Romance is such a beautifully personal journey. No two stories are ever the same, and that’s what makes love so endlessly fascinating. Some relationships begin with a spark so immediate it feels like destiny; others grow slowly, rooted in years of shared experiences. There are the new romances, filled with butterflies and firsts. The steady romances, where love matures into something deeper and more resilient. And then there are the stories built over decades, layered with countless memories. Each one rare. Each one precious.

I’ve always been a hopeless romantic—the kind of person who melts hearing about how two strangers met, against all odds, at just the right time. I love the kismet-filled tales, the meet-cutes you only expect in movies, the moments that feel almost too perfect to be real. Those stories make my eyes well up every time, because they remind me how extraordinary love is, even in the simplest gestures.

Love Beyond the Calendar

Freddie and I have never been the type to confine our love to anniversaries or holidays. For us, romance is less about dates on the calendar and more about carving out intentional moments, big and small, every single day. Sometimes that looks like a quiet morning coffee together before the world wakes up. Sometimes it’s a late-night conversation after the house has gone still. And now, as new parents learning to balance our roles in this next chapter of life, it has become even more important to nurture our relationship beyond the everyday busyness.

That said, we do love Valentine’s Day—not as a requirement, but as an excuse to “go big.” It’s a chance to press pause, step outside routine, and romanticize our story a little extra. Think of it like an anniversary we get to share with the world: a reminder that love, in all its forms, deserves to be celebrated.

Revisiting a Parisian Proposal

When we were thinking about how to celebrate this year, our minds wandered back to one of the most pivotal chapters of our love story: Freddie’s proposal in Paris. To this day, the memory is etched into our hearts like it happened yesterday.

It was 2014, and Freddie had planned it so perfectly—at the Jardin du Palais Royal, a garden that felt like it was made for the moment. After the proposal, still wrapped in the glow of “yes,” we walked hand in hand up to Montmartre. The steps of the Sacré-Cœur became our perch as we sat, taking in the sweeping view of the city that would forever hold this piece of our story. The moment felt timeless. Paris stretched before us, and it was as if the city itself was celebrating with us.

But the memory didn’t end there. We wandered down the cobblestone streets, those winding little alleyways filled with charm at every corner, until we stumbled upon a tucked-away restaurant. It was the kind of place you only find by chance—romantic in its simplicity, unpretentious but perfect. We ordered oysters and Perrier-Jouët champagne, raising our glasses to the beginning of forever. That meal, that day, that chapter became a sentimental touchstone we’ve carried with us ever since.

Every time we recreate that moment—even in the smallest way—it feels like stepping back into the magic of Paris. And that’s what we try to do whenever we celebrate: find ways to tie our present back to the chapters that built us.

Recreating Romance in Everyday Life

Not every celebration has to be as grand as a proposal in Paris, of course. Sometimes it’s about capturing the feeling of those moments and bringing them into our daily lives. Maybe it’s enjoying champagne and oysters on a random Tuesday because you both need a reminder of the joy you share. Maybe it’s recreating your first date meal or revisiting the song that played when you danced together for the first time.

Romance, at its core, isn’t about extravagance—it’s about intention. It’s about noticing the little things that make your partner light up, and then finding ways to reflect that back to them. For Freddie and me, it means celebrating both the ordinary and extraordinary parts of our story, whether that’s sneaking in a quiet walk after dinner or dressing up for Valentine’s Day and going all out.

A Valentine’s Day Wish

As I sit with these memories, I can’t help but feel grateful for the journey of love in all its forms—the milestones, the quiet moments, and the surprises in between. Our Paris proposal will always hold a special place in my heart, but so will the everyday ways we choose each other, over and over again.

So, this Valentine’s Day, I wish for everyone to lean into their own love story. Celebrate it in your way, whether that’s big and elaborate or small and cozy. Remember that no two stories are alike, and that’s what makes each one so remarkable.

And of course, I can’t forget a special thank you to Grace Rose Farm for the most beautiful roses, which added the perfect finishing touch to our celebration this year.

Here’s to love in all its phases. To new beginnings, to cherished memories, and to the countless chapters still waiting to be written.

Happy Valentine’s Day, my loves.