Us, Unfiltered

Question

Who made the first move?

Answer

We met on Bumble (a dating app), and the beauty of this app is—women message first, and thank God for that because if it were up to Mark, I’d probably still be waiting.

Question

Who said “I love you” first?

Answer

One of us accidentally let it slip—and we’ve both agreed it was him. Thankfully, he was instantly met with an “I love you too,” so no awkward silence was harmed in the making of that moment.

Question

When did you know this was it?

Answer

I went into this relationship with the confidence that it was right from our very first date. For Mark, it was the day we visited Iona in July 2023. That was when I told him, “I’ll marry you—if you promise to do it in this Abbey.”

Question

How did your families react to your relationship?

Answer

This one comes up a lot. We’re incredibly lucky—both our families were supportive from the start. Mark’s family welcomed me with open arms the first time I visited, and though I waited until I was sure to tell my mum, she warmed up to Mark quickly. They both saw that we made each other happy, and that was enough.

Question

What’s your secret to managing cultural differences?

Answer

Early on, I asked Mark to forget everything he knew about love and build something of our own. That’s been our compass ever since. When it comes to our families, we pick the best of both cultures, teach them about each other’s backgrounds, and set clear, respectful expectations. Co-existence, not compromise.

Question

How did you know you were ready to move in together?

Answer

We didn’t really. We started living together long before we officially “moved in.” The logistics caught up with our hearts eventually.

Question

Did anyone try to talk you out of proposing first?

Answer

Not really, mostly because no one had the time! The proposal wasn’t planned at all. Mark and I had both known for a while that we wanted to get married someday, so the “if” was never really in question—just the “when.” On the morning of my convocation, I had this spontaneous feeling and decided to carry my dad’s engagement ring with me. Right before I went up on stage, I texted my sister saying I might propose later that day, partly to check if she thought it was a terrible idea. Later, at the restaurant before dinner, I casually shared the same with my mum to see how she’d react. Neither of them flinched—no objections, just quiet smiles and a lot of shock. That was all the validation I needed. Turns out, when you know, you know.

Question

How did you pick your wedding date and why Iona?

Answer

Mark’s family has been visiting the Isle of Mull every summer for the past two decades. When I joined them in 2023, his mum suggested we take a day trip to Iona—a nearby island with rich history and stunning views. On July 19th, 2023, we stepped into the 1500-year-old Iona Abbey, and something just clicked. I turned to Mark and said, “I’ll marry you if you promise to marry me here.” Fast forward to wedding planning, and as we looked at summer 2025 dates… guess which one was available? July 19th. So we took it as a sign—or at least a very strong coincidence, and locked it in. Some places just hold a bit of magic. For us, that magic was Iona.

Question

What sums up your relationship in one word?

Answer

Intention. With different cultures, lives, and logistics, it’s our shared intent to make it work that keeps us strong. That’s our glue.