My international love story with Itto has always been an adventure – Italy, Chicago, Spain. Despite the distance, we’ve always made it a priority to show up for life’s most important events. From celebrating Itto’s first album in Rome to snapping pictures for Kitty Cocktails by Chloe, and soaking up summer in Chicago, we always made it work.

So, when I promised to celebrate Itto’s 30th birthday in Formentera, Spain, I had no idea it would be the trip of a lifetime. The day before he left Chicago, I found a last-minute ticket for $500, booked it, threw all my bathing suits in a backpack and left two days later… why not at this point. If spontaneity was the name of the game, the dealer just handed me another adventure. To him, it was the beginning of a plan that had been in motion for months.

Itto’s birthday was a dreamy beach celebration, surrounded by family and a couple of close friends. Amidst the laughter, everyone was in on his secret. They even talked about it right in front of me, using Italian far above my A1 level. I just laughed along, blissfully unaware.

He had first seen the ring just days before Spain and hid it strategically – not in the safe, “because that’s the first place thieves would look,” but tucked in a cabinet with forks and knives in the storage room. Every so often, he would sneak away for a quiet moment, opening the box to see the ring sparkle under the light. As the celebrations quieted, Itto’s nerves only grew louder, the ring’s presence burning in the back of his mind. 

Itto suggested we rent scooters to explore the island – a perfect excuse for some alone time. Of course, nothing was easy. His license expired four days ago, I couldn’t drive a manual car, and biking through the hills was a hard no from me. So… I became the scooter captain.

“I mean how hard could it be?” I said over and over. Answer: Hard. Within 100m, we almost crashed five times. For the sake of our lives, Itto would steer from behind while I sat in the front, hands covering his, fooling nobody. 

Our first stop looked pristinely untouched by humans: earthly shores, staggered rocks, everything in front of you and nobody behind you. Hopping along, nature granted a miracle by delivering a castle sculpted out of rocks. The proposal gods were really helping Itto out. Distracting me with binoculars, he set up two cameras to capture the moment – using crocs as tripods, duh.

Since I manage to make difficult situations harder, I aimed the binoculars at him, saying, “oh my goddd you look so cute!!!” Telling me to look at the seagulls instead, he had 30 seconds to sprint and get the ring from his backpack.

I had no idea what was coming, my focus was feeling like a princess perched on top of the castle. The cameras were rolling, the sea sparkled, the moment was perfect – except the ring. Nervous and checking to make sure the ring was in place, after the scooter fiasco and rock jumping, it wasn’t… of course. He distracted me with a kiss and, from his record, I didn’t stop looking at him for the next three minutes, maybe even with the binoculars. I ruined his plan by declaring I wanted to swim. “You seriously want to go swimming now!? Fine. Let’s go.”

Continuing with the theme of the day, our scooter had no gas. After refueling, we detoured for sandwiches, aioli, and cañas – a classic Spanish lunch. Yes, I ate garlic before getting proposed to… spanish kisses are garlic kisses. I made this rule. 

I was super relaxed the entire day, Itto cannot say the same. Looking back, there were hints – before leaving the restaurant, he asked, “Don’t you need to use the bathroom? If not, I will.” He still needed to fix the ring. Oblivious, I went, brought back two coffees, and left for our next stop: Es Ram. 

We were alone on this hidden part of the island. We left our suits in the sand and explored the sea. I swam like a mermaid in the aquamarine luminance. The sun beamed through the surface, casting dazzling rays among the waves. 

I laid in the sun while Itto searched for a proposal spot, literally using the drone. Accepting the best bet would be to climb to the cliff overlooking the sea, he checked the ring, again, and asked if I wanted to go on a walk to take pictures. Classic Italian. My outfit was giving island princess so I ate up the idea of a golden hour photoshoot with my boyfriend. 

This was the spot. Itto didn’t have to hide the camera and I danced around in my beachy outfit. For the first time, a thought passed through my mind, this would truly be a beautiful place to get engaged. I didn’t dwell for more than a few seconds. I hoped that someone would get engaged there since it wouldn’t be me.

Using his crocs as a tripod, again… Itto told me to look out at the sea. “It’ll be super cute, I promise! I’m going to come up and kiss you”.  

Itto’s Note: 

“I took like 10 videos before the actual one. I was so nervous.. A little parenthesis”

Engulfed in the beauty of the scene, I felt Itto wrap me in a hug. His chest pressed against my back, I felt his heart beat stronger than I’d ever felt anything before—it could’ve beat through my body and come out the other side. Was something going on?! Amidst a flurry of kisses, he said, “You know you’re going to be my wife.”

“Yes, but when?” I teased, his heart beating with mine.

The question, “Now?” hit the air as his knee hit the ground, showing me a ring as beautiful as our love together. I said yes.

We kissed as the sun danced in shades of orange and pink. It was everything I didn’t know I wanted. It was a dream.