In retrospect, it feels almost serendipitous that both Michael and Marlena ended up at the University of Kansas. He, from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and she, from Denver, Colorado, neither one planned on Kansas — it just happened.

What began as casual conversation led to a night at The Cave (iykyk) and, by December, exclusive. On January 18, 2016, after winter break, Mike officially asked Marlena to be his girlfriend.



That iconic black-and-white photo? Totally candid. Mike’s friends thought they were being sneaky, but ended up capturing the very start of the journey. Score.