The Proposal:
The proposal took place on a private deck alongside the lush vineyard. A magnificent arrangement of all-white florals and glowing candles created a stunning backdrop to Reuben and Anet’s special moment. Up on the deck was also a table for two, with a grazing board paired with a finely selected sparkling wine, allowing them to linger in the magic of the moment and toast to their future together.
How They Met:
Reuben and Anet’s love story feels a little like a fairytale. Their families had been close for almost 20 years, meaning they grew up side by side and shared many of the same memories. From Easter holidays to Christmas celebrations and countless family moments in between, their lives were always intertwined.
Everything changed on Christmas Day in 2016. Reuben’s family joined Anet’s for lunch, and somewhere between conversations, they found themselves talking about anime, something Reuben loved and Anet had never really explored before. She was 15, he was 17, and from that moment, something clicked between them.
Before they finished high school, Reuben was the first to say “I love you”. Anet was caught completely off guard and too nervous to say it back straight away, though she felt it deeply. As graduation approached, Anet planned to study Software Engineering at UniSA’s Mawson Lakes campus. Wanting to stay close to her, Reuben chose UniSA as well and enrolled in Engineering. In a twist of fate, Anet later changed her path and studied Business at UniSA’s City West campus instead.
Still, Reuben would catch the bus from Mawson Lakes into the city just to spend time with her. They studied together in libraries and supported each other through exams, volunteering, university events, and all the ups and downs of growing up together.
Although they were exclusive for years, they officially began dating after high school. Like any real relationship, theirs has not always been perfect. They have faced every challenge side by side, from celebrating milestone birthdays to navigating long distance and supporting one another through loss and difficult seasons.
Growing up together creates a rare kind of love, one that evolves deeply over the years and shapes two people into who they become. That is exactly the kind of love Reuben and Anet share today.
How They Proposed:
A week before the proposal, one of Anet’s friends casually told her to keep Saturday free for an “influencer event”. Since they had attended similar events together before, Anet did not think much of it. Around the same time, Reuben also asked her to keep Sunday available and even asked what dress she planned on wearing. At that point, Anet started to suspect that a proposal might be coming, so naturally, she booked in to get her nails done.
The morning of the proposal started innocently enough with breakfast and tea at her friend’s house while they helped her do her makeup. Everything felt normal, relaxed, and exciting. Soon after, they jumped in the car and headed towards Lobethal in the Adelaide Hills.
As they drove through the scenic vineyard region, Anet was already thrilled. She loves wineries, so a day spent at a vineyard sounded perfect to her. Meanwhile, her friend was quietly coordinating with Reuben to make sure they parked separately so she would not spot his car.
When they arrived at the winery, there was a “closed” sign at the entrance, which only made the influencer event story seem more believable. Inside, Anet noticed long tables being prepared by servers and assumed they were setting up for the private event. Even though she had not seen any influencers arrive yet, she still did not suspect anything.
Then, one of the girls mentioned needing the bathroom, and naturally, they all went together. Out of nowhere, one of her friends pulled out a perfectly steamed pink dress and said, “Anet, you need to change.”
That was the moment everything suddenly became very real.
Waiting for her outside was Reuben, standing amongst a breathtaking candlelit setting on a private vineyard deck in the Adelaide Hills, ready to ask the love of his life the most important question of all.
