AnnaLynne McCord Engaged to Danny Cipriani: Proposal, Ring Details (Exclusive)

Wedding bells will quickly be ringing for AnnaLynne McCord!

The 90210 alum, 38, is engaged to Danny Cipriani. AnnaLynne solely reveals to PEOPLE that the previous rugby participant, 38, proposed almost 4 months in the past at her Los Angeles dwelling on Christmas Day, once they have been surrounded by family members.

“I cried for 10 minutes straight,” AnnaLynne recollects. “At some point, I realized I had to answer. I said, ‘Yes, but I can’t even speak,’ and he replied, ‘That’s okay, it’s actually a good sign that you are quiet for once.’ Then, we’re all laughing.”

Marriage had been on each Annalynne and Cipriani’s minds for some time. Unbeknownst to both of them, they individually purchased one another promise rings as a logo of their dedication over Thanksgiving in Arizona.

At the time, Annalynne thought-about popping the query herself, however she determined not to after telling her sisters, Rachel McCord and Angel McCord, and Cipriani.

“It occurred to me that I should just propose to him and I told my sisters. Both really questioned this choice, and they strongly discouraged it,” Annalynne says. “I decided to tell him that it was my plan, but then the look on his face convinced me not to, and he fessed up and told me he had plans to propose to me on our upcoming trip to Cambodia.”

Ahead of the journey, Annalynne was cooking dinner at dwelling when she observed “the Scorpios” (Cipriani and Rachel) have been “whispering” about one thing. She figured it was tied to the Cambodia getaway, however Cipriani and Rachel mentioned they have been all taking Annalynne’s nephew to a film they usually insisted she go change and put make-up on.

“I said, ‘No, I’m not getting dolled up just to go to a movie,’ but my sisters insisted,” the Nip/Tuck alum remembers. “Suddenly, they are rushing me and announcing they are leaving. I come downstairs and there are rose petals everywhere and a rose petal heart. Danny, down on one knee with a ring, waiting for me to step into the heart.”

Cipriani, who announced his retirement from rugby in January 2024, proposed with a 15-carat, emerald-cut diamond with seven spherical accent diamonds set within the band on both sides, all in yellow gold. (The couple beforehand checked out engagement rings collectively in London final 12 months.)

Angel organized it so Annalynne’s closest mates may witness the proposal over Zoom.

The engagement celebration continued between the couple and their “chosen families” throughout their getaway to Cambodia after which India — which they describe as their favourite locations on the planet.

During the journey, Annalynne met up with others at facilities for survivors of human trafficking that she visits a number of occasions a 12 months with The Love Storm, which, per her websiteis “a global initiative raising awareness of human trafficking in an educational and empowering way.”

“When I look at Danny, he’s home to me,” Annalynne tells PEOPLE. “I think he is a home that I never knew I needed and that I didn’t feel I deserved. The Cancer, sappy side of me is like, ‘Oh my God, I get to love him!’ Just like the song by Ruelle, ‘I Get to Love You’ — which I will walk down the aisle to!”

She continues, “I get to love him! It’s the best thing that I’ll ever do. And there’s the other side of me, the overachiever, Type A personality that says, ‘I was right! I win! Yes!’ Because I called this 10 years ago. I knew we were soulmates, I knew we were meant to be together. “I used to be so positive, and I used to be not unsuitable.”

Cipriani, for his half, “loves” that Type Part of his bride-to-be. “She’s my crazy girl!” he tells PEOPLE.

Annalynne and Cipriani first met on the courting app Raya a couple of decade in the past. They dated “on and off” for just a few years and cut up in 2020, earlier than later reconnecting in 2024.

“We met 10 years ago but were on and off for a good four years, and in an open relationship, because he was playing rugby overseas and I was filming in LA,” AnnaLynne says. “We separated in 2020 and then found each other again in February of 2024.”

The actress beforehand opened up about this time interval of their relationship to PEOPLE in May 2024.

“We were terrible to each other. For four years, on and off, and we completely went our separate ways. He went into a marriage. We both ended up in a very spiritual journey as a result of what we ended up with next, and we reconnected and [decided] to be [just] friends,” she mentioned on the time. “All of my friends were like, ‘Yeah right, you guys.’ ”

In the tip, Annalynne’s mates have been proper, because the pair’s friendship interval “lasted about 48 hours.” Annalynne joked that her “clothes evaporate” round Cipriani, so that they rapidly turned “more than friends.”

Never miss a narrative — join PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to keep up-to-date on the perfect of what PEOPLE has to provide​​, from superstar information to compelling human curiosity tales.

The two made their romance public in April 2024, when the retired athlete posted images of them embracing on instagram.

He wrote in his caption, “My Miracle… Loving you is the easiest thing in the world ❤️🥰🌟✨😍.” AnnaLynne commented, “Heyyyy!! That’s my line!!! 🙂 I can’t believe… it’s YOU. Thank you for showing up as you do in life. Thank you for choosing to walk through the fire.”