In January 2012, Mattison decided to study for a semester in Wales, where Mark had just finished his first semester of University. By pure chance, Matti was assigned to a vacant room in the first floor of the Ffraw building on the Ffriddeodd student housing site. It was over a semester of being flatmates that Mattison and Mark became best friends and fell in love.

The day after an 8-mile hike (at Mattison's insistence), Mark planned a day trip to the village of Portmeirion, the most romantic place in Wales. Following a fancy tea in a Castle, Mark took Matti up to a lookout on a cliff overlooking the village. Completely off-guard, Matti was headed back down the hill when Mark got down on one knee an asked her to be his wife.