Engagement party Dec. 4 at jewelers’ new location on Commons Way
Corporal Michael J. Moore Jr. of Camden County walked a painful road to eventually meet his soulmate, Jenna Yoder.
In 2005, Moore deployed to Fallujah, Iraq, where he was injured while conducting combat operations. He was left with broken bones and critical back trauma, unable to return to his grunt unit.
A year later, while on a spring break trip with fellow Marines, Mr. Moore met Ms. Yoder. The couple says it was love at first sight.
Enter Roman Jewelers, a family-owned and operated jeweler. It was preparing to open a new standalone shop in Bridgewater — and wanted to help take a New Jersey military veteran take his own big leap by popping the “big question.”
In 2007, Michael and Jenna purchased a home and Michael decided to buckle down and save to buy Jenna the perfect engagement ring. But in October 2012, Hurricane Sandy struck with full force, and Mr. Moore saw his dreams of the perfect proposal for his bride-to-be slip away. The engagement ring fund (and then some) was appropriated to cover the cost of repairing the old house.
Michael and Jenna have been selected by Roman Jewelers as the recipients of a custom-designed, two-carat (total weight) diamond engagement ring valued at more than $10,000. The jeweler will host an engagement party to honor the couple in tandem with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4, at the new Bridgewater location at 500 Commons Way, in the former AAA store opposite the Bridgewater Commons. Roman Jewelers also has a store in Flemington.
”Our new Bridgewater location is our dream and we’re thrilled to be helping make a dream come true for this wonderful couple,” said Lucy Zimmerman, Roman Jewelers co-owner and general manager. “What better way to celebrate this exciting new beginning for Roman Jewelers than by granting a deserving military couple a new beginning as well.”
The Bridgewater location is four times the size of its former store in the Bridgewater Commons Mall — a total of 5,500 square feet. The space will include an expanded shop with three fulltime jewelers, state-of-the-art equipment to further the craftsmanship of custom-design work and repairs, and an expanded inventory of jewelry and fine Swiss watches at all price points.
The store’s ribbon-cutting ceremony and Mike and Jenna’s proposal/engagement party for family and friends will both take place at 500 Commons Way from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.