Morning all! We’ve had a quietish week on the blog so far – everyone needs to take a holiday and this week has been that for many members of our team. We’ll be back on track with 6am posts going live from tomorrow morning but for now, I’m feeling both excited and rather humbled to be sharing the next in our new series of proposal stories. This particular proposal feature is quite exceptional and offers an incredibly story of a brave and courageous double mastectomy breast cancer survivor. I’m speechless when I look at Firuze’s smile to know she’s been through so much already. Stories like this truly do put a ‘bad day’ into perspective and remind me more than ever of how precious life and love is.
I hope Firuze’s story will put a smile on your face this morning and leave you feeling inspired.
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Firuze (28) and Mark (29)
Mark and I have been together for a little over four years now. We met through my best friend, who used to work with Mark. He had a gig at Ronnie Scott’s in Soho that he wanted her to come along to, and she didn’t want to go alone. We hit it off immediately and started dating a week later! Mark now works for a London brewery and I work in the creative field for a digital agency.
Connect with Firuze
Firuze is on Instagram at @firuze. She also has her own design website at firuzefrench.com.
How He Asked…
I’m half Iranian, and there’s a strange form of Persian civility called Taarof. This means you should be offered something several (usually three) times before accepting. Unfortunately for Mark, this happened with him asking for my hand in marriage. The first time he asked we were talking late at night in bed about our future, and just as I’m about to drift off to sleep he asked me to marry him. Thinking he was just generally asking to plan the future, I said yes.
When he became excited, I realised what he meant and quickly responded with, ‘but we’re not engaged are we?!’ He immediately felt sheepish and asked me to forget he asked.
The second time was a complete surprise. We were meeting up for dinner and agreed to meet in Soho Square. I’d had a dreadful day at work that brought me to tears and couldn’t wait to see Mark for him to comfort me and give me a hug, tell me it’s ok and that work isn’t everything.
When I got there I saw him and tears came to my eyes again, and he started telling me how much he loved me. I kept crying thinking about how horrible the day was that I barely realised it when he got down on one knee.
It was then that it hit me that this is where we met for our first date, and the romance coupled with the awful day meant that I broke down into an emotional wreck! At that point he realised this probably wasn’t the best time to ask and (while a homeless man clapped us out) we went home, but again Mark was feeling quite sheepish as I’d refused a second time.
After this I thought he’d never ask me again. And then something awful happened. In December last year I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and our world came to a standstill. It wasn’t the first time I’d had cancer (I was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer aged 11) and so I knew what was in store.
This definitely wasn’t the time to propose, as unsurprisingly I became an emotional wreck again. After multiple tests, surgeons and planning of my treatment, I had surgery in February to remove both breasts. I immediately felt like I’d lost part of my femininity, but Mark was telling me how much he thought I was still beautiful and absolutely loved me. At this point I knew we’d be together through everything life could throw at us.
In May I’d recovered well, and had started radiotherapy. The doctors and nurses at the Royal Marsden hospital were so fantastic I stayed calm and happy during the whole time, and as the sun came out one Saturday, Mark decided we should have a picnic on Clapham Common. It was Saturday 7th. We spent the day together talking about anything and everything but my situation, and it was the perfect moment to feel normal again.
Amid the crowd of people, Mark pulled out a bottle of bubbly, two glasses and a small box. My heart stopped dead at first, and then started pounding. He didn’t get down on one knee, didn’t make a scene, and I don’t think anyone around us knew what was happening. We were in our own world as he whispered the question a third time.
This time, I said yes!
We were in our own world, and I knew beyond doubt that this was a proposal just for us.
The Ring
The ring is a 1ct oval diamond with a halo, two larger stones either side, in a rose gold setting. Mark had it custom made in Hatton Garden, based on a photo I’d once shown him.
Wedding Plans
We have chosen a wedding date and a venue and will be getting married in the centre of London.
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Sharing stories is part of the reason I love doing what I do through Love My Dress, but when the story is so personal and meaningful like this one, it makes everything so much more worthwhile.
Firuze, I’m truly blown away, seeing your gorgeous, happy smile, to know you’ve been through so much – what an exceptional individual you are. Mark is one incredible lucky gentleman and that is for sure! I really hope that in time, we’ll be able to share your beautiful wedding photographs on Love My Dress and join you in celebrating all the joy, happiness and love you so deserve after such a difficult experience. I truly do feel so humbled to be able to share this story today.
Readers – we launched this series ofproposal stories recently to allow our lovely community of readers and members of our private Facebook group for brides to be and newlyweds to share their engagement stories. By thew way, if you’re not yet a member of our private Facebook group, you can apply to be one via the page itself – we’d absolutely love you to join us if you’re planning you’re own wedding right now. Otherwise, if you’d like to share your own proposal story on Love My Dress, may I invite you to take a few moments to complete this form.
Have a most wonderful Friday all,
Love Annabel x
Annabel View all Annabel's articles
Founder of Love My Dress. Passionate Podcaster and Editor. Annabel lives in rural North Yorkshire with her husband and business partner Philip, their two daughters and menagerie of furry hounds. She loves photography, meditation, walking, being outdoors and star gazing. She is fierce when it comes to championing talent within the wedding industry and when she's not working on Love My Dress, she supports her husband Philip in the running of the family's sustainable flower farm and floral design business, Moonwind Flowers. In 2013, she became a published author.
What a remarkable woman! Such a lovely proposal and all the best with wedding planning 🙂
Thank you for your lovely kind words Alex xxxx
Thank you! So far so good, lots of planning to go though!
This actually nearly had me in tears, such a beautiful story! Congratulations for the wedding you truly deserve every happiness x
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave some kind words. Much love, Annabel xxx
What an incredible story and woman! And an absolutely perfect proposal and ring. Wishing them all the happiness in the world for their future after what they’ve gone through. Xxx
Thank you Elsie for sharing kindness xxx
What an incredible, brave lady and a beautiful proposal story! This had me in tears. If this story doesn’t show you what true love is then I don’t know what will! Wishing them all the happiness in the world xxx
This story has completely changed my perspective today. I’m feeling so inspired and full of admiration for this gorgeous courageous young lady. Thank you Fi for leaving some kind words xx
Such a beautiful story. I wish you so much happiness, love and comfort in the years to come.
Thank you for leaving lovely words here today Gwen, love Annabel xxx
What an amazing woman, and such a wonderful story. Have the most amazing wedding Firuze! Xxx
What a beautiful and strong woman. Love conquers all! Wishing Firuze and Mark a long and blissful life together x
Love to you Bethan xx
This brought tears to my eyes! What a champion couple – I’m sure your wedding will be just as amazing as you X
Thank you Emma 🙂 xxxx
So this feature has given me ALL the feels. Firuze, you are simply amazing. Strong, courageous, downright gorgeous and totally loved-up! Mark, you’re flipping fabulous and proof that good things come to those who wait. I wish you both all the happiness in the world and carry on being awesome xx
Thank you lovely lady for spreading a little bit of your love and kindness today xxx
What an incredible story. Thank you for sharing. Sometimes we all need to read things like this to make us appreciate our health and happiness. Best wishes to you both for your lives together. You sound like a wonderful pair and I wish you were my friends! Ele xxx
Doesn’t half! I was feeling WOEFUL this week after a terrible migraine and sickness, this has given me the boot up the backside I needed to get things into perspective. What a beautiful story. I can’t wait to hear of their wedding day joy! x
What a lovely love story and courageous lady, certainly puts things into perspective. All the best for the future and make sure we get to see your wedding pics – look like you have great style x
Sending so much love and congratulations to this gorgeous couple and huge respect to the beautiful Firuze for her strength and bravery, as well as to Mark for his support of her while she was ill. A very close friend had a very similar experience as you Firuze and I’m happy to say she is now also happy and well and looking forward to the future- its a massively scary thing and a huge decision to go ahead with a mastectomy, but it offers a healthy and happy future. I can’t wait to see your wedding photos.
Much love, S x
What a beautiful couple. Huge congratulations on your engagement and thanks for sharing your special story xx
Congratulations to you both. A beautiful story of love and bravery. We are actually getting married at St Patrick’s in Soho Sq tomorrow so this was particularly lovely for me to hear their connection to that area too. X
I am writing this through tears. You are so brave to share your story Firuze and gosh, your fella is quite the romantic! Sending loads of hugs and thoughts your way over the seas from Australia, have fun with all the planning and can’t wait to see pics of your big day xxx
Love that you’ve sprinkled some love all the way from Australia sweet lady – have a gorgeous Friday xxx
What an amazing story of a super strong bride to be and her wonderful fiancé. I have tears in my eyes!
Thank you for sharing your inspirational story! Wishing you a lifetime of love, health and happiness xxx
I love this story – the 3 proposals, the amazing courage you’ve both shown in a horrible situation, and the pure joy of these photos. Wishing you both a wonderful and healthy future.
Nothing like a beautiful story like this to move me to tears on a Friday morning! Such an inspiring tale. Firuze you should be so proud of yourself for beating that awful monster twice – as a cancer survivor myself I know what it takes out of you, so I am proud of you too! One thing I learned from it is it might affect appearance, it might turn your world upside down – but it’s situations like this that show an inner strength and resilience we don’t often need to call upon, and that’s more beautiful than anything on the outside. Wishing you and Mark a wonderful wedding journey and hope we can catch up with you on LMD in future xx
What a beautiful story and such a wonderful and inspirational woman 🙂 so much love for this story and that ring is an absolute stunner !!!!!!!
Wow, what a humbling proposal story. Huge congratulations to you both and thanks for sharing. You sound like a trooper and he sounds like a rock. Sometimes after a crappy day, a hug from your OH is all you need. I wish you both lots of happiness and hope to seee your wedding featured soon x
Lovely kind words Sophie – thank you so much xxx
Ah gosh this made me cry at my desk! What a amazing woman you are Firuze. Wishing you and Mark a lifetime of happiness and joy x
Oh Charlotte – thank you for taking the time through your tears to leave a few lovely words!
Love Annabel xxx
What a wonderful story…all the best to the stunning Firuze and Mark. Wishing you a long, healthy and happy life together xx
Such a strong couple and a beautiful story. I love Mark’s determination to keep asking until you said yes. Congratulations- I hope you’re enjoying planning your future together. X
Wow wow wow… What a beautiful love story.
Wishing you both a happy, healthy and long married life… It seems like in each other you have found your soul mate and if you’ve survived this and come out stronger and more in love… The rest of your journey will be easy and surrounded by love and support! Xxx ami
What a lovely comment – thank you so much Ami xxxx
Courageous and heart warming. More than anything I love the simplicity of your proposal and the joy you both got from knowing it was a moment shared by nobody but you both. I wish you so much happiness together and always x
What an amazing story! Huge congratulations to them both; I hope they have a long and happy life together.
Also, I just wanted to say that Firuze has the most amazing nails!
A very touching story from a very brave young lady. Wishing you both the longest and happiest life together X
Wishing you both the loveliest life together. You deserve so much happiness after what you have been through. Also… that ring is fabulous! xx
What an incredible story and an even more incredible woman. This couple’s love is truly inspirational and their commitment, support and adoration for each other moved me to tears. Wishing them all the love and joy in the world as they embark on this next big adventure together x x x x x
At a time when there seems to be so much heartache in the World, it’s beautiful and inspiring to read stories about the triumph of love. It’s the light that pierces through the darkness and reminds us of what is important. Congratulations Firuze and Mark, may you have many long and happy adventures ahead xxx
So many emotions here! But the strongest is that love heals all things. I wish you both nothing but love, laughter and adventures in your life together. Thank you for sharing your story with us xxxx
This was a beautiful proposal story and I am can see the love that you both have for each other. You have already come through so much and I can’t imagine how difficult that time must have been. I wish you all the best for your wedding and your future together. xxx
Read this with tears in my eyes, what a remarkable couple, Firuze looks absolutely radiant with happiness (and what a beautiful ring)