Paris Jackson is gearing up for what she calls the “bittersweet” day of her dreams: marrying longtime partner Justin Long later this year.

While the 27‑year‑old model and actress is thrilled to take this next step, she knows there is “no way around” the ache of not having her late father, Michael Jackson, by her side.

According to a source close to Paris, honoring her dad’s memory is nonnegotiable in the wedding planning process.

From their first professional collaboration to popping the question, Paris and Justin’s relationship has steadily blossomed. The couple first met in June 2023, when Long—an accomplished songwriter, producer, engineer and mixer—handled sound for Paris’s performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

By September, eagle‑eyed fashion attendees spotted Paris wearing what looked like an engagement ring at Paris Fashion Week, and in December 2024 the pair confirmed their engagement with a series of intimate photos.

“It’s terrifying,” Paris confessed to Entertainment Tonight outside an Elton John fundraiser when asked about her engagement. “It’s a leap. It’s exciting and it’s thrilling and it’s a big step.” Yet she is resolute. “I know that I made the right choice,” she added, her certainty underscored by months of careful consideration.

With the proposal behind them, Paris has now enlisted the help of a wedding planner to navigate venues, dresses and all the finer details. “He’s absolutely wonderful,” she told Life & Style, “and we’re throwing around so many ideas.” But central to every choice is her father’s presence, even if he can only be there in spirit.

Among the tribute ideas under discussion: a chair reserved in Michael’s honor, complete with a framed photograph, and weaving his music into the ceremony and reception. Paris also plans to pen her own vows, a moment she says will almost certainly include a nod to how much her dad would have adored Justin.

Beyond the sentimental gestures, Paris intends to incorporate tangible pieces of her father’s legacy into her bridal look. “She has a lot of her dad’s jewelry,” the insider reveals, “and she may want to wear one of his rings or bracelets so she feels closer to him when she walks down the aisle.”

Despite her excitement, Paris acknowledges the day will be tinged with sorrow. “No matter how much she honors him, it’s still going to be a bittersweet moment without her dad by her side,” the source says. “There’s no way around that.”

Paris’s path to finding love has not been without challenges. After a two‑year relationship with bandmate Gabriel Glenn ended in August 2020, she spoke candidly about the heartbreak on Willow Smith’s “Red Table Talk” podcast, admitting she had become “very guarded” in her search for a partner.

That caution has now given way to confidence in her choice of Justin Long—proof, she hopes, that true love can bloom, even in the shadow of loss.