Nina Dobrev and Shaun White’s engagement combines Hollywood romance with down-to-earth charm, a story made even more special by the element of surprise and its New York City setting. Olympic snowboarder Shaun White had been planning the proposal for months, capturing his actress girlfriend off guard with an event that was everything she could have hoped for and more.
The couple, who began dating in 2019, celebrated their proposal in late October at Golden Swan, an elegant West Village restaurant transformed by Shaun’s thoughtful planning. As shared with Vogue, Shaun arranged a realistic-looking invitation to an exclusive “Vogue dinner” hosted by Anna Wintour, complete with styling by celebrity stylist Kate Young beforehand. Arriving dressed head-to-toe in Chanel, Nina recalls rushing to make it on time and feeling a bit nervous about running late to meet Anna Wintour.
But as she entered the quiet room, it dawned on Nina that the only ones present were Shaun and a photographer waiting to capture the unforgettable moment. Nina, taken by complete surprise, admitted to feeling an initial shock and disbelief, repeating “No, no, no!” before saying “Yes” to Shaun’s proposal under a beautiful archway of white roses. Shaun more than made up for her stunned silence, however, as Nina admits "He said all the right things" in his proposal.
After Nina accepted, they were joined by close friends to celebrate with champagne and caviar, relishing in the joyful moment until late at night when they humorously capped off the evening with Shake Shack and dumplings. The pair kept the engagement under wraps for a few days, enjoying their private excitement before taking to Instagram. Nina shared the news with a playful post captioned, “RIP boyfriend, hello fiancé.”
The engagement photos give us a glimpse of Nina's truly stunning 5 carat engagement ring. Designed by Lorraine Schwartz, it's a real beauty! Shaun hilariously hid the ring in many places to keep it a secret - the safe, his sock drawer and even the tool shed.
Nina and Shaun's relationship started slowly, meeting casually in 2019 but developing a close bond over shared passions. Known for their fun-loving, adventure-filled approach to life, the couple have been seen traveling together, celebrating each other’s milestones, and even quarantining together during the pandemic. Fans and friends alike celebrated the news, admiring the journey of two stars whose compatibility shines through their humor, kindness and genuine support for each other.
As they plan for the future, Nina and Shaun’s engagement story will surely stand as an iconic celebrity moment. It's a love story that feels both grand and personal at the same time.
Photo Credits Above: Andrew Arthur
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