With This Ring …

After military deployment, North Aurora couple perfects the wedding proposal on the second try

By ERIKA WURST

U.S. Navy Equipment Operator 1st Class Walt Ripley and his wife Lisa pose for a photograph Wednesday in front of their North Aurora home.

It would have been a normal lunch date for Walter and Lisa Ripley. Would have been a day just like any other that the couple who have worked together for 10 years piled in the car to grab a bite. Only this particular day three years ago was like no other.

“I got the phone call at lunch,” Walter said. He was being deployed to Iraq.

Walt and Lisa Ripley won this engagement ring in the 2008 Perfect Proposal Contest sponsored by the USO of Illinois and Robbins Bros. jewelry. They used it to recreate their proposal, which happened more than two years ago in a car during their lunch break after Walter received the phone call that he was being deployed to Iraq.

The Ripleys keep a photograph from their wedding ceremony in Santa Barbara, Calif. They eloped with some of Walter’s Navy buddies shortly after they learned Walter was being deployed to Iraq.

Walt Ripleys is seen in this photo taken during one of his tours in Iraq.

“He hung up the phone and said, ‘Hey, want to get married?’” Lisa recalled, the happy couple sitting together, finally, in their North Aurora home.

It was as quick as that. Walter would be leaving in 10 days. The plans of a Hawaiian wedding on the beach at sunset, doting family by their sides, had been put on hold.

“I’m going to Iraq,” Walter recalled. “There could be no billboard or baseball stadium proposals.”

Back at work, co-workers laughed. Where was Lisa’s ring? Did he really propose in the car?

“‘That’s not good enough,’” Lisa recalled them saying. So, Walter did all he could. He proposed again in a voice mail, and a text message, and an e-mail — trying desperately to make the abrupt occasion a bit more memorable. To Lisa, however, his hand in marriage was all she needed.

“I could get deployed,” Walter told Lisa two months earlier when they began dating.

“I thought, ‘Yeah, it could happen,’ but I’m not going to worry about it until it does,” Lisa said. “I was being naive. Within three months, he was gone.”

So just hours before Walter set off, the couple eloped to Santa Barbara, Calif., a few of Walter’s Navy buddies by their side, and then he was gone — but never far from home.

Keeping in touch
Letters were sent every day to Lisa and her children, Jonathon and Jordan from her previous marriage. Half-colored pictures ripped out of coloring books were airmailed for the kids to finish. Video of Walter reading the little ones children’s books from Fallujah found their way to the Ripley home. Christmas ornaments carved out of wood from the desert and simple notes proclaiming his love on scraps of cardboard boxes ended up in the Ripley’s Illinois mailbox on a daily basis.

“As long as you can write on it and print the word ‘free’ I’d send it,” Walter said. These were words of affection that went a long way for the new family, missing its “boss.”

After his second deployment, Lisa began to truly appreciate the things her husband went out of his way to do for her and her children, especially in light of all of the things he was witnessing abroad. He still found time to remember the smiling faces back home that needed to know he was OK.

“I love Walter’s creativity and thoughtfulness in showing us how much he loves us while he’s deployed,” Lisa wrote in an essay about her husband when she saw that Robbins Bros., which bills itself as the world’s biggest engagement ring store, and the USO of Illinois were hosting a 2008 Perfect Proposal contest. While Walter’s first proposal was a bit “corny,” as some put it, Lisa was determined to give her husband and herself the wedding and the moment they so rightly deserved. After 2 1/2 years of marriage, Lisa set out to make things right. “I’d love to surprise him at the airport when he returns in March from his second tour and show him how much I love him and that I’d marry him all over again,” she wrote in her entry.

Lisa won the contest. Walter also entered.

Arranged victory
He talked about how his wife is his “rock,” that 100 words or less would never be able to capture the essence of what she has done for him during his two deployments. He wrote about his botched proposal, and his dreams to rectify the situation. And, in the end. Walter also won.

While Lisa was in the states, waiting patiently, or not so patiently, as Walter put it, to find out what she’d won, Robbins Bros. was getting in touch with her husband in Iraq to set up the perfect proposal.

When he arrived home in April, Walter was whisked away to pick out the perfect ring, the one he never got around to grabbing before, and in a wonderful Mother’s Day tribute, he asked for his wife’s hand in marriage, once again. Only this time, the occasion was in a restaurant, and not a car. This time, Walter wouldn’t be leaving in 10 days. They didn’t need to hop on a plane and elope on a beach. Instead, they came home together as a family, children in tow, to a house where words of affection could be spoken, and not airmailed.

They still dream of the big Hawaiian wedding, and the honeymoon they never took. They still laugh about the day Walter initially proposed. But years later, it’s the little things that have become most important.

The photos sent home, the cards proclaiming undying love.

“When something like (war) happens, it puts things into perspective. You’re going to funerals and you feel kind of stupid talking about weddings,” Lisa said, but, after two and a half years of marriage, having the ring sure didn’t hurt. Especially since their love and devotion for each other earned it.

Original Article: http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com

Robbins Brothers and Marie Callender’s Kick Off the Summer Of Love

Celebrating 60 years of recipes & romance.

This summer, Robbins Brothers is teaming up with Marie Callender’s to celebrate a major milestone: 60 years of Marie Callender’s pie-making perfection. To toast this Diamond Anniversary, Robbins Brothers, World’s Biggest Engagement Ring Store®, and Marie Callender’s welcome all lovebirds to submit their story for a chance to win a truly happily-ever-after moment including an engagement ring or anniversary bands from Robbins Brothers, a romantic dinner for two at Marie Callender’s and fresh-baked pies for a year.

From July 7 through August 3, 2008, all customers are invited to submit 250 words or less of their humorous, unique or compelling love story online (www.robbinsbros.com, www.mariecallenders.com), or at one of the participating Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego Marie Callender’s locations, and all 8 Southern California Robbins Brothers stores.

“Together with the Robbins Brothers team, we are looking forward to hearing the memorable moments and romantic endeavors of our guests,” says Marie Callender’s Marketing Director Julee Ferguson. “We are thrilled to celebrate our Diamond Anniversary with the people who made Marie Callender’s the traditional, memorable, family dining destination it is - our guests.”

The contest is open to all legal California residents, 18 years or older, who are soon-to-be engaged, engaged, or celebrating an upcoming wedding anniversary. The winning entrant will be selected by August 22, 2008 and will win an engagement ring or anniversary bands from Robbins Brothers (in the form of a $2,000 gift certificate), a dinner for two at Marie Callender’s ($100 value) and pie for a year ($126 value).

Robbins Brothers Named Best Company to Work for by OC Metro Magazine

World’s Biggest Engagement Ring Store receives recognition for giving employees exactly what it gives its customers — opportunities

In its annual “Best Companies to Work For” issue, OC Metro business magazine acknowledges Robbins Brothers as one of the top employers in the Orange County area. With over six hundred employees companywide and nearly sixty five that work at the Fullerton and Mission Viejo stores, Robbins Brothers’ motto of “making the dreams of couples in love come true” resonates with its employees and inspires them to love their jobs while creating a nurturing, productive and exciting atmosphere for colleagues. Whether it’s a customer’s perfect marriage proposal in the works or even an in-store wedding, Robbins Brothers’ engagement experts are all about the everyday romance that some deem as the company’s best benefit.

OC Metro reveals, “Behind the brilliant diamond clusters at the ‘World’s Biggest Engagement Ring Store,’ is a team of employees trained as experts on making the ‘big question’ easy to answer. Brothers Steve and Skip Robbins have conquered what some men believe is an impossible feat – figuring out the secret to a perfect proposal. But that’s not all they’ve conquered. Robbins Brothers offers employees a 24-hour concierge service, Wonderful Outstanding Workers week, training and growth opportunities, company culture classes, monthly catered lunches and a President’s Breakfast.”

Chairman and Chief Engagement Officer Steve Robbins comments, “We are thrilled to be in this issue! Robbins Brothers believes in its people and are fortunate enough to have the best workers around who strive daily to love the customer and exceed their performance goals. We work hard but make the environment fun and engaging.”

Read the article: Robbins Brothers named one of OC Metro’s ‘Best Companies to Work For’

Robbins Brothers Wins JAWA Award for Engaging Radio Script

World’s Biggest Engagement Ring Store wins first annual Jewelry and Watch competition.

As highlighted in INDESIGN magazine’s April issue, Robbins Brothers receives first place recognition in the Radio category of the JAWA (Jewelry and Watch Advertising) Awards. The winning spots, “Doug” and “Rollercoaster,” were written by the AdStore and aired during a March 2007 radio campaign. Both spots showcase the engagement ring retailer’s unique and complimentary Perfect Proposals™ service.

In the categories of magazine, newspaper, radio, television and billboard, the JAWA judges were asked to score each ad on five different criteria dealing with quality of production/graphics/photography, creativity, innovation, and emotional impact. Each criteria was graded on a scale 1 to 10, with a minimum score of 5 and maximum of 50 for each ad. For any given criteria, a “1″ meant the judge felt the ad was average in quality, while a “10″ indicated that the ad was extraordinary and beyond all expectations.

Designed as a man’s best friend to help hopeful grooms plan and execute all the details of their marriage proposal, Robbins Brothers executives knew the engagement concierge service would resonate on the airwaves. “We were thrilled with these ads that promoted our Perfect Proposals™ service,” said Diane Ferraro, Director of Advertising. “The radio spots kicked off a phenomenal campaign for Robbins Brothers and the listener recall was extraordinary.” Trace Shelton, Editor-In-Chief of INDESIGN commented, “Considering the competition, it is indeed a high honor. Many of the top jewelry stores from around the country placed entries in the category.”

Robbins Brothers Shines With Introduction of World’s Most Brilliant Diamond

World’s Biggest Engagement Ring Store exclusive retailer of diamond with groundbreaking cut

May 21, 2008 — Robbins Brothers, World’s Biggest Engagement Ring Store® exclusively launches the latest breakthrough in the gem diamond industry - the MSID Patent No. 6,990,833. The MSID, the acronym for “Mr. Smith’s Incredible Diamond,” is a patented stone created by small-town gemologist Al Smith, who uses an unconventional cutting approach to produce a diamond that is measurably more brilliant and up to 15 percent larger in diameter than a comparable diamond created according to the industry’s well-cut standards.

“When I first saw the stone, I referred to it as ‘Mr. Smith’s Incredible Diamond,’” said Chief Engagement Officer Steve Robbins. “I was amazed to hear that Smith had cracked the code in how to create a brighter diamond, all the while adhering to specifications that would allow for it to sell at about the same cost as a well-cut diamond of the same weight.”

When I first saw the stone, I referred to it as ‘Mr. Smith’s Incredible Diamond’

Smith’s approach and understanding of different diamond angles and faceting, contradict the conventional wisdom of what the precise angles and faceting arrangements are that create a diamond with maximum brilliance. The traditional specifications were developed in 1919 when Marcel Tolkowsky created the Ideal-cut diamond in his thesis “Diamond Design.” Typically, diamond cutters interested in maximizing brilliance have followed Tolkowsky’s formula, but some would argue the downside to this formula is that the diamonds produced, although brilliant, have a smaller diameter. Historically most diamond cutters sacrifice some brilliance to produce diamonds with more yield - diamonds that have more carat weight and a smaller diameter. Nearly 100 percent of “high yield” round diamonds are of greater depth and smaller diameter, but Smith’s revolutionary formula is able to optimize brilliance without sacrificing diameter.

As an unknown gemologist, Smith ran into many industry obstacles in his search for a diamond cutter adventurous enough to test his theory as many viewed it too outlandish. The tenacious Smith eventually met an audacious diamond cutter willing to take on the project.
Smith was so committed to his discovery that the very first diamond presented to the cutter was not a rough stone, but in fact an existing diamond he wanted re-cut to his unique specifications - his wife’s engagement ring diamond.

Before beginning the project, Smith was required to sign a waiver releasing the cutter from any liability. To the cutter’s amazement, that stone yielded an amazing gemological specimen. At an industry event, the diamond was put on a Brilliance Scope and scored the highest marks possible for brilliance, fire, and scintillation whereby scientifically confirming that Smith’s formula was revolutionary.

“Robbins Brothers is thrilled to have been chosen by Smith as the exclusive retailer for his invention,” said Robbins. “And now, customers will be able to see with their own eyes what the industry initially couldn’t; the most intensely brilliant diamond available anywhere.”