The BachelorstarJoey Graziadeimade sure he picked an engagement ring that could only go on his new fiancée Kelsey Anderson’s finger.
The season 28 lead exclusively tells PEOPLE that while he mentally practiced the act of getting down on one knee to ask for a mystery bride-to-be’s hand in marriage many times, he knew for quite some time which hand he was hoping to hold.
“I didn’t ever grab someone else’s hand, I want that to be known. [Hers] was the only hand I ever grabbed,” Joey tells PEOPLE exclusively of envisioning his proposal to Kelsey, which is exactly whathappened on the season finale on Monday night.
Kelsey’s engagement ring from Joey.Courtesy Neil Lane
Courtesy Neil Lane
So when Joey, 28, was choosing the ring he was going to propose to her with, he says he knew it had to fit her hand alone — and luckily the couple discussed the type of cut Kelsey liked best before he picked it out.
“She’s explained that because she thinks that she has longer fingers, which I think are beautiful, she likes the more elongated cut, because she thinks it looks more feminine on her hand," Joey says. “I think she could wear anything on her hand, and it would look beautiful.”
Joey Graziadei and Kelsey Anderson with her engagement ring.Yuri Hasegawa; Courtesy Neil Lane
Yuri Hasegawa; Courtesy Neil Lane
Kelsey and Joey on ‘The Bachelor.John Fleenor/Disney
John Fleenor/Disney
Lane tells PEOPLE that it was important to Joey to he find a ring that captured “Kelsey’s radiance, uniqueness, joy and sentimental nature," especially because he “lit up” just when talking about how special his fiancée is.
“He shared that the jewelry she wears daily all had sentimental value, including a piece from her late mother, so he did not take choosing a ring lightly," Lane tells PEOPLE exclusively. “He also divulged that he’d been in love with Kelsey for some time.”
Neil Lane and Joey.Courtesy Neil Lane
The jewelry designer, who has designed dozens of rings forBachelorNation, tells PEOPLE that the shield-shaped diamonds on the ring are significant because they represent the couple “protecting” each other.Kelsey tells PEOPLE that she knew Joey only had her on his mind when he picked the ring as soon as she saw it.
“I saw the ring, I was like, ‘Yeah, it was always going to be me,’” she says, adding, “I think it’s stunning, and I never want to take it off again.”
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Kelsey’s engagement ring.Courtesy Neil Lane
Joey and Kelsey got engaged on Monday’s season finale ofThe BachelorafterDaisy Kent, the other finalist, self-eliminated.
“Kelsey, we have had the experience of a lifetime,” he said to her on the beach. “I think back on how proud we should be with how strong of a connection we built in such a short period of time. I knew early on that there was something different about you and I just wanted to learn more. Whether it was walking through the streets of Ronda or seeing New Orleans through your eyes, and even just experiencing the beauty of Tulum, everything we do, we just enjoy each other, and it has been seemingly easy at times.”
Joey proposing to Kelsey.John Fleenor/Disney
Joey acknowledged the struggles he and his now-bride-to-be faced during this season, but he told her that he knew they would ultimately make it, because he loved her.
“There is something about you, you have this infectious energy that makes me smile," he continued. “It’s a feeling I’ve never had before. I know during this time we built a very strong flame and the only reason I know that flame will never go out is because you’re in my life.”
He then got down on one knee and proposed with the Neil Lane Couture diamond ring he’d picked out and Kelsey said yes.
source: people.com
