From Kilimanjaro to Bourton Hall: The Story Behind Our Wedding Rings

A heartfelt journey of adventure, love, and craftsmanship — told by Mr and Mrs Bridger, who designed their engagement and wedding rings with Fraser Hart from across the globe.

THE IDEA

The adventure that we shared in the design and making of our wedding rings came full circle with our marriage on 20th June 2025 at Bourton Hall.

Janet and I both enjoy the outdoors, and hiking is one of our greatest shared pleasures. We decided to go beyond our usual hikes in the Lake and Peak District and take on Africa’s highest mountain — Kilimanjaro.

We chose the 8-day Lemosho route. It came with many trials and moments of self-doubt, but together we grew in strength and love, encouraging one another all the way to the summit — where we arrived hand in hand.

I wanted something to symbolise our journey and the future I knew we had ahead. After the climb, we were taken to the obligatory souvenir shop. Among the T-shirts and fridge magnets, I found a Tanzanite stone — something that spoke to me. I thought it might be useful if we decided to get married — a thought that had crystallised somewhere between the struggles on the way up and the reflections on the way down.

THE PROPOSAL

I wanted a jeweller who could help me bring this idea to life — to design a ring using the Tanzanite stone as the centrepiece. At Fraser Hart in Stratford-upon-Avon, Sam was genuinely enthusiastic and keen to help make that dream a reality.

The ring was designed and crafted through many emails and short trips home from South Korea and Kazakhstan. Meanwhile, I gently steered Janet toward a holiday in India...

This was a brilliant idea — until I was handed the finished ring. It was stunning, beyond anything I had imagined… and I suddenly realised I’d have to keep it hidden for 30 days, while backpacking across India. By train.

Near the end of our trip, while overlooking the Taj Mahal, I asked Janet if now might be a good time to think about getting married. After a slightly-too-long pause for my liking… she agreed.

The Wedding Rings

Once we’d set a date and chosen our venue, our focus turned to the wedding rings. Janet decided on a simple gold band to sit alongside her engagement ring. But I wanted something different — something personal.

We visited Fraser Hart again, this time at the Solihull branch since Stratford had closed. There, we met Lauren — and word of Janet’s engagement ring story had reached her. The team was thrilled to meet us and see the actual ring in person.

With Lauren’s help, I designed my own wedding ring — this time with a Garnet stone as the centrepiece, as it’s Janet’s birthstone. Once again, the Fraser Hart team were amazing — and yes, this was also designed from Kazakhstan!

The Wedding

We celebrated our wedding at Bourton Hall on 20th June 2025 — the most amazing day. Exchanging the rings that we had spent so much time, thought, and love creating was a truly pivotal moment for us. We want to thank everyone at Fraser Hart who helped make our rings. They’ve become a treasured part of our story — and of the new Mr and Mrs Bridger.

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