We’re Engaged! The Sunset and the Ring in Byron Bay

Last weekend Max and I went on a little getaway to Byron Bay. This small beach town, just 2 hours south of Brisbane has always been one of my favourite places in Australia. The laid back atmosphere with hippy vibes, great night life, and beautiful natural settings have drawn me here more than once! But this trip was not like any other… this trip will go down in history as the most special and the most memorable trips of all!

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If you have been following Drink Tea & Travel for a while, you have probably heard me mention my partner in crime and travel – Max. What many of you probably don’t know is that Max and I have known each other for almost 10 years! We briefly dated in University, but shortly after graduation we went our separate ways. Max has always been a traveler at heart, so he packed his bags and moved to Australia in 2009 and never came back.  We stayed in touch and in December 2010, when I spent a month backpacking through Australia, Max and I met again. He took me to Byron Bay for a weekend of fun in the sun and was the one to introduce me to this gem of the Eastern Coast!

Max and I in Byron Bay in 2010
Max and I in Byron Bay in 2010
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That December, I wasn’t ready to make a commitment to Max or to Australia, so I left Australia and a few months later said good-bye to my life in Canada to chase my long term dream of living in Europe. But our story didn’t end there…

See, the amazing thing about relationships that are truly special is that they last…even with the long distances and seemingly “bad” timing. You know how they say “If it’s meant to be, it will be?” Well it’s true! Eventually everything falls into place. And it did for Max and I. Fast forward 3 years of my adventures across Europe and Asia, and in April 2013 I hopped on a plane and took a leap of faith to move to Australia and to give my relationship with Max a proper chance.

After almost a year and a half of living together and exploring the world together, it was only fitting that we were back in Byron Bay, sitting on Byron Bay’s Main Beach, about 500m away from where we sat in 2010.

The sun was going down, casting a beautiful glow on the ocean…

Main Beach Byron Bay at sunset
Main Beach Byron Bay at sunset

I love photographing sunsets! It was my idea to head down to the beach to capture the nature’s best daily show. I was in the zone, surrounded by camera lenses and filters, enjoying some great people watching. It was a perfect way to finish our day in Byron. We had just had a delicious mediterranean meal at one of our favourite restaurants in Byron Bay, and after walking around and peaking into some shops, we were now taking in the laid atmosphere on Byron Bay’s Main Beach.

Pink hues over the ocean in Byron Bay
Pink hues over the ocean on Byron Bay’s Main Beach

We’ve been sitting on the beach for about 30 mins now and the sun has almost disappeared behind the horizon. It’s the middle of winter here now, but we couldn’t have asked for better weather this weekend. I dug my bare feet into the sand feeling the evening breeze and looked away from Max to snap a few more shots of the sunset. When I turned back, he was down on one knee with a ring in hand…

The big moment
The big moment.. captured by our handy GoPro set up to “film a time-lapse of the sunset”

There was no big speech, no cheesy lines, just a simple question… and I of course said Yes.  Well ok … I actually didn’t say “Yes” right away.. I said “Really?” about 10 times, before my mind had a chance to catch up with what was going on.  I knew it was coming, but I still couldn’t believe it was happening!

As I write this post, I can’t help but smile as I glance at the ring sparkling on my finger.  It’s so different, it’s so unique, and I love it more and more with every passing day. I never wanted a fancy diamond ring and I had no interest in following the norm. So with a little bit of input from me and some help from a great Etsy seller, Max designed a beautiful one-of- kind black gold aquamarine ring. When we finally do tie the knot, my wedding band with slide inside the engagement ring, completing the design.

The ring: black gold with an aquamarine stone
The ring: black gold with an aquamarine stone

I’m excited about the wedding … And slightly terrified about the planning that’s to come. But even more than that I’m excited for the future and for what’s yet to come. If history is of any indication, we are a couple that can’t sit still, that loves to explore the world, and take every chance that we get to travel! Max not only supports my travel addition but he fuels it with his own desire to go against the norm, to get off the beaten path, and do things that scare us!  We’ve got dreams and plans and we would love for you to come along with us on what can only be one hell of a ride.

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We're Engaged! The Sunset and the Ring in Byron Bay

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