Emily and I planned a wonderful all-inclusive trip to Mexico — finally using our passports and traveling together outside the country for the first time. Once we settled on the dates, I knew this was where I wanted to propose and ask her to be with me forever.

First of all, if anyone has ever tried to hide a ring while traveling internationally… I do not recommend it. From having my bags packed the afternoon before we left (which Emily found quite peculiar), to carrying it on the plane, walking through customs in Mexico, and traveling to an island off the mainland with it in my pocket — I was convinced I’d blow the surprise.

On top of that, convincing my soon-to-be fiancée to leave the food, drinks, music, and pool for some island in Mexico was no easy feat. But telling her it was “the best place in Cancun to catch a sunset” was enough to get her on board.

As we took the boat ride over, the band on board (ironically) played Falling in Love With You, setting the perfect tone for our journey — and giving us some fun videos to remember it by.

When we arrived, we rented our favorite mode of transportation: a golf cart. After a long ride through the island’s charming streets (with only a few wrong turns), we made it to Punta Sur — a beautiful park on the southern tip of the island. It’s a once-forgotten Mayan site that’s now a scenic walking tour.

As we walked through the park, I passed by my “hidden in plain sight” photographer — a gentleman I’d met online to secretly capture the moment. He had shown me a stunning cliffside spot, the perfect place to propose.

Leading Emily there took a bit more convincing (nothing says trust me like a 40-foot cliff with waves crashing below), but with our photographer hidden in the bushes, I spoke from the heart and told her that forever with her is all I want. I got on one knee and asked for hand in marriage.

She said yes!

Lucky for us, we were able to capture some magical engagement photos right away — the perfect start to our journey toward our special day on May 30, 2026.