going to museums, art galleries or local cultural activities. We also enjoy finding new recipes to cook at home or dressing up for a nice dinner out on the town.
How is wedding planning going? Do you have any advice for planning a wedding?
Planning a wedding can be quite the undertaking for anyone/everyone involved. That being said…communication is a wonderful tool in all relationships. Establishing an understanding early on of what each person wants to be involved in, can help you divide & conquer. Starting early is key, it helps reduce the overall stress and there are plenty of blogs & Pinterest boards to help you plan the perfect wedding!
What are you most excited about for your wedding?
Having all of our friends and family in one place to celebrate the love Jenna and I get to share daily!
Are you going to honeymoon?
Definitely! Possibly Maldives’ & Sri Lanka but we’ll wait until the weather is better – perhaps May 2021.
Alright – so what’s next for the two of you?!
Wedding, honeymoon, house, and finally kids!
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Do you have an engaging story to share of how you met your love? Stop by here and share for your chance to be the next featured Love Story!
