It all began 8 years ago in Milan, Italy, where two strangers from different backgrounds crossed paths. Mickala, a small-town Iowa girl, was studying abroad to fulfill her dreams of fashion, and Tasos, a Greek boy from Boston with a hunger for adventure, was there to do the same. What started as a simple friendship over cappuccinos and gelato slowly blossomed into something neither of them expected. They shared everything from late-night conversations about dreams and life to wandering the streets of Milan in the shopping district, discovering the magic of the city and each other.

When their time in Milan came to an end, life took them in different directions. Tasos returned to the U.S. and landed his first banking job in New York, while Mickala headed west to San Francisco for hers. Though miles apart, their friendship endured. They visited one another whenever they could, exploring new cities and making memories, but it wasn’t until years later that the spark they shared would turn into something more.

The turning point came when Tasos invited Mickala to be his date for a Greek Gala in New York. It was at that moment that they both realized their connection was deeper than just friendship. What started as a trip to catch up quickly transformed into a long-distance romance, with monthly visits back and forth from coast to coast.

Eventually, Mickala made the big move across the country to start a life with Tasos in New York. Together, they built a home and began a new chapter of their journey.

After years of navigating life together, Tasos knew the time had come to make it official. He took Mickala back to Milan, where it all began, for a trip that would change their lives forever. On a romantic boat ride on the waters of Lake Como, surrounded by breathtaking views, Tasos got down on one knee and asked Mickala to be his forever. Overwhelmed with joy, she said yes, and they finished their trip in the city where they first met, the place that had sparked this beautiful love story.