May 28th, 2023: the day I became the luckiest man alive. It’s the day Lia Milan Severino said yes to becoming my wife. I want to tell you how it all went down and why France holds such a special place in our story. But before that moment, we have to rewind two days to May 26th: Milan had just finished her first major exam of medical school. We were both excited and proud, celebrating a huge milestone—the first big step toward a dream she’s had since she was a little girl. What she didn’t know was that while I was thrilled for her, I was also anxious. Nervous. Because I was planning to propose in a country I’d never even been to before. I kept telling myself, “Everything will be fine. You’ve got this.” But I had no idea how much that day would test me. We were excited for our first international trip together, and honestly just ready to get out of Memphis for a while. If you know us, you know Memphis wasn’t our favorite place. But two hours before leaving for the airport, I got the first message: our flight was delayed 30 minutes. Not ideal, but manageable. But as we finished packing, the delays kept coming. Every 30 minutes, another push. Our three-hour layover in Philadelphia was getting tighter and tighter. By the time we headed to the airport, the stress was hitting hard. Milan was nervous, and I was in full-blown panic mode. I had a boat cruise scheduled in Paris on Sunday at 11am to propose. No rebooking. No rescheduling. That boat was happening with or without us. All I could think was: We cannot miss that second flight. At the airport, we scrambled to check our bags. They told us there were maintenance issues. When I asked about a backup plan if we missed our layover, they said the next flight wouldn’t get us to Paris until Sunday afternoon. That’s when I lost my cool. Milan couldn't know why I was freaking out, so I had her sit down while I dealt with it. I told the attendant, "I’m getting to Paris on Saturday one way or another, even if I have to fly the plane myself." They didn't love that response, but maybe thanks to my military license and the circumstance, they let it slide. We ended up with just a 30-minute window to deplane and make our next flight in Philly. That meant an all-out sprint across four terminals. We were the last ones on the plane, exhausted, but I’ve never felt so relieved. Fast forward to Sunday, May 28th—my favorite day (so far). I told Milan I’d booked us a boat tour for our first full day. Little did she know it was a private boat where I planned to ask the big question. It was a hot day, so she originally put on shorts and a tank top. While I think she looks great in anything, I knew she’d want to be more dressed up for engagement photos. I mentioned the boat takes pictures and suggested dressing up a bit. I could hardly contain my excitement when she walked out in an all-white dress. She still swears she had no idea at that point. We walked along the Seine to our pickup spot. I kept the ring in my left pocket, staying on her left so she wouldn’t see it. When the boat arrived, she looked at me and said, “It’s just us?” I said yes. She later admitted that’s when she suspected, but kept quiet because she knew how important the surprise was to me. Aboard the Seine Privée, we had champagne, fresh cherries, and treats baked by the Captain’s wife. We took in the sights, learned about Paris’s history, and I tried not to think about dropping the ring in the river. After we passed the Eiffel Tower, she queued up the song I chose, and it was gametime. Honestly, I blacked out until I heard her say yes. Some people even cheered from the shore. That evening, I booked us dinner in the Eiffel Tower to celebrate. It was the best day of my life—the best day until May 21st, 2026, when (hopefully) this amazing woman says “I do” to spending the rest of her life with me. France holds a special place in our hearts, and we truly can’t wait to share that magic love with you next year.