Submitted by L. Jeannette Strole Parks for Kluh Jewelers
When Jay Hall, of Yelm, WA, turned fifty about a year and a half ago, he decided to use one special occasion to plan for a second special occasion. He proposed to his wife of 24 years, and asked her to marry him again. Jay and his wife, Carolee, started the process of planning their upcoming 25th anniversary with a second wedding, vow-renewal and reception. They scheduled their monumental event for June 2013.
In the midst of drafting plans for the festive occasion, Carolee decided to drop some hints about getting a new ring to mark the milestone. She had taken an opportunity to pop by Kluh Jewelers for ideas, and since they had already bought their first wedding band at Kluh’s, twenty-five years ago, there was a strong sense of loyalty to this store that they wanted to uphold.
“I had stopped in to Kluh’s to get some inspiration and to let Jay know what sort of ring I would like. Matt Kluh had that loose [emerald cut] diamond and I just fell for it. It was so beautiful. Matt told me, ‘Fall in love with the stone and you will love the ring.’”
It turns out that she didn’t just like the stone, she really fell in love with the stone. As she humorously discloses, “My whole body reacted to having such a pretty ring on my hand. I started to shake and my hand got grossly sweaty. I was so embarrassed! But that was it, I loved it.” However, getting her husband involved on the ring purchase appeared to be a bit more tricky at first.
Carolee muses about how it all went down. “One day we were driving past Kluh’s and I asked Jay to stop so I could show him the diamond. He refused! He acted so disinterested.” But this retired Army Ranger was on a recon mission, and his unenthusiastic attitude was simply a cover to conceal his true intentions.
As time went on with the wedding plans, she was not certain that she would actually get that particular stone or that specific ring. Jay had been sly enough for quite a long while, that the wedding planning itself took center stage.
“I knew he was going to give me a new ring, but I didn’t know it was going to be THAT ring.”
In November of 2012, a whopping 8 months before the big day, Jay went ring-shopping. He says that although he had looked around at different stores for months, he was quite pleased to give his business to Kluh’s again. “Kluh’s had great deals, and a family friend and former Kluh’s employee, (Christine Scott) helped me pick out the perfect diamond.” The staff at Kluh’s was helpful and informative and gave Jay a crash course in purchasing diamonds.
That was quite a long stretch to keep such a big secret. Out of their four kids, Maggie – the only daughter – was in on the surprise. She accompanied her father to Kluhs, and participated in the deception. Jay says, “I told Maggie to keep it a secret and I locked the ring in my gun safe.” As far as keeping it under-wraps from her mother, Maggie did just fine. “She just fed me misinformation about it, so I wouldn’t catch on,” says Carolee.
The big day finally arrived, and at the beautifully set wedding site the couple walked down the aisle again, Carolee wearing a gorgeous blush-colored gown, and they exchanged vows. Carolee knew some sort of new ring was forthcoming, and as he slipped it on her ring-finger, she said she had to avoid looking at it for the first few moments. “I kept my eyes on his eyes while he was saying his vows because I knew I wouldn’t hear him once I looked at the ring!”
Once she saw the dazzling rock on her finger, the reaction was genuine. “I was completely blown away! I couldn’t believe it was that diamond. I was so incredibly surprised and I just loved it.”
Jay’s satisfaction with Kluh’s is evident. “Shopping at Kluh’s was a great experience when I bought Carolee’s engagement ring 26 years ago, and even a better experience this time. There was no pressure. They showed a few diamonds that were in my price range and left the decision up to me.” In addition, Matt Kluh had given great assistance in sizing the ring when Carolee was in the store, and keeping records of it for Jay so everything was perfect. As she explains, “I had tried that diamond on in a different setting months before so he could tell Jay the right size from that one encounter.”
And how would Jay rate his satisfaction with this purchase? “I would give it a 10 out of 10 by the look on Carolee’s face!”
701 Sleater Kinney Rd SE
Lacey, WA 98503
360.491.3530
Photos courtesy LCS Photography.
