Ariana Grande just about broke the internet last Sunday when she coyly announced her engagement to boyfriend of nearly a year Dalton Gomez in a post titled ‘forever n then some.’
Sources say that unlike her other string of highly publicized relationships, the 27-year-old singer realized her 25-year-old fiance was ‘very special,’ when quarantine fast-tracked their relationship.
Originally meeting the luxury real estate agent when she was looking for a second home in late 2019, the two began dating in January, and spent time together in NYC before Grande followed him back to Los Angeles.
Lasting love: Ariana Grande, 27, realized her now-fiance Dalton Gomez, 25, was ‘very special’ after quarantining together fast-tracked their relationship, culminating in a proposal last week
‘She realized he is very special,’ a source shared with People on Monday, adding that she took a chance and asked him to move in with her in June just six months after dating.
‘It was getting tricky for them to see each other, so she decided to take her chance. She purchased a house in the Hollywood Hills in June and never looked back. They are incredibly happy.’
The source added, ‘Dalton is a great guy. He is very focused on work and low-key. He likes keeping his relationship with Ari private. They have been able to get to know each other in peace.’
Christmas wish: The holidays were particularly special for the pair after he popped the question, as a source said quarantine allowed them to ‘get to know each other in peace’ after she followed him back to LA after they spent time together in NYC
Popping the question with a stunning four-carat oval sparkler, Gomez added a special touch for his future bride as he included a pearl that had sentimental value, as it was reminiscent of a ring her Nonna made her with a stone that belonged to her late grandpa.
‘Dalton was involved in every step of the selection process through FaceTime and Zoom since he was on the west coast and I was here in my office in New York. He was very, very specific about what he wanted,’ said the ring’s designer Jack Solow.
He continued: ‘[Gomez] had very strong feelings about how he wanted this to look. It was his idea to do the diamond on an angle and he said to me we had to incorporate a pearl into the finished piece because it is very sentimentally special…he wanted to include that in the ring.’
Sentimental: ‘It was his idea to do the diamond on an angle and he said to me we had to incorporate a pearl into the finished piece because it is very sentimentally special,’ said ring designer Solow
The designer continued to tell E! News that Gomez ‘paid a lot of attention to detail’ and wanted ‘to make this very special for Ari. That was his goal.’
‘He was grateful and she’s thrilled and he’s thrilled and rightfully, they should be. He did a great job and it’s a beautiful ring.’
Her romance with Gomez inspiring her latest loved-up album, the pairs’ families were over the moon with the engagement announcement.
A rep for Grande continued to say, ‘Ari’s family is very happy. Everyone loves Dalton. He is great for Ari.’
Over the moon: With the pairs’ family being incredibly supportive of the nuptials, a source told People, ‘Ari’s family is very happy. Everyone loves Dalton. He is great for Ari’
Happy days: ‘This phase of her life has been very quiet and uneventful in a good way. They are very happy that she is marrying Dalton,’ said a rep for Grande
‘This phase of her life has been very quiet and uneventful in a good way. They are very happy that she is marrying Dalton.’
Mother Joan tweeted: ‘I am so excited to welcome Dalton Gomez into our family! Ariana, I love you and Dalton so much!!!! Here’s to happily ever after! YAY! xoxoxo.’
Hesitant to step out with Gomez publically on account of her retrospectively sordid relationships with Pete Davidson – who she was engaged to for five months – and her late love Mac Miller (whose death caused her relationship with David to end), Grande chose to debut Gomez on her own terms as he appeared in her Stuck With U video in May.
Shortly thereafter, the pair went public on Instagram as she shared photos from her Midsommar themed birthday party.
Going public: The singer featured Gomez in her Stuck With U music video to debut their relationship, shortly thereafter making the romance Instagram official on her birthday as they celebrated in the Hollywood home she purchased for the pair in June