Kaya and Marc met on the first day of college, during freshman orientation at Lehigh University.

During introductions Kaya was intrigued when Marc mentioned he was from the Netherlands—a place she’d always been curious about. Marc, in turn, was drawn to Kaya’s mention of Hawaii, very different from his own home.

She asked him out…

They kept running into each other—at concerts, movie nights, and eventually on the rowing team. One evening, Kaya decided to ask Marc out. Wanting to keep it casual, she simply asked, "Have you ever had Malaysian food?" When he said no, she suggested, "Let’s go try some together." Dinner led to ice cream, then a long conversation under the stars on Lehigh’s front lawn. That night, something between them just clicked.

Together, Wherever Life Leads…

They spent their four years at Lehigh together, moving in and even adopting Kaya’s family dog, Jaxson, a spunky little Yorkie. After graduation, they took three months to explore Europe, wandering through ancient cities and countryside villages, making memories they’d never forget. When Kaya began her PhD at Texas A&M, they packed up and started their next chapter together.

He asked her to marry him…

In the summer of 2024, during a trip to Iceland, Marc found the perfect moment to propose. With the Þórufoss waterfall behind them and the vast Icelandic landscape stretching out around them, he asked Kaya to marry him. And with a full heart, she said yes.