Lifestyle and beauty influencer Erica McDowell, 27, is still reeling from excitement after she received the surprise of a lifetime on November 1 when her boyfriend of five years, Travon Duncan, 28, proposed in a stunning, unique way: with a drone display that illuminated the Dallas skyline, spelling out the words, “Will You Marry Me?”
“My mind was spinning. It felt like I was inside a dream, and my body literally went numb from the shock,” McDowell told People, adding, “I had never seen anything like it. It felt like a moment God wrote specifically for us.”
The elaborate proposal’s videos quickly went viral across TikTok and Instagram, with a single clip garnering over 53 million views and 10 million likes.
“POV: Your man shut the streets down & proposed to you in front of the whole city of Dallas with drones,” McDowell wrote in a video of herself sobbing, mascara running, while admiring the drones. She added in the caption, “I’m on cloud 100000000 I can’t believe this is my life!”
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On the day of the proposal, McDowell stepped onto the high-rise balcony and was met with a breathtaking view of the Dallas skyline, adorned with countless red roses, glowing candles, and the presence of her closest loved ones.
Everyone present was utterly captivated by Duncan’s extravagant proposal, which notably involved him commandeering the airspace with “hundreds” of drones that brilliantly lit up the night sky.
“Walking into that room and seeing everyone I love, my family, my college friends, my adult friends, my aunts and uncles, all gathered in one space for us, I felt my breath leave my body,” McDowell said. “Seeing so many of my favorite people standing there to witness this moment felt surreal.”
She continued, “Travon had to kiss me gently on my neck just to ground me because he could see I was overwhelmed in the most beautiful way.”
Duncan, a cybersecurity engineer and business owner, executed the proposal “flawlessly” as “a true labor of love.” His “determination to bring this vision to life” meant he “didn’t care about the cost or the difficulty,” despite the process being “extremely tedious.”
Planning began in July, and the groom-to-be overcame numerous obstacles in the months leading up to the momentous occasion.
“He had to find a reputable drone company and then navigate the city’s permitting process. Because drones can’t fly over moving cars, he needed approval to block off nearby streets,” McDowell recounted. “The permit was denied at first and he was crushed. But a few days later he received the call that it was approved, and everything finally aligned.”
Last year, McDowell mentioned in a lighthearted video that a “dream proposal” might include drones—a detail Duncan carefully remembered. He went to extraordinary lengths to fulfill McDowell’s dream.
“I never imagined it would actually happen,” McDowell said. “Travon took that tiny detail, held onto it, and brought it to life in the most extraordinary way. He didn’t just hear me, he listened.”
Duncan led McDowell to believe it was a self-care day with a friend, followed by a casual double date, to make sure she had no suspicion at all. The elaborate surprise that awaited her was a complete shock, as she “truly believed it was a normal evening.”
Duncan, who described the proposal as “a major investment” but declined to specify the cost, emphasized, “The intention, love, and detail behind it is something you truly cannot put a price on.”
McDowell added, “Our entire village, my closest friends and our families, played a role in helping him execute this unforgettable moment.”
The bride-to-be revealed that the moment she first saw Duncan on Virginia Union University’s campus on May 6, 2017, she felt an instant shift in her. Even before learning his name, she confided in a friend, “He’s going to be my husband.” From that day on in college, the couple was “inseparable.”
“There was a magnetism, an ease, a familiarity that neither of us could explain,” McDowell said. “It felt divine.”
After a brief separation, the couple reunited on October 19, 2019. Their commitment to each other deepened, leading to a committed relationship by 2020. In April of the following year, Duncan’s support was instrumental when she encouraged McDowell to leave her job and relocate to Dallas to dedicate herself fully to content creation.
“Every chapter of our story has felt intentional, as if our lives were woven together long before we realized it. We’ve simply been walking into the future that was already written for us,” McDowell remarked.
“Now, standing on the other side of this proposal, I am more in love with him than I have ever been. I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life being his wife, building with him, honoring him, and creating a life rooted in love, purpose, and partnership. Loving him feels like living inside a promise fulfilled, and I am blessed to walk into forever by his side,” she added.
The couple’s wedding plans include a civil ceremony scheduled for early 2026, followed by a destination wedding in Italy in 2027.
“Our celebration will be intimate, intentional, and filled with the people who have truly loved and supported us through every season,” McDowell shared.
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