We’re getting married!

You could say James was always around — the “family friend” who somehow managed to show up at every family party and gathering through the years. We crossed paths plenty of times, both of us dating here and there, but the timing was never quite right. Until one trip changed everything. It was spring 2020, and my cousins and I were headed on a road trip to San Diego for a baby shower (yes, I have a lot of cousins 😅). James joined us, and that’s when something shifted. We stayed in an Airbnb, just a door apart, and for the first time, I felt something different — something that made me wonder if maybe, just maybe, he could be my forever. But timing, once again, wasn’t on our side. He asked me to lunch after the trip, but I was seeing someone else and politely declined. And just like that, we went our separate ways… again. A year later, fate stepped in — again. We were celebrating another cousin’s birthday at Lake Pleasant. I had just walked out of the bathroom when I saw James, and I literally got goosebumps. Later that day, while everyone was partying on the boat, he asked me to come upstairs to jump into the water with him (even though I had strip lashes on that would definitely not survive the splash 😂). He grabbed my hand, led me upstairs, and right before we jumped — he kissed me. A few days later, I found out our cousins were secretly rooting for us all along. James and I started texting, butterflies and all, and the connection was instant. What stood out to me was when my cousins told me if there was one guy that they would want me to be with is “James” they really do trust him with his life So that says it all about who he really is as a person. I’m forever grateful. From then on he messaged me the next day while I was in cycling class… and the rest is history. We became official just 2 weeks later. He had just bought his first home, and two months into dating, I moved in. It might sound fast — but when you know, you know. Almost four years later, we’ve been building a life full of love, adventures, and the kind of memories that feel like home. 🥹 Who would’ve thought we’d end up together?! And now, we can’t wait to start this next chapter as husband and wife! Moral of the story? Don’t be afraid to take chances — because the moments you hesitate on might just be the ones that change your life forever. In the end, it’s proof that timing is everything. Love has a way of finding you exactly when it’s meant to. ✨🫶🏼

Before our trip, James’s cousin casually took me ring shopping — just to try on sizes “for fun,” since she was curious about hers too. It was her first time, so I didn’t think anything of it! The jeweler even said it would take months to get a ring in, and with our Cabo trip just a month away, there was no way he could pull off a proposal in time… right? We went to Cabo for our second year anniversary and stayed at the most amazing place — Le Blanc Los Cabos. We were there for five days, and on the day before our actual anniversary, James told me he saw an ad for a sunset dinner on the beach and booked it while I was napping. (Looking back… I should have been suspicious — there’s no way you can book that last minute 😂) We got ready and made our way to the beach, where the cutest setup was waiting: a private tent, champagne, a charcuterie board, and the waves crashing nearby. There was another couple a little farther down the beach having a similar dinner, and I even joked, “Haha, imagine if this was one of those surprise proposals.” James just giggled. As the sun started to set, James asked our butler if we could get a video of us walking along the beach — He knows I’m into capturing moments like that, so I didn’t think twice. While we were walking, he suddenly stopped, stared at me for what felt like forever, and completely blanked on what he wanted to say. 😅 Then, with the sweetest words, he got down on one knee. I was completely caught off guard — especially with all the work travel he had going on before our trip. I mean… when did he even have time to buy a ring?! Let alone sneak it all the way to Cabo without me noticing?! My brain was spinning, my heart was racing, and my lashes were hanging on for dear life in the humidity — In that moment, everything stopped… and with tears in my eyes, I said yes. Right after, we turned around and everyone at the outdoor restaurant nearby was clapping and cheering for us. It was intimate, thoughtful, and absolutely perfect — a day I’ll never forget. What started as a casual joke about surprise proposals turned into the most unforgettable yes of my life, and the beginning of our forever. 🥰