Kelsey & Danny
What was your ring experience like?
D: Surprisingly stress free. I set up a meeting with Chelsea just to get an idea of what the custom ring experience would be like and if I could afford it but I left without a doubt that I would use her. After the first meeting I basically just sat back and watched Chelsea work her magic. My fiancée fully customized her own ring without even knowing it, then I picked out the diamond and a couple of weeks later the ring of her dreams was ready for pick up. The whole process was very enjoyable and done in a timely manner. I would not change a thing and I am happy knowing that my fiancée got the exact ring that she wanted.
Why did you choose Honey Designs for your ring experience?
D: A friend who used her referred me to Chelsea and I decided to see what she had to offer. She immediately sold me on doing a custom ring and I’m glad she did because I feel that the personalization of the process gives the ring more meaning and my fiancée knows how much thought I put into everything.
What surprised you the most?
K: The fact that I could be involved in the process of creating what would turn out to be my engagement ring without ruining the surprise of a proposal! The process of designing rings, drinking champagne and enjoying desserts was such fun girl time that I would have never guessed my now fiance would thoughtfully encourage me to help design my own ring ;) Also, the fact that there was a photographer and bouquet associated with the proposal was absolutely perfect. You don't get that kind of connection with a typical jeweler. I am actually freezing the flowers that Katie provided so I can keep the memory forever!
D: How simple and affordable the process was. Being a recent college grad I did not have a huge budget and Chelsea did a great job of staying within a budget that I could afford while at the same time ensuring that my fiancée would receive high quality, beautiful ring.
What do you love most about your ring?
K: I love the personal story behind it's beautiful exterior. It is so much more than diamonds and white gold. It has so much love in it and it involved so many important friends and family. Every time I look at it, I think about how much love and thoughtfulness that went into it and I am overjoyed!
D: What I like most is that I know my fianceé absolutely loves her ring because she is the one who designed it!
How did you meet?
K: We met in 2008, Danny was a senior in high school and I was starting my first year of college. We worked together at a children's birthday party facility. We also went to the University of Cincinnati together. Go Bearcats!
D: Kelsey and I met when I was a senior in high school and she was a freshman in college at UC. We both worked at a children’s party place called Pump It Up. I tried for several months before I could get Kelsey to give me the time of day let alone go on a date with me.
Where was your first date?
K: I apparently played hard to get for a little while... Our first date was at the movies actually a year later in 2009. A co-worker and Danny were talking one day about how we would make such a cuuuuute couple and she set up a date that she decided we should go out. Sure enough on that exact day I received a text from him that said, "Ready for our date?" Here we are 7 years later!
D: Our first date was to the movies and we saw the Ugly Truth.
Where’s your favorite hidden gem in Cincy?
K: I can't get enough of Eli's BBQ. The food and atmosphere is so perfect.
D: Eli’s BBQ in Columbia Tusculum is my favorite hidden gem in Cincinnati. Kelsey and I first stumbled upon this little hole-in-the-wall BBQ joint by total accident. I had recently moved to Mt. Lookout and we were driving around looking for a place to eat dinner when we got lost and noticed a “pig” sign on the side of what looked like an abandoned house. There are no other businesses anywhere near Eli’s and neither of us could believe that this restaurant was actually open. Ever since then it has been one of our favorite places to eat and hang out.
What other local Cincinnati businesses do you love?
K: Sleepy Bee, Street Pops and all the local breweries!
D: Obviously Skyline/Goldstar, The Cone, Oakley Pub and Grill, Aglamesis Bro’s, Street Pops, Sleepy Bee, Keystone, Rhinegeist, Madtree, Moerlein, and 16-Bit Arcade & Bar.
Favorite Way to Spend a Date Day/Night:
K: Living in Oakley, we love doing things together in the neighborhood! We love to grab a beer and bring our puppy to Oakley Pub and Grill and other areas in the square. We also love to attend Bearcat football and basketball games as well as Dayton Flyer basketball games. We enjoy attending local festivals around all of Cincy too like the annual beer fest! Quality time together at home cooking dinner and watching movies makes some of the best dates too! :)
D: My ideal date day would be to wake up and get brunch and mimosas at Keystone. Then go get our dog Oakley and take her for a walk at Ault Park and spend the rest of the day lying around the house with Kelsey and Oakley binge watching Netflix.
Proposal Photography by Amy Oliver
Flowers by Katie's Blooms