René + Dawn were friends for close to twenty-five years before they became a couple. René describes “we’ve been through so much of life together and always expected to retire to the beach as little old granny besties”. Having grown up in a more sheltered religious context, both René and Dawn had never accepted the idea of being in a relationship with another woman until their adulthood. In 2020 and 2021, the pair realized their connection was more than a friendship, and they decided to officially date.
When they were ready to take things to the next level, René and Dawn took turns proposing to each other! René restored a vintage coffee grinder, which combined two of Dawn's favorite things (coffee and antiques) and tied an engagement ring with a ribbon to it. During a morning beach walk, René presented the gift, surprising Dawn with a thoughtful proposal she didn’t see coming. A few months later, the couple took a detour on their way home from a weekend trip to Seattle at a little coastal town they loved visiting. Upon entering the hotel, René discovered a stunning bouquet of her favorite flower, pink roses, sitting in the room! In the early morning, René was awoken to twinkle lights throughout the hotel room and Dawn with her guitar in hand. Dawn proposed with a song she’d written months before, can you imagine anything more perfect?
