Location: Norfolk Botanical Garden, Virginia

Instagram: @steele.ab & @lieut_dan33

Photographer: @dakotahvandoran 

In our words:

Dan and I met when we were both students / cadets at SUNY Maritime College in The Bronx. The school is centered around jobs in the maritime industry and after graduating, Dan and I both got hired to work for the same company- on the same ship! We’ve spent a majority of our time together at sea, traveling to kinds of countries and continents together through work!

We chose KDD because it was the first company that I had seen that truly created unique rings while remaining tasteful. Actually, about a year and a half ago, I sent him a text that started with “SCREENSHOT AND SAVE FOR A LATER DATE” and listed about 7 KDD rings that I loved- that way he could choose the ring and be sure that I already loved it! He ended up choosing Lucia (marquise) in platinum and I am in love with it! He ended up proposing at the Norfolk Botanical Garden during a Christmas light tour and it was so wholesome.

I also love how much we can personalize our bands. I’m a silver girly and he’s a gold boy but our rings will still be coordinated because we’re getting black gemstone accents. One last fun fact - the engagement pictures with the motorcycle are a cute nod to Dan’s hiding spot for the ring: in his motorcycle!