In the early days of dating, Elisa lived in Mount Vernon with her parents, while Tyler lived in an apartment in Edmonds. Some days, they simply had to see each other, even if it meant squeezing in just an hour together in Marysville—about halfway between them. Tyler remembers feeling happy during those moments, knowing that Elisa was just as committed to him as he was to her. As they continued getting to know one another, Elisa happily entertained Tyler’s goofball ideas just as much as he entertained hers. They learned to play pickleball together. Even though she never cared for it in the past, Elisa went hiking. Despite rarely donning an apron, Tyler learned to make pasta—and even baked. Along the way, they discovered that they made a strong team and could problem-solve almost anything, even moving sofas up stairwells. Elisa was taken back by what a good listener Tyler is and how he was so easy to be vulnerable with. She knew she had found a keeper. Tyler felt that his ideas were valued and that he was free to share his thoughts without fear of judgment. Over time, he realized that this sense of mutual respect and ease was simply who they are.

They decided to go to Paris in honor of Elisa’s 40th birthday. Tyler had already bought the ring and kept it tucked inside his satchel, feeling slightly uneasy carrying something so valuable across the Atlantic Ocean. At first, he toyed with the idea of being cliché and proposing at the top of the Eiffel Tower, but later decided against it. Instead, he chose to wait for the right moment to present itself. Days passed, and Tyler continued carrying the expensive ring, waiting. During a motorcycle trip outside of Paris to the town of Rouen in Normandy, they visited the Notre Dame Cathedral in the town center. The chairs inside the church looked as old as the building itself, and they felt drawn to sit down and quietly take in the space. As they sat, Elisa began reflecting on how it couldn’t have been by chance that they met, that it must have been some kind of divine intervention. In that moment, the opportunity presented itself. Tyler slowly unzipped his travel pouch and reached for the velvet bag holding the ring. Just then, a group of tourists passed by. Tyler turned purple and waited. Elisa could barely breathe. When the moment cleared, Tyler dropped to one knee among the 13th-century chairs and proposed. And the rest is history.