Mark and Carla did not meet in a bar. They met in an art gallery that happened to have a bar in it. Mark plucked up the courage to start talking to Carla although she later claimed their mutual friend Damien introduced them. They discovered they both share a mutual love of art.They became friends over the next year which is another way of saying Carla kept Mark in the friend zone for over a year and a half. During this time, he did his best to spoil her by bringing her to all his favorite places in the city. She would invite Mark over to her house for dinner, however she was training for a body building competition (that she won) while he would feast on the delicious meals, Carla could only eat oatmeal and boiled chicken. Finally, Kai arrived in the US and Mark set about trying to spoil the both of them.
Mark and Carla travelled to Ireland where he proposed to Carla at Ashford Castle. Yes, he may have set the standard a bit too high because now she wants to live in a castle. He told her to get ready so that they could take photos in the grounds of Ashford before checking out. He also knew she would kill him if he proposed to her and in the photo, she was wearing a raincoat and boots. Mark also had to ask her Dad's permission who then said he had to ask Kai for his permission and well… much to Mark's relief everyone said yes and so began their beautiful adventure as a family.