Meet Bailey and Andrew Darlington!
This recently married couple found not one, but two beautiful rings at Joslin’s to commemorate their union, but more on that later…
Bailey grew up in Wichita and Andrew in Kansas City. They met at the wedding of Andi, a close friend of Bailey’s, who was getting married to Andrew’s twin brother, Josh. Bailey had moved to Kansas City to attend college, where she and Andi met. She returned to Wichita after school, and she and Andi stayed in touch. In May 2020, Bailey traveled to Kansas City to be a bridesmaid in Andi and Josh’s wedding. It was the day before the wedding, as the wedding party gathered to prepare for the big day, that Bailey met Andrew.
Bailey and Andrew spoke and, as they did, found that they shared many common interests. Bailey returned home to Wichita, but she and Andrew spoke regularly over the phone for the next month before deciding that an “official” first date was in order. And, since Bailey lived several hours away, they wanted to make sure that this first date would be a great one.
They watched a mutually favorite movie, Iron Man, played video games, and visited a few restaurants. That first date lasted 14 hours, and by the end of that time, they both felt that this relationship would become something special.
Bailey eventually moved to Kansas City, and she and Andrew continued to spend time together, enjoying their shared hobbies, like visiting Comicon and enjoying Marvel movies. Fast-forward: Andrew and Bailey had been dating for a while when they were invited to join Andrew’s family on a Hawaiian cruise. There on the beach, at sunset, Andrew proposed, and Bailey said, “Yes!”
Bailey suspected that a proposal might be on the trip’s itinerary, but she was still happily surprised when Andrew popped the question. With help from Andi and Josh, Andrew had been able to sneak the ring, with its unique box, into the restaurant that night so that Andrew could surprise Bailey on a walk down the shore afterward.
The couple had talked about getting married and even visited a few jewelers around the city so Bailey could browse for engagement rings. At first, she was drawn to a rose gold setting featuring a pear-shaped diamond surrounded by a halo. She still shopped around, though, and changed her mind several times before realizing that the first style was the one she wanted all along.
Josh and Andi’s ring shopping experience at Joslin’s had been wonderful, and they recommended that Andrew and Bailey check out the store. Once there, they were impressed by how welcoming and friendly the staff was, and when Andrew knew what Bailey’s dream ring should be, he returned to Joslin’s. He discussed options for designing a custom engagement ring, and the jewelers got to work! In no time at all, Andrew was back at the shop to pick up Bailey’s stunning engagement ring.
“Everyone at Joslin’s was so helpful and friendly,” Andrew remembers. “They genuinely cared about what we were looking for and didn’t seem like they were just there to sell me something.”
Paco carrying Andrew and Bailey’s rings down the aisle.
An Extra Special Ring Bearer!
Andrew and Bailey’s wedding was more unique than most. Their ceremony and reception took place at Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Goddard, Kansas, not far from Wichita. The venue was exotic, family-friendly, within budget, and could accommodate their nearly 300 wedding guests. The most distinctive member of the wedding party was their ring bearer, Paco the penguin, who waddled down the aisle with rings in hand – or flipper – rather.
Since buying that engagement ring from Joslin’s, the couple has continued to shop for other special pieces there. For instance, Bailey wanted to break with tradition. Instead of pairing a traditional, plain wedding band with her engagement ring, she wanted a second ring similar to the first. More subtle, however, in yellow gold with a smaller pear-shaped diamond. It would be a ring to wear when she wanted a more minimal look.
Bailey’s second ring from Joslin’s!
Again, the staff helped design every detail of the second ring, adjusting the band several times until it was exactly the right shape and width. Andrew and Bailey brought a beautiful pearl with them back from Hawaii, and Joslin’s created a necklace that features it – a sentimental reminder of that beautiful sunset proposal on the beach.
“Every time we go in there, the experience is wonderful and personal,” says Bailey. “There is no other place I could recommend that would do such a wonderful and amazing job!”
Finding or designing the perfect ring is simple and stress-free with Joslin’s expert jewelers. Once you work with Joslin’s, it’s easy to see why they are the jewelers for life for hundreds of couples and families throughout the Kansas City area.
