One random afternoon after work, we decided to take a long walk along the beach at Coronado Island in San Diego. We were chatting about our week, just catching up like we always do, when all of a sudden, Larsen spots this short, stubby palm tree off in the sand near the dunes. Now, this wasn’t just any tree—it was literally the only tree around. The whole area was just open sand, and there it was, standing all proud and random.

Larsen, being Larsen, said, “We HAVE to go check this out!” So, of course, we walked over to it, and she immediately declared it her favorite tree ever. She said, “This is our tree. We need to come back and visit it all the time.” And from that moment, it became our thing. Over the next several months, we’d make little trips back to this random tree. It became our spot, and honestly, it was perfect. Somewhere along the way, I started thinking, This has to be where I propose. There’s no better place than our tree.

Fast forward a few months, and I’d officially decided it was time. I had the ring (hidden in the apartment), but I wanted it to be a total surprise. The key was letting it happen naturally, without Larsen catching on. I also knew I needed her schedule (which is always packed, by the way) to magically free up for this to work. So, I started planting little seeds weeks in advance, casually saying things like, “Hey, we should do something special once the move is over, like maybe a bonfire at our tree?” Subtle, right?

She was down but, nothing ever got scheduled. A week after the move, I tried again: “Hey babe, let’s actually do this bonfire thing, or we’re just going to keep talking about it and never do it.” She finally blocked off a night. Victory!

At work that week, I casually mentioned my plan to propose, and one of my coworkers said, “Are you considering it, or are you doing it?” I joked, “Well, if I can find a photographer last minute, it’s game time.” Turns out, their roommate was a photographer, completely free that weekend. That was my sign—everything was falling into place.

I called our roommate Bri (aka the MVP), and she was all in. She helped plan the setup and gathered everything we needed to create this magical little picnic spot under our tree. Thursday night, I told Larsen I had to “work late” (I didn’t), and Bri met me at the spot to map out the setup. I even took pics to help the photographer capture the sunset perfectly.

The day before, I managed to get Larsen to the nail salon by suggesting I’d pay for it, but, in classic Larsen fashion, she decided not to get her nails done because of a tiny cut on her finger. I couldn’t help but laugh—I mean, what are the odds? Here I am, about to propose, and she’s skipping the nails. But honestly, I didn’t care. It’s so her, and I love her for it.

Finally, Saturday came. I double-checked with Bri and the photographer to make sure everything was ready to roll. We hung out during the day, and as we got closer to dinner, I casually asked if she wanted to shower. Her response? “Nah, I think I’ll just go as I am.” At this point, I was dying inside, but hey, I love Larsen in her natural form, and it only confirmed that she had no clue what was about to happen.

Dinner was perfect—a cozy, bohemian Mexican tapas spot that reminded us of our first trip to Mexico, where we had the best time of our lives. The food, the vibe, the tropical feel—it all felt so right. Afterward, we headed to Coronado for the “bonfire.”

When we got to the beach, I had Larsen carry the blankets and pillows while I grabbed the fire pit. Bri had already set everything up—a dreamy little picnic with lights, flowers, and all the details. As we walked up, Larsen immediately said, “Oh no, we can’t go there! Someone’s having a picnic or getting engaged or something!” She tried to convince me to leave, and I had to laugh. “Larsen,” I said, “just trust me and follow me.”

When we got to the setup, my heart started pounding. I grabbed her hands, looked her in the eyes, and told her how much she means to me. I talked about our future—growing old together, raising kids, building a life full of love and adventure. Then, I got down on one knee, grabbed the ring, and asked her to marry me.

And the best part? She said YES.

So now, our little tree isn’t just our favorite spot—it’s the place where our forever story began.

Registry!