Claire Holt made a very special announcement on Instagram yesterday (July 13): she's engaged!

The happy former "Vampire Diaries" starlet posted a photo of herself and her handsome fiancé, Matt Kaplan, proudly displaying the gorgeous ring. Nicely done, Kaplan. "Yes," the 27-year-old bride-to-be simply captioned the picture.

The 27-year-old announced her decision to leave "The Vampire Diaries" spinoff series, "The Originals," early last year. At the time, the actress said she needed some time for herself, away from "The Originals" set in Atlanta. The actress originally signed on for a three-episode stint on the network's hugely popular series "The Vampire Diaries." She quickly became a fan-favorite character, and her three-episode arc eventually turned into three seasons.

"It was a tough choice that I didn’t fully make it right up until the end, because I was enjoying myself so much," Holt told Buzzfeed. "But three seasons later, I realized I hadn’t been home to Australia in years, I hadn’t seen my family, and I hadn’t spent time with the people I loved."

"But I want to make it so clear that this show has such a special place in my heart," she added. "I am so glad I was able to do 'The Originals,' and I want to be a part of that family for a long time. I am simply looking at this as a temporary absence." Holt returned briefly, reprising her role as Rebekah Mikaelson, in the show's second season.

We think it's safe to say Holt made the right choice. Congrats to the happy couple!