During a brief return home from the American University of Paris, Maxwell threw a New Year's gathering with a close group of friends at his parents' house in Phoenix, Arizona. Although Alaina didn’t know Maxwell yet, her friends insisted she attend, as everyone was back from college for the holidays. Little did she know, that night she would gather the courage to approach a tall, cute, blonde guy across the room and ask him his name. It turned out to be Maxwell. From that moment, they were inseparable. For the next week, they spent every possible moment together. A spark was lit from the very first moment they met, leading to a week of effortless connection, shared laughter, and memories that would stay with them forever. As their time together drew to a close and the reality of returning to their studies set in, it was clear neither of them was ready to let go. A few months later, after countless hours of FaceTime calls, Alaina took a leap of faith and flew to Paris to visit Maxwell at school. That’s when their adventure truly began—and when Maxwell asked Alaina to be his girlfriend. Five years later, it was in that very city that he asked her to be his wife.

Maxwell had been planning this trip for months, carefully crafting his proposal. Paris—the place where they had fallen in love during college—was the perfect backdrop. On the first day of their Europe trip, he surprised Alaina with a full day of activities, starting with a visit to the Eiffel Tower and a beautiful brunch—designed to throw her off. As the afternoon unfolded, he led her on a stroll along the Seine, where a private boat awaited them, complete with Champagne and snacks. Though the weather was stormy and cold, as soon as they boarded, the sky cleared, and the sun broke through the clouds, casting a golden glow over the river. It was in that moment, with the Eiffel Tower shining in the distance, that Maxwell got down on one knee and asked, "Will you do me the honor of being my wife?" Alaina replied with a smile, “It’s about time! YES!”