It was a Sunday afternoon—January 23, 2022—when Ticia downloaded a dating app she’d never heard of, just because a friend recommended it. She had no expectations and every intention of deleting it by the end of the day. But the conversation between her and her first match was surprisingly interesting to both of them, and by the end of the night he'd asked her to go on a date the following day. So she kept the app a little longer because of him. That first date on Monday, January 24, marked the end of the app era for both of them—and the start of so many dates, they lost count halfway through the first month. On February 25, 2022, James asked Ticia to be his girlfriend.

Before James was even allowed to think about proposing, he had to agree to one non-negotiable: make sure Ticia’s nails were done. But he knew if he took her to the salon just once out of the blue, she’d immediately catch on. So, in what can only be described as a masterclass in misdirection (and budget mismanagement), James initiated a new monthly tradition: nail date nights. Yes, both of them. Side by side. Manicures for her and pedicures for him. Eventually, though, James realized he couldn’t keep this up. So he moved to phase two: complete confusion. Instead of planning one big night she could sniff out, he scheduled three consecutive Sunday date nights, each one at a meaningful spot in their relationship. That way, she’d have no clue which night was the night. And—shocker—Ticia didn’t love the suspense. Preparing to get proposed to and then going home ringless? Not ideal. Thankfully, the second Sunday turned out to be the right one. On July 21, 2024, James took her to their favorite spot—The French Room at the Adolphus Hotel, where they’d celebrated their first and second anniversaries. And right at 12:00pm on the dot (because of course he’s punctual), he got down on one knee and asked her to spend forever with him. Cue the happy tears, the yes, and—naturally—an hour of photos. Because 1) he hired a photographer, and 2) he lied about the reservation time so she’d arrive an hour early, none the wiser. Nails: flawless. Surprise: achieved. Proposal: perfection.