(Photo credit: Eugene Gologursky/WireImage/Getty Images)

TV personality Nate Berkus is engaged to his beau of more than eight months, Jeremiah Brent-and for the first time, he's explaining why.

"I've known since our first date that Jeremiah was who I wanted to spend the rest of my life with," Berkus, 41, told People magazine Thursday. "As we've shared the news of our engagement and been met with so much excitement and support, we're both reminded of how important it is that every person have the legal right to marry the one they love."

According to his rep, the interior designer proposed to stylist Rachel Zoe's former assistant on Monday during a work trip to Macchu Picchu. Later that day, Brent tweeted a photo of himself with Berkus and friends and wrote, "#lifechanging #specialday."

Indeed, Berkus's rep adds that the two couldn't be happier: "They are very excited about the next chapter."