NMJ Lovers
NMJ Lovers | Shona & Connor
This edition of NMJ Lovers is one we hold very close to our hearts, celebrating our very own Head Designer, Shona, and her husband, Connor. A cherished part of the NMJ family for almost five years, Shona has helped countless couples mark their milestones through jewellery that tells their story — and now, it’s her turn.
What began on the shop floor of a menswear department in Scotland has carried them across the world — through new beginnings, quiet triumphs, and the kind of love that feels both steady and ever-growing.
As they celebrate a decade side by side and their first year as husband and wife, Shona and Connor reflect on their journey so far — from the thoughtful creation of Shona’s bespoke sapphire engagement ring to the moments that have shaped their marriage, and the ever-evolving meaning of love in their lives today.
Let's go back to the beginning, how did you meet?
S: We actually worked together on the menswear department of a retail store back in Scotland - many, many years ago. Connor’s reputation proceeded him, he was and still is the most loved person in every room he enters.
C: Shona was so shy when we first met - but before long we were playing pranks on each other and making up Friends Trivia Quizzes to fill our time on the shop floor. I moved to Australia about four months after we started dating, it was always in the plan, I just hadn’t planned on meeting Shona!! We threw caution to the wind and said whatever was meant to happen would. Almost ten years later, we are married, have travelled the world together and built a life we are so proud of. I guess you could say we’ve been all in since the beginning.
Can you tell us a little bit about the proposal?
S: I’m not proud that there were some not very subtle hints that after 7 years together, I was ready for a ring! Connor tells this story better than I do, but the proposal was perfect. When Connor packed a pressed white shirt for our camping trip, it’s fair to say I had my suspicions. We actually chose not to tell anyone until the following week, staying in our little bubble of excitement before announcing the news to our friends and family. Looking back, knowing that every single person in the office had known for almost a year, I can understand why every Monday the team would be asking me how my weekend was while staring intently at my left hand!
C: You could say it was a while in the making - but good things take time! I went to Shona’s best friend at NMJ who, along with Nat and Dan, did an excellent job at keeping this enormous secret, and delivering such a beautiful ring - beyond what I expected. I actually showed the ring to Shona’s parents in July 2022 and asked for their blessing, a whole year later I finally plucked up the courage to ask Shona. I wasn’t nervous she would say no, I just know the high standards she holds herself to, apply to me by default and I wanted it to be perfect. In the end I lost my phone, tipped a bottle of red wine over her and she still said yes!
It’s your one-year anniversary this week, congratulations! What has the first year of marriage been like? How do you plan to mark this moment?
S: Honestly, I don’t think either of us expected the year we have had since getting married. It’s been massively challenging in many ways, but knowing we have each other is what’s kept me steady in such uncertain times. We may have been thrown in the deep end, but after almost ten years together, we know how to weather the storm together. There’s no one I’d rather share my highest highs, and lowest lows with than Connor. In that way, not much has changed being married, we’ve got each other’s backs, just like always.
C: It’s not quite the first year of marriage I’d imagined, but like Shona said, this is the real stuff. Life is full of ups and downs and I’m really glad I have someone to go through it beside. I think this year has pushed us to be a bit more spontaneous. You never know what might happen, so it’s about finding time to enjoy what we have. We both work a lot, so the time we spend together is precious. We’re heading back to Bendooley Estate, where we got married, to celebrate the year that’s been. We love that we got married somewhere we can keep going back to, with great food and great wine - all our favourite things!
S: That was such a big thing in choosing a venue for us. I’m super sentimental when it comes to place - I wonder if that comes from living away from the place I grew up in. I love that there are these special spots for us to go back to that mark moments in our story. From home in Scotland, to Pebbly Beach where we got engaged, and now Bendooley Estate in the Southern Highlands - where we have such special memories with both our families.
Let's go back to the beginning, how did you meet?
S: We actually worked together on the menswear department of a retail store back in Scotland - many, many years ago. Connor’s reputation proceeded him, he was and still is the most loved person in every room he enters.
C: Shona was so shy when we first met - but before long we were playing pranks on each other and making up Friends Trivia Quizzes to fill our time on the shop floor. I moved to Australia about four months after we started dating, it was always in the plan, I just hadn’t planned on meeting Shona!! We threw caution to the wind and said whatever was meant to happen would. Almost ten years later, we are married, have travelled the world together and built a life we are so proud of. I guess you could say we’ve been all in since the beginning.
Can you tell us a little bit about the proposal?
S: I’m not proud that there were some not very subtle hints that after 7 years together, I was ready for a ring! Connor tells this story better than I do, but the proposal was perfect. When Connor packed a pressed white shirt for our camping trip, it’s fair to say I had my suspicions. We actually chose not to tell anyone until the following week, staying in our little bubble of excitement before announcing the news to our friends and family. Looking back, knowing that every single person in the office had known for almost a year, I can understand why every Monday the team would be asking me how my weekend was while staring intently at my left hand!
C: You could say it was a while in the making - but good things take time! I went to Shona’s best friend at NMJ who, along with Nat and Dan, did an excellent job at keeping this enormous secret, and delivering such a beautiful ring - beyond what I expected. I actually showed the ring to Shona’s parents in July 2022 and asked for their blessing, a whole year later I finally plucked up the courage to ask Shona. I wasn’t nervous she would say no, I just know the high standards she holds herself to, apply to me by default and I wanted it to be perfect. In the end I lost my phone, tipped a bottle of red wine over her and she still said yes!
It’s your one-year anniversary this week, congratulations! What has the first year of marriage been like? How do you plan to mark this moment?
S: Honestly, I don’t think either of us expected the year we have had since getting married. It’s been massively challenging in many ways, but knowing we have each other is what’s kept me steady in such uncertain times. We may have been thrown in the deep end, but after almost ten years together, we know how to weather the storm together. There’s no one I’d rather share my highest highs, and lowest lows with than Connor. In that way, not much has changed being married, we’ve got each other’s backs, just like always.
C: It’s not quite the first year of marriage I’d imagined, but like Shona said, this is the real stuff. Life is full of ups and downs and I’m really glad I have someone to go through it beside. I think this year has pushed us to be a bit more spontaneous. You never know what might happen, so it’s about finding time to enjoy what we have. We both work a lot, so the time we spend together is precious. We’re heading back to Bendooley Estate, where we got married, to celebrate the year that’s been. We love that we got married somewhere we can keep going back to, with great food and great wine - all our favourite things!
S: That was such a big thing in choosing a venue for us. I’m super sentimental when it comes to place - I wonder if that comes from living away from the place I grew up in. I love that there are these special spots for us to go back to that mark moments in our story. From home in Scotland, to Pebbly Beach where we got engaged, and now Bendooley Estate in the Southern Highlands - where we have such special memories with both our families.
"When Connor proposed, we were celebrating our fifth year of living in Australia... Those 5 sapphires will always mark that milestone for us...The fact that the hands and minds that crafted it are all people who mean so much to me is just the icing on the cake."
"When Connor proposed, we were celebrating our fifth year of living in Australia... Those 5 sapphires will always mark that milestone for us...The fact that the hands and minds that crafted it are all people who mean so much to me is just the icing on the cake."
Shona, what was your reaction when you saw your engagement ring for the first time?
S: While the ring obviously took my breath away, the confession that Connor had shown my parents 12 months prior shocked me more! This incredibly personal, beautiful ring had been in various hiding places in my house for around 18 months - not to mention my entire team being in on the secret! I was blown away with the perfect green hued Australian Sapphires I’d always dreamed of. When Connor proposed, we were celebrating our fifth year of living in Australia. While I’d have loved the proposal sooner(!!) those 5 sapphires will always mark that milestone for us. Honestly, sometimes I still can’t believe it belongs to me. It is absolutely my prize possession. The fact that the hands and minds that crafted it are all people who mean so much to me is just the icing on the cake.
What does marriage mean to you both?
S: Marriage to me is all about partnership. It’s challenging each other, supporting each other, celebrating each other. It is a promise to keep showing up and trying every single day. I’ve got him, and he’s got me, my trust in that never waivers.
C: I think marriage is all about growing together. Having met so many years ago, both of us have changed so much in that time. Being married, means continuing to choose each other, while life around us shifts and changes.
Connor, with Shona being the Head Designer at NMJ, there must have been some added pressure when it came to creating her engagement ring. How did you approach designing something so personal for someone who lives and breathes jewellery every day? What was that experience like, and how did you land on the final design?
C: The pressure was definitely on. From Shona, my mum, Shona’s friend’s - I was very much aware of the importance of this ring. Working with her best friend at NMJ made everything so easy. Shona is very specific about what she likes, (I’m sure that is a shock to nobody!) so I had a pretty clear idea of what I wanted. Even before Shona worked there, she always wanted her ring to be from NMJ. Although I know she would have liked it sooner, I loved the added story of all of her friends at work creating this special piece, just for her. Shona spends her days creating pieces of jewellery to mark the most important moments in other people’s lives, I was so excited for her to experience that for herself. The final design features Australian Sapphires, marking the importance of Australia in our relationship. This is the country where we’ve built our lives together, and her ring will always be a reminder of that in years to come.
I also arranged a little surprise for Shona on our wedding day, the Ember Bracelet she designed earlier that year. Nat actually suggested that we set a little blue sapphire next to the clasp as her something blue. I think that’s one of the best things about NMJ is the added details. The team are so invested in those added touches that make the piece extra special. NMJ have helped us celebrate our proposal, our wedding and I’ve no doubt (!) many things yet to come. I’m so grateful to Nat, Dan and the team for always looking after me when it comes to Shona - makes my life a hell of a lot easier if I’m honest!!
Shona, what was your reaction when you saw your engagement ring for the first time?
S: While the ring obviously took my breath away, the confession that Connor had shown my parents 12 months prior shocked me more! This incredibly personal, beautiful ring had been in various hiding places in my house for around 18 months - not to mention my entire team being in on the secret! I was blown away with the perfect green hued Australian Sapphires I’d always dreamed of. When Connor proposed, we were celebrating our fifth year of living in Australia. While I’d have loved the proposal sooner(!!) those 5 sapphires will always mark that milestone for us. Honestly, sometimes I still can’t believe it belongs to me. It is absolutely my prize possession. The fact that the hands and minds that crafted it are all people who mean so much to me is just the icing on the cake.
What does marriage mean to you both?
S: Marriage to me is all about partnership. It’s challenging each other, supporting each other, celebrating each other. It is a promise to keep showing up and trying every single day. I’ve got him, and he’s got me, my trust in that never waivers.
C: I think marriage is all about growing together. Having met so many years ago, both of us have changed so much in that time. Being married, means continuing to choose each other, while life around us shifts and changes.
Connor, with Shona being the Head Designer at NMJ, there must have been some added pressure when it came to creating her engagement ring. How did you approach designing something so personal for someone who lives and breathes jewellery every day? What was that experience like, and how did you land on the final design?
C: The pressure was definitely on. From Shona, my mum, Shona’s friend’s - I was very much aware of the importance of this ring. Working with her best friend at NMJ made everything so easy. Shona is very specific about what she likes, (I’m sure that is a shock to nobody!) so I had a pretty clear idea of what I wanted. Even before Shona worked there, she always wanted her ring to be from NMJ. Although I know she would have liked it sooner, I loved the added story of all of her friends at work creating this special piece, just for her. Shona spends her days creating pieces of jewellery to mark the most important moments in other people’s lives, I was so excited for her to experience that for herself. The final design features Australian Sapphires, marking the importance of Australia in our relationship. This is the country where we’ve built our lives together, and her ring will always be a reminder of that in years to come.
I also arranged a little surprise for Shona on our wedding day, the Ember Bracelet she designed earlier that year. Nat actually suggested that we set a little blue sapphire next to the clasp as her something blue. I think that’s one of the best things about NMJ is the added details. The team are so invested in those added touches that make the piece extra special. NMJ have helped us celebrate our proposal, our wedding and I’ve no doubt (!) many things yet to come. I’m so grateful to Nat, Dan and the team for always looking after me when it comes to Shona - makes my life a hell of a lot easier if I’m honest!!
What were you most excited about on your wedding day? How would you describe your personal wedding style? And what advice would you share with couples currently planning their own?
C: I feel like we let Shona take this question - I essentially turned up and had a great time - although a lot of the music and games we played were my idea!
S: I think we were both just over the moon at the opportunity to host our families from Scotland, along with our closest friends, in the beautiful Australian landscape (despite it being 8 degrees on our wedding day!). It such a rare occurrence for us to get all of our favourite people together, and this was the focal point of our day. We wanted everything to be deeply personal - for everyone in attendance to know how special they are to us.
For us, it was all about honouring traditions - but in our way. From our Scottish Heritage (the boys wore kilts), to the natural wine we love to drink. I wore my mum’s garter from her wedding day, and Connor wore his late grandfather’s watch. I was adamant about not doing things ‘just because’. Everything was true to who we are as people everyday, outside of a wedding. I think everything I heard a strong opinion about not doing, that we did, are some of my favourite parts of our day. We split speeches up throughout the day, did our first dance outside during cocktail hour and I changed into a black dress after dinner. We had our friends kids present, and actively involved them in our day. Watching them (and their parents!) have fun, playing the games we organised and snapping pictures on disposable cameras will be some of my fondest memories in years to come.
Everyone who came to our wedding said it was deeply personal, and felt like us. That was my biggest goal. I wanted everyone there to feel like a part of our story - I think we made it happen!
As Head Designer at NMJ, how has your role influenced the way you think about the ideal engagement ring? And what advice would you give to couples beginning their own journey?
S: A good question! I think working at NMJ has helped me understand how much personality and story can be told through your engagement ring. Through our bespoke service, there is a blank canvas for you to tell your story, exactly as you see it. It is such an individual experience. My advice would be to pick something that feels true to your love. While trends shift and change, an engagement ring should mark a chapter in your story. From choosing a number of stones that holds special meaning, or a coloured gemstone to match your partner’s eyes, or hidden engraving of a word or phrase that holds meaning. These little things are what you will come to treasure in years to come. Each love story is unique, and your ring is an opportunity to reflect that.
Connor and I actually chose surprise engravings in each other’s wedding bands. We organised this through NMJ, and took five minutes on the day to reveal these special messages to each other. Turns out, we chose almost exactly the same thing - meant to be!
At NMJ, at the heart of everything we do is love. Tough question, but tell us, what do you know about love?
S: I think the beauty of love is that it’s ever-changing. Through the seasons of our life together, I’ve loved Connor in a multitude of different ways, and know I will continue to find new ways to love as we grow together. It’s exciting to think there is a type of love I’m yet to know, but I guess moving through life should be a pursuit of finding love, in every aspect of our life, in its many shapes and forms.
C: Love is in the little things. Even in life’s biggest moments it’s the small gestures. Recognising when the other person needs you and being there for them no matter what. It’s the little things that Shona does for me, without even realising, that make me love her the most.
Venue: Bendooley Estate
Photography: Callan Robison
Dress: Hera Couture / Madame Tulle
Video: Soul Made Studio
Flowers: By This Gal
Cake: Kristy Can Bake
Celebrant: Ally Cooper
Hair and Makeup: The Future Mrs / Katie Moore
What were you most excited about on your wedding day? How would you describe your personal wedding style? And what advice would you share with couples currently planning their own?
C: I feel like we let Shona take this question - I essentially turned up and had a great time - although a lot of the music and games we played were my idea!
S: I think we were both just over the moon at the opportunity to host our families from Scotland, along with our closest friends, in the beautiful Australian landscape (despite it being 8 degrees on our wedding day!). It such a rare occurrence for us to get all of our favourite people together, and this was the focal point of our day. We wanted everything to be deeply personal - for everyone in attendance to know how special they are to us.
For us, it was all about honouring traditions - but in our way. From our Scottish Heritage (the boys wore kilts), to the natural wine we love to drink. I wore my mum’s garter from her wedding day, and Connor wore his late grandfather’s watch. I was adamant about not doing things ‘just because’. Everything was true to who we are as people everyday, outside of a wedding. I think everything I heard a strong opinion about not doing, that we did, are some of my favourite parts of our day. We split speeches up throughout the day, did our first dance outside during cocktail hour and I changed into a black dress after dinner. We had our friends kids present, and actively involved them in our day. Watching them (and their parents!) have fun, playing the games we organised and snapping pictures on disposable cameras will be some of my fondest memories in years to come.
Everyone who came to our wedding said it was deeply personal, and felt like us. That was my biggest goal. I wanted everyone there to feel like a part of our story - I think we made it happen!
As Head Designer at NMJ, how has your role influenced the way you think about the ideal engagement ring? And what advice would you give to couples beginning their own journey?
S: A good question! I think working at NMJ has helped me understand how much personality and story can be told through your engagement ring. Through our bespoke service, there is a blank canvas for you to tell your story, exactly as you see it. It is such an individual experience. My advice would be to pick something that feels true to your love. While trends shift and change, an engagement ring should mark a chapter in your story. From choosing a number of stones that holds special meaning, or a coloured gemstone to match your partner’s eyes, or hidden engraving of a word or phrase that holds meaning. These little things are what you will come to treasure in years to come. Each love story is unique, and your ring is an opportunity to reflect that.
Connor and I actually chose surprise engravings in each other’s wedding bands. We organised this through NMJ, and took five minutes on the day to reveal these special messages to each other. Turns out, we chose almost exactly the same thing - meant to be!
At NMJ, at the heart of everything we do is love. Tough question, but tell us, what do you know about love?
S: I think the beauty of love is that it’s ever-changing. Through the seasons of our life together, I’ve loved Connor in a multitude of different ways, and know I will continue to find new ways to love as we grow together. It’s exciting to think there is a type of love I’m yet to know, but I guess moving through life should be a pursuit of finding love, in every aspect of our life, in its many shapes and forms.
C: Love is in the little things. Even in life’s biggest moments it’s the small gestures. Recognising when the other person needs you and being there for them no matter what. It’s the little things that Shona does for me, without even realising, that make me love her the most.
Venue: Bendooley Estate
Photography: Callan Robison
Dress: Hera Couture / Madame Tulle
Video: Soul Made Studio
Flowers: By This Gal
Cake: Kristy Can Bake
Celebrant: Ally Cooper
Hair and Makeup: The Future Mrs / Katie Moore
