Finally Got the Ring: How a Joke Turned into a Fairytale Proposal

After seven magical years together, Zach finally asked the love of his life to spend hers with him. When the moment finally came, he didn't just get down on one knee. He turned a three-year-long family joke into the most creative proposal ever. Zach used a Ring Video Doorbell in a way no one, friends, family, or even his fiancé, Paola, saw coming.

Some love stories start with a glance across the room, a swipe on an app, but Zach's and Paola's started with a grandmother.

Paola's best friend's grandma unknowingly played matchmaker when Zach happened to be in town visiting colleges. A neighbor from childhood, Zach stopped by to say hello, and although their paths only crossed for a couple of moments, their encounter left a lasting impression. For two years, in fact.

It wasn't until the same friend's high school graduation party rolled around and brought the two together again. They started dating shortly after their reunion.

"I'd been wanting to propose to her since the moment I met her," Zach said.

He started seriously thinking about taking the next step about a year ago. Committed to building a life together, he began designing Paola's ring and planning how he'd pop the question. But how he decided to propose actually started as a joke...three years ago.

When Zach and Paola moved in together after college, Paola's mom and grandma had one question they repeatedly asked him, "When are you going to give her the ring?"

One day Zach walked outside, unscrewed the Ring Video Doorbell off the door, brought it inside, and handed it to Paola and said, "Here's the Ring!"

He even staged an entire fake proposal with the doorbell. There was no diamond. Just a doorbell and a punchline that left the whole family laughing. The joke stuck and for three years, it became a running bit. But when the real moment came Zach knew he wanted to do something non-traditional. The only question on his mind was how to do it?

It clicked! Zach decided to turn the proposal joke into a reality. He retrofitted the Ring Video Doorbell into a Ring box with parts from Ring's website and a slim-fit ring box. He workshopped the design until everything fit perfectly. He even practiced opening and closing the box for weeks, so everything would go off without a hitch when the time came.

For Valentine's Day, Zach gifted Paola a trip to Temecula. The couple went on a sidecar tour, visiting various wineries. At the last stop, a picnic had been set up and was waiting for the couple, along with their immediate families ready to surprise them. Zach got down on one knee and popped the question...for real this time.

"When he showed me the ring, I saw the box and thought to myself, 'Is he messing with me, or is this real?'" Paola said. "Then he started tearing up, and I knew it was real. I was completely surprised," she continued.

"The moment that made it real was seeing the beautiful ring. We had this joke for so long and I was overwhelmed and not expecting it at all."

And how did Zach feel? He had no hesitation. He was simply happy that he and his love were committing to spending their lives together. "He did not seem nervous at all," Paola said. "I don't know how he pulled it off."

"Ring had my back," Zach proclaimed.

Some love stories are years in the making. Zachary and Paola's took seven years, one doorbell, and a joke that became the most unforgettable Ring Doorbell proposal we've ever seen. Congratulations to the happy couple.

Watch Zach and Paola's Story in Full

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If you're looking for more Neighborhood Stories, check out how a Ring Neighbor used a Ring Video Doorbell to document his training for the NYC Marathon.