Lilly Barton & John Waugh

Tell us a bit about yourselves

Lilly: I’m a Nutritional Therapist and John is a session musician (saxophonist). We both live together in West London and got married in May of this year.

How did you meet? 

John: We met at Reading Festival in 2014. Although we became partners years later, we developed a strong friendship upon meeting. We have always been aware of the clear sparks between us, but we fell into the relationship when the time was right.

Lilly: I somehow always knew I would end up in a relationship with John, and I think our strong foundation as friends paired with the clear chemistry between us served us well moving from friends to lovers.

What was your first impression of each other?

John: Lilly is always immaculately presented, so I naturally counted my blessings when I realised she liked me. That is honestly part of the reason why our relationship didn’t start sooner. I held her in such a high regard that I felt I had to grow up and wise up a little before I could be with her.

Lilly: I remember being struck by his unfailing sincerity. John is someone who communicates very clearly and has the gift of using his words to portray depth and directness. I have always been in quiet awe of this.

What do you love about each other?

John: I think our joint sense of humour is something that serves as a tonic in our relationship. We laugh daily, and often at very silly, childish things. We have our careers and life’s inherent responsibilities that we do our upmost to take care of, but after a long day we laugh at each other. It’s brilliant.

Lilly: I love Johns wicked sense of humour, he keeps it hidden until he is truly comfortable with someone. It’s worth the wait. He is wildly sharp and I perceive it to be one of the best parts of who he is.

How did he propose?

Lilly: We’d travelled to Marrakech on a number of occasions and it had become a significant place to us. John proposed at sunset during a private dining experience in the Agafay Desert.  It was a beautiful setting, understated, quiet and most importantly private.

What led you to Bear? 

Lilly: I saw a chunky daisy diamond ring that Bear had made years earlier on her grid. I loved the modern take on an old vintage ring and the way the stones were paired with a non traditional thick chunky band.

What research did you do in advance of first meeting Bear and how would you describe your individual styles?

Lilly: I didn’t have to do any other research on other jewellers. Having had my eye on the modern daisy design Bear had previously commissioned. I knew that I wanted to have a chunky modern ring based off a flower. Having seen Bear’s modern designs, it was obvious she was the right jeweller for us.

John: I’d say we’re both drawn toward things that are luxurious but not garish. I’m perhaps equally attracted to the quality of build and functionality in design; amazing versions of simple things. I think Bear pair luxury with a high quality of build very well.

How was the BB experience? And what if anything surprised you?

John: I had always looked forward to wearing a wedding ring. I typically don’t wear a lot of jewellery, but given the meaning behind a wedding ring I couldn’t wait to have it on me. Upon visiting Bear’s studio in Shoreditch, I was surprised by the range in subtle differences that rings have in their design. Thankfully, I didn’t have to deliberate too much on my decision as I’d always leaned toward a traditional gold band.

Lilly: working with Bear was a dream, stepping into her studio to discuss the design of my engagement ring was an incredibly exciting experience. Her attention to detail, knowledge and advice was invaluable, she made the whole experience such a joy for us both. I love our buttery yellow bands, especially my chubby donut. Something which is extra special are our personalised engravings in our bands. Both of which are engraved in our own handwriting for a sweet touch!

What does a great date night look like?

John: An evening centred around good food. Neither of us are heavy drinkers, but the right drink paired with delicious food is always a good starting point for a romantic evening. We both enjoy walking around Notting Hill, so maybe a nice stroll to walk off our dinner and to take in the evening.

What location on earth do you consider the most romantic?

John: Personally for us, and in light of where I proposed, Marrakech. On the surface it’s a loud and frantic place, but without having to stray too far off the beaten path you find very beautiful and serene environments. The evenings are warm and with cool breezes, of which carry the botanical scents from the nearby gardens within the souk. The sunsets are always stunning too.

Credits

Lilly Barton & John Waugh
11May 2024, Casa Abracadabra, Marrakesh
Photographer Kim Captein
Wedding dress The Fall Bride

Lilly is wearing her Bear Brooksank bespoke diamond georgian-style cut down engagement ring teamed with our 3mm 18ct yellow gold donut ring.

John is wearing our 4mm d-shape wedding ring in 18ct yellow gold.

Lilly Barton @Lilly_Waugh
John Waugh @jwaughsaxophone