A Story of Two Rings

Amber and Tristan Buie-Collard

Our son Tristan, married this past May—on Mother's Day no less—a lovely young woman named Amber. We had two week's notice of the event and were on fast forward from the moment they called us till the day of the wedding. Shortly after the announcement, Tristan called again worried that he couldn't afford an engagement ring for his intended before the ceremony. I said she knew that and would understand. I asked him about rings for the wedding and he said they didn't have those either. I volunteered to see what we might have they could borrow.

Amongst my jewelry I knew I had a lovely band my husband had given me for our 25th anniversary that I never wear because it is too big for me. It was an 18 carat gold ring with a band of platinum around the center cut to look like it has diamonds in it. We had nothing for Tristan. So, needing to see what size my ring was compared to Amber's ring size (6 1/2 I found out from her mom) I took it in to our jewelers and had it measured. It was a 6 1/2. Perfect! I also asked the jeweler about having the ring dipped so that it would be completely silver in color, since Amber only wears silver jewelry. No problem there and though it would start to wear off in about 6 months, it would work fine for the wedding. Then I asked if they had anything I could get inexpensively for our son. Yes, they had a stainless steel ring that looked very nice. Tristan had told me his ring size was 11. I double-checked with him because that seemed large. He assured me it was the correct size.

So, we get up to North Carolina from south GA and our son tries his ring on and of course it's too big. Tristan tried on his father's ring and it fit perfectly, so we thought he could borrow it for the wedding and we'd get the other in a different size once we got back home. Everything was settled, we thought.

But my mother was still bothered about the ring situation for Tristan. The morning of the wedding we are all at my mother's getting ready and my mother decides to have one more look in her and her husband's jewelry boxes. Low and behold, what does she find but a man's ring, sterling silver with a band of Amber around it. Yes, Amber. I know, right? I'm surprised she didn't scream. Instead she dashed over to our son, made him try it on, and...it fit perfectly!

So the two were married with wonderful rings and we were all immensely happy. Later, after the ceremony, we told Amber the story of her ring. We offered that if she wanted to keep it she could, or give it back if and when she found something else she liked better. And then, after she'd heard the story of Tristan's ring, she said that she wanted to let the silver dipping wear off. I asked why and she said, "Because Tristan's ring is silver with a band of gold in the middle, and mine will be gold with a band of silver in the middle. Our rings will match in reverse." It was an "awwww" moment for sure!

The Two Rings

The next morning when she came into the kitchen at my mother's house where we were all staying (their honeymoon will come later), I greeted her with a "Good morning Mrs. Buie-Collard!" We all laughed and she hugged me hard. She is the only other Mrs. Buie-Collard in the world besides me!

Some things are meant to be. I think my husband bought the ring for me 6 years ago because somehow it was meant for Amber. I think my mother wouldn't give up her search for a ring for Tristan because she knew/remembered somewhere deep inside, that there existed a ring, THE ring, encircled by amber, waiting for Tristan who had chosen a bride named Amber to encircle him.

Yep, they have fun together!