Matthew and Rachel's love story began with a text message—one Matthew sent to his high school friends on the very first night of freshman orientation at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in July 2017, announcing that he had just met his future wife.
Rachel knew something was different, too.
"Even though we came from completely different backgrounds, conversation between Matthew and I was effortless from the start. There was never a lull."
She was seventeen, just entered college, and was not looking to date. Matthew, to his great credit, was patient.
What followed was five years of what they called "friend dates"—dinners at local restaurants, University of Tennessee basketball games, late-night study sessions at the library, and long car rides around Knoxville. To anyone watching, they looked like two people already in love. To Rachel, it took a little longer to see it clearly.
The moment came in 2022, over tacos in South Knoxville. Matthew was talking about his plans after finishing his master's degree and possibly moving back to New Hampshire or taking time to travel. Rachel's heart dropped.
"At that moment, it hit me: I couldn't imagine my life without Matthew Butcher and our dates in it."
She did not act right away as did not want to stand in the way of his plans. But a friend pointed out what everyone else had already noticed: Matthew would drop everything to be there for her. Matthew was a perfect gentleman, always showing up and taking care of her in the most thoughtful ways.
"I thought, how silly would I be to let a man like that slip away?"
After a Lady Vols basketball game, fittingly, at the very same house where Matthew would later propose, Rachel told him how she felt. Their friend dates finally turned into actual dates.
For Matthew, this was the moment he had been waiting for since orientation night.
"Freshman year, we did everything together as friends. Fast forward a few years, and Rachel finally told me how she felt about me, and the feelings were mutual. We loved each other."
The ring search was an adventure of its own. Rachel was certain she knew exactly what she wanted: a marquise or cushion cut, half-moon side stones, and yellow gold band. She visited several stores before a friend recommended Kimball's Jewelers.
What greeted them was something none of the other stops had offered. The Kimball's showroom was unlike anything they had seen, making it genuinely fun to explore styles in person. But more than the selection, they agreed it was the styling team that set the experience apart.
"The staff were incredibly nice, accommodating, transparent, and personable," Matthew said.
Their stylist guided Rachel through style after style, exploring different cuts, settings, and band combinations with patience that never wavered. The process felt far more personal than she had expected.
"Our stylist did an amazing job keeping track of my evolving preferences and helping bring everything together into something that felt perfectly me."
And then there was the moment everything changed. Rachel became emotional when she tried on the ring. There is a defining difference between a ring that is pretty and a ring that takes your breath away. Rachel knew immediately which category this one belonged to.
"She was gorgeous—not just pretty like the others I had tried."
The ring itself (or should we say "herself") became a beautiful reflection of who Rachel is: a classic, elegant center stone paired with alternating round and marquise accents that bring a whimsical, playful touch to the design. Timeless and a little bit joyful, just like her.
One more detail made it complete. Matthew had quietly advocated for a natural diamond, drawing a parallel Rachel found impossible to argue with: their love had grown slowly, organically, without forcing anything. A natural diamond felt right for a love that had taken its time.
"It was such a thoughtful perspective, and it made the choice even more meaningful."
The final touch came from the inside of the band, where Matthew arranged for an engraving: forever and always. It's something they say to each other every day—a phrase woven so deeply into their relationship that putting it on the ring felt less like an addition and more like something that was always supposed to be there.
The proposal happened at home—their home, the first place they lived together, and the same front porch where Matthew had asked Rachel to be his girlfriend three years earlier. Matthew could barely find his words.
"I was so nervous I could barely speak. I just told her I loved her and asked her to marry me. The moment she said yes, I felt like the luckiest guy in the world. I couldn’t stop smiling.”
Afterward, Matthew surprised her with a celebration dinner at Adopo, surrounded by friends and family. The evening went so well, Rachel said the next morning that she would have been perfectly happy if that had been their wedding night.
These days, Matthew catches Rachel staring at her ring—and catches himself doing the same, thinking, that's my future wife. Both of them are ready for what comes next.
"I can't wait for our wedding day—having all of our favorite people in one place to celebrate is going to be unforgettable."
As for advice to couples just starting the search? Rachel reflects:
"Go in with an open mind and pay attention to how a ring makes you feel. I thought I knew what I wanted, but I ended up choosing something completely different. And I knew it was the one when I called it 'beautiful'—not just 'pretty' or 'cute.' Don't rush it. Make it a fun date experience."
They did. And it was. Congrats to Matthew and Rachel!
Kimball's Jewelers — where life's moments shine a little brighter.
