NMJ Lovers | Isaac & Tully

For our latest edition of NMJ Lovers, we speak to Isaac and Tully, whose love story contains a special connection with Natalie Marie Jewellery. As they mark their first wedding anniversary, we sat down with the couple to delve into their journey. From the beginnings of their long-distance love to a meticulously planned seaside proposal, culminating in a magnificent wedding that seamlessly blended 70’s Gucci opulence with Downton Abbey elegance.

A serendipitous love story, Isaac and Tully teach us all that love can be found in the most unexpected places, a love that makes the everyday extraordinary and has the power to bring two people together, no matter the distance.

Take us back to the beginning, tell us about the early days in your relationship.

We always laugh about how impossibly our relationship began. Meeting on a dating app in Sydney while Tully was visiting from Melbourne on a family weekend away, we then went on to be pen pals for a month, before Tully was able to return to Sydney on a work trip. We had our first date 10 William St and then another month later for our second date I flew down to Melbourne for a weekend. For the next half of the year we dated long-distance, traveling back and forth between Melbourne and Sydney.

 

Isaac, when did you realise Tully was the one you wanted to spend your life with…

I remember the first few months of our long distance relationship being such a whirlwind of emotions. The feelings bloomed incredibly quickly for us as well as the development of our relationship. I began looking for jobs in Melbourne around five months after going on our first date and soon after I had moved into Tully’s apartment in the city, driving down all my belongings including pot plants. I can remember vividly Tully and her brother Sam waiting for me that evening in the apartment with a welcoming party. It all felt like everything was moving at such a natural pace and trajectory and I can’t imagine how things could ever be different.

 

Tully, how did Isaac propose to you? What do you remember most about this moment?

The proposal was truly surreal. And I remember every beat in the hour or so before the moment. We were in Sydney for a few days after Christmas and Isaac said he wanted to take me to dinner at Bert’s. En route, he asked if I wanted to stop for a beach side cocktail. We pulled in Bangalley Head and he pulled out a little esky (his Mum and Sister helped him pack in secret.) He poured us some Gin and Yuzu then asked me if I wanted a snack. He reached into the esky and pulled out a Natalie Marie Jewellery box and got down on one knee with it! Time seemed to stand still from there and I felt like I was floating over the ocean!

 

Take us back to the beginning, tell us about the early days in your relationship.

We always laugh about how impossibly our relationship began. Meeting on a dating app in Sydney while Tully was visiting from Melbourne on a family weekend away, we then went on to be pen pals for a month, before Tully was able to return to Sydney on a work trip. We had our first date 10 William St and then another month later for our second date I flew down to Melbourne for a weekend. For the next half of the year we dated long-distance, traveling back and forth between Melbourne and Sydney.

 

Isaac, when did you realise Tully was the one you wanted to spend your life with…

I remember the first few months of our long distance relationship being such a whirlwind of emotions. The feelings bloomed incredibly quickly for us as well as the development of our relationship. I began looking for jobs in Melbourne around five months after going on our first date and soon after I had moved into Tully’s apartment in the city, driving down all my belongings including pot plants. I can remember vividly Tully and her brother Sam waiting for me that evening in the apartment with a welcoming party. It all felt like everything was moving at such a natural pace and trajectory and I can’t imagine how things could ever be different.

 

Tully, how did Isaac propose to you? What do you remember most about this moment?

The proposal was truly surreal. And I remember every beat in the hour or so before the moment. We were in Sydney for a few days after Christmas and Isaac said he wanted to take me to dinner at Bert’s. En route, he asked if I wanted to stop for a beach side cocktail. We pulled in Bangalley Head and he pulled out a little esky (his Mum and Sister helped him pack in secret.) He poured us some Gin and Yuzu then asked me if I wanted a snack. He reached into the esky and pulled out a Natalie Marie Jewellery box and got down on one knee with it! Time seemed to stand still from there and I felt like I was floating over the ocean!

 

With our very own Natalie Fitch as your lifelong friend and best woman on your wedding day, tell us how you approached designing the perfect engagement ring for Tully.

When I had decided I wanted to propose to Tully I knew I wanted a ring by Nat. As strikingly contemporary that is Tully, I had a deep desire to design something that was very classic, that had clarity and had a touch of heritage to it. During the depths of Melbourne’s second lockdown during the pandemic I had a hilarious secret video call appointment with Nat (while I was parked outside a supermarket having told Tully that I had to buy some groceries). Nat helped me figure out small little details such as the squared-off band and the arches that sweep up to the setting. When I finally saw the ring in the flesh it couldn’t have been more perfect.

With our very own Natalie Fitch as your lifelong friend and best woman on your wedding day, tell us how you approached designing the perfect engagement ring for Tully.

When I had decided I wanted to propose to Tully I knew I wanted a ring by Nat. As strikingly contemporary that is Tully, I had a deep desire to design something that was very classic, that had clarity and had a touch of heritage to it. During the depths of Melbourne’s second lockdown during the pandemic I had a hilarious secret video call appointment with Nat (while I was parked outside a supermarket having told Tully that I had to buy some groceries). Nat helped me figure out small little details such as the squared-off band and the arches that sweep up to the setting. When I finally saw the ring in the flesh it couldn’t have been more perfect.

"The band is both elegant and handsome to the viewer, yet encloses a precious secret that is Isaac’s birthstone against my skin and bone."

Your wedding was truly spectacular, from 70’s inspired decor to the vibrant florals. What inspired your wedding vision and how did it come together on the day?

We always had a similar vision when drawing references for our dream wedding mood. We both wanted to capture the grandness and glam quality of 70’s Gucci-meets-Downton Abbey heritage. We both love dressing up for any occasion and are total romantics. Any excuse for a little pageantry. Despite both of us being quite untraditional, we wanted to keep a few traditions and historical trimmings. For the colour and flower palette we aimed for a 19th century, overgrown still-life: moody roses, fruits and foliage, led by blushes of pinks and reds. The historic gardens, venue and season really capped off all of those elements. For the reception we decided to offset the warm interior tones with some egg shell blue, which took it into a Marie Antoinette via Sofia Coppola vibe which was really fun.

Your wedding was truly spectacular, from 70’s inspired decor to the vibrant florals. What inspired your wedding vision and how did it come together on the day?

We always had a similar vision when drawing references for our dream wedding mood. We both wanted to capture the grandness and glam quality of 70’s Gucci-meets-Downton Abbey heritage. We both love dressing up for any occasion and are total romantics. Any excuse for a little pageantry. Despite both of us being quite untraditional, we wanted to keep a few traditions and historical trimmings. For the colour and flower palette we aimed for a 19th century, overgrown still-life: moody roses, fruits and foliage, led by blushes of pinks and reds. The historic gardens, venue and season really capped off all of those elements. For the reception we decided to offset the warm interior tones with some egg shell blue, which took it into a Marie Antoinette via Sofia Coppola vibe which was really fun.

" Isaac is 'my working week and my Sunday rest', and I fell in love with life in falling in love with Isaac."

Hidden within both of your wedding bands is a set of hidden birthstones, tell us what this special addition symbolises and how you chose your wedding rings.

Isaac: The inclusion of the birthstones really symbolised an extra detail to denote the bond between us, on top of everything else.

Tully: The Natalie Marie Jewellery team really helped me to articulate the vision I had for such an important forever piece. I wanted something personal with a sense of timeless permanency to it. The band is both elegant and handsome to the viewer, yet encloses a precious secret that is Isaac’s birth-stone against my skin and bone.

 

What do you love most about your life together today?

Isaac: Having just celebrated our first wedding anniversary and almost six years together it never ceases to amaze me how fun the smallest moments of an ordinary day is with Tully. Simple things like welcoming each other home from work, or walking to the markets together on the weekend. The older I get it is these moments I increasingly hold close to my heart.

Tully: To be quite honest, “Isaac” and “life” are almost synonyms to me. As W.H Auden put it, Isaac is “my working week and my Sunday rest,” and I fell in love with life in falling in love with Isaac.


At NMJ, at the heart of everything we do is love. Tough question, but tell us, what do you know about love?

Isaac: From the short time we have spent together I know that love is constantly promising to work on all aspects of our relationship together. It is that promise to be there for tomorrow. As romantic as love is, I also appreciate the soberness that love can also be. The calm assured resolve to be there together.

Tully: Love is hard work, but love is the meaning of it all.

Hidden within both of your wedding bands is a set of hidden birthstones, tell us what this special addition symbolises and how you chose your wedding rings.

Isaac: The inclusion of the birthstones really symbolised an extra detail to denote the bond between us, on top of everything else.

Tully: The Natalie Marie Jewellery team really helped me to articulate the vision I had for such an important forever piece. I wanted something personal with a sense of timeless permanency to it. The band is both elegant and handsome to the viewer, yet encloses a precious secret that is Isaac’s birth-stone against my skin and bone.

 

What do you love most about your life together today?

Isaac: Having just celebrated our first wedding anniversary and almost six years together it never ceases to amaze me how fun the smallest moments of an ordinary day is with Tully. Simple things like welcoming each other home from work, or walking to the markets together on the weekend. The older I get it is these moments I increasingly hold close to my heart.

Tully: To be quite honest, “Isaac” and “life” are almost synonyms to me. As W.H Auden put it, Isaac is “my working week and my Sunday rest,” and I fell in love with life in falling in love with Isaac.


At NMJ, at the heart of everything we do is love. Tough question, but tell us, what do you know about love?

Isaac: From the short time we have spent together I know that love is constantly promising to work on all aspects of our relationship together. It is that promise to be there for tomorrow. As romantic as love is, I also appreciate the soberness that love can also be. The calm assured resolve to be there together.

Tully: Love is hard work, but love is the meaning of it all.

Isaac wears our Organic Wedding Ring (4mm), and Tully wears our Classic Wedding Ring (4mm). Within each of their wedding bands is a birthstone, star set into their forever pieces.

Isaac wears our Organic Wedding Ring (4mm), and Tully wears our Classic Wedding Ring (4mm). Within each of their wedding bands is a birthstone, star set into their forever pieces.