Callie and Bracken's love story began in 2019 as colleagues at sea onboard the Ultimate Disco Cruise. They had met while sailing a few years prior, and Callie distinctly remembers the moment because 1. he was v cute and 2. something about him felt familiar, like they'd met before. So in 2019, after a week of late nights in the disco club, and many rounds of ping pong and star gazing later, Bracken finally got Callie's number.

After 1.5 years of dating long-distance, countless FaceTimes and flights between DC and Salt Lake, Callie fulfilled her dream of living out west with Bracky.

I started ring shopping in October, trying to find the perfect way to propose to Callie. After weeks of talking to her friends, Audrey and Kali, about rings and proposal ideas, Callie and I spontaneously decided to book a New Year’s trip to Chamonix, France. It all happened so fast that the idea of proposing there hadn’t even crossed my mind—until Kali casually asked, “Are you going to propose in France?” Without missing a beat, I responded, “Yeah, duh!” That was the moment the plan began to take shape.

I decided to propose in Annecy, France, also known as “the Venice of France.” My vision was to pop the question on Lover’s Bridge, a picturesque spot in a beautiful park by the lake, surrounded by stunning views of the Alps. The plan was perfect—or so I thought.

Fast forward to December 30th. We woke up at 5 a.m. in Chamonix to catch a bus to Annecy. With the ring burning a hole in my pocket, I was a nervous wreck, checking every 30 seconds to make sure the ring was still there. We only had a few hours in Annecy before heading back, and I had a reservation at a nice restaurant to celebrate, so I knew I had to make my move early.

When we arrived, I led us to the park by the lake, ready to put my plan into action. But as we reached Lover’s Bridge, it just didn’t feel right. The fog was so thick you couldn’t even see the Alps, and the park was buzzing with people on their morning runs and dog walks—not exactly the intimate moment I had envisioned. I decided to wait and try again after we visited a nearby museum.

After the museum, I made up an excuse to go back to the park, determined to make it work. But when we arrived, the scene was even busier than before. Lover’s Bridge was packed, practically swaying under the weight of so many people. I panicked. Then I spotted a fountain at the center of the park, surrounded by trees, and decided it was my Plan B.

I started speed-walking toward the fountain, and Callie, confused but trying to keep up, asked why I was in such a hurry. When we finally reached it, I turned around, dropped to one knee, and proposed.

The moment was perfect in its own way—unexpected, heartfelt, and uniquely ours. We celebrated over champagne at a cozy spot called Le Chalet, and as if on cue, the sun finally broke through the clouds. The rest of the day was magical, and the trip as a whole was unforgettable. Annecy and Chamonix will always hold a special place in our hearts.