There are moments in life that feel straight out of a dream, where time slows and the air buzzes with anticipation. This is the story of that moment for Alex and me—the day we took a beautiful leap into forever.

It all started with our vacation to Tuscany, Italy, a place already brimming with romance, golden light, and rolling vineyards. On this particular evening, the ambiance felt different, almost electric. We were surrounded by Alex’s family, with champagne glasses in hand and the soft melody of classical piano flowing from Robin’s fingers.

Moments before it all unfolded, Alex casually captured a photo of me, the last snapshot before our lives changed forever.

We went back into his grandmothers house and moments later, Don, Alex’s father, raised his glass and made a heartfelt toast on the importance of family. Then, to my surprise Alex also made a toast, if you know Alex he’s not one to generally make toasts or speak up in front of groups of people. It was warm, meaningful, and hinted at something more. I felt a flutter of curiosity, but nothing could prepare me for what was next.

During his toast, he turned to me and said he has a surprise waiting for me outside. With a smile, he told me to look outside, and there, standing with bright smiles and teary eyes, were my parents. My parents—who had told me they were in Cabo—were here in Italy! I gasped, unable to believe the lengths Alex had gone to make this moment perfect. Surprise after surprise left me breathless.

And then, as the warm evening light wrapped around us, Alex dropped to one knee. The world stilled. His eyes, filled with so much love and excitement, met mine as he asked me to be his partner for life. With the joy of our families surrounding us and the magic of Tuscany embracing us, I said yes. I was overwhelmed, elated, and completely in love.

One month has passed since that unforgettable day, and I’m still in awe. Alex, you planned everything so perfectly and managed to keep it all a surprise, which, if you know me, is no small feat! (Because I’m highly intuitive and pick up on everything). Turns out they had to bring my parents into the same apartment building we were staying in and to do so Alex took me out for a photoshoot and pizza so my parents could sneak into town. I ended up going Instagram Live hours after their arrival and my mom said she was watching my Instagram Live as she could see me out her apartment window.

The memory of that day continues to make my heart swell with gratitude and love.

To anyone reading this: know that love like this is worth every moment of openness, growth, and vulnerability. It’s about showing up as your raw, authentic self and holding space for each other to bloom. It’s knowing that the right love won’t just find you; it will cherish you, surprise you, and take you to places you never thought possible—like a love-drenched proposal in Tuscany.