I thought I was going to an influencer event in Central Park. It was actually my own surprise engagement. [Video]

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Rachel Martino. It has been edited for length and clarity.

In August 2022, I thought I was attending a garden party to celebrate the launch of a new line of Sunglass Hut glasses. It turned out to be my dream Central Park engagement.

Our creativity connects us

I’m a fashion influencer covering beauty and lifestyle. My fiancé Leo is also a content creator focusing on Disney, gaming, and comic con. While our interests differ, being creative has been a huge part of our relationship.

Leo and I met in March 2019 during an influencer trip to Disney World. Although we didn’t run into each other during the first few days in Orlando, we eventually met on the Disney Dream Cruise. A lot of the creators during this particular trip had a focus on family blogging. Those of us who were single would often hang out in the adult-only section of the cruise.

We met in …