For three anniversaries in a row, we’ve somehow found ourselves on our way to Paris. It doesn’t even feel real typing that—lol!

(Technically, we’d been to Paris once before… but we never even saw the Eiffel Tower. In March 2020, we were on our first European trip together when COVID broke out. We had to buy an emergency flight home, which left from Paris. Paris had originally been on our itinerary, but we were visiting Carly in Germany when everything escalated. We quickly took a train to Paris, checked into a hotel just long enough to shower and take a quick nap, then headed straight to the airport, hoping to make it out before the quarantine guidelines were enacted. As you can probably guess, this trip doesn’t really count.)

In March 2023, we had only been living in Brussels for about six weeks, but we knew we wanted to celebrate our first year of marriage in the city of love. And we went all out. A fancy hotel with a balcony facing the Eiffel Tower, exquisite dinner reservations, a photo shoot with a photographer I had been following for years, a boat ride down the Seine, a half-day in the Louvre, put a lock on the lock bridge, see Moulin Rouge, and more. It was a full-fledged, very touristy, three-day/two-night itinerary. We experienced Paris in quite a unique way………right in the middle of one of their largest strikes. Trash was piling up, rats were running through the streets, fires were burning, and protesters were marching. We originally booked train tickets but had to drive last-minute due to the transit strike. Despite the chaos, we had a great time and made some unforgettable memories.

In March 2024, we decided to return for just one night. This time we drove up on Saturday morning, no set agenda, and wandered the city from east to west and north to south, hitting all the major attractions along the way. Because of the upcoming Summer Olympics, many statues were covered for cleaning and several areas were blocked off, but we still managed to have a lovely meal and even reenacted a photo from our first anniversary trip.

On Sunday, we visited the Palace of Versailles—something we didn’t have time for the first time around. I’m so glad we made it happen. Walking through a former royal residence commissioned by King Louis XIV and exploring the ornate royal gardens was such a breathtaking experience. The Palace and Park of Versailles have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, and now I understand why.

My favorite room was the Hall of Mirrors, pictured below.

When we found out my expat assignment was being extended and realized we’d still be living nearby during our third anniversary, Paris felt… inevitable.

So, in March 2025, we decided to do it the European way: by taking the train there for just the day! The ride from Brussels-Midi to Paris Gare du Nord is only 1 hour and 22 minutes on the Eurostar—crazy, right?!

From the moment we left our house to when we arrived at the Eiffel Tower, only three hours had passed. We picked up pastries and sandwiches from a bakery and sat in the sunshine at Place du Trocadéro with the Eiffel Tower in sight.

We spent the day lollygagging around, with no reservations or plans! The weather was absolutely amazing – sunny all day long.

We also got the chance to snap a photo in front of the iconic Olympic rings—so cool! Fun fact: the five ring colors were chosen because at least one of them appears on every national flag in the world.

Our wedding day truly was the best day of our lives—a total cliché, I know, but one you don’t fully understand until you live it. This tradition of ours has been such a meaningful part of our marriage. Every year on March 19, we take the time to reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re going—as individuals and as a couple.

Disclaimer: I’ve already been told that Paris may not be on the table for our fourth anniversary…but hey, a girl can dream 😉