We thought we’d share a little of our journey together over the years. The ordinary days, the big milestones, and all the little moments in between that led us here ☺︎
It all began in 2022… (10 Mins read 🧀🥴)
June 2022 ✨ After years of focusing on work & her dogs, Cynthia decided it was time to put herself out there. Her logic was simple: If she didn’t try, she couldn’t complain about being single. 🤪 Armed with questionable confidence, encouragement from friends & a very real personal deadline of end-2022 (#iykyk), she ventured into the dating world.
One of the many photos Cynthia’s friends lovingly captured for her profile. Location: Five Guys. Mission: Meet Five Guys. Little did she know, she was about to swipe past the fries and find her main. 🍔
Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, Daryl was also on a very serious mission: finding his future wife. The strategy? Hit the gym, update the profile, and let his friends with excellent taste audit the photos. 💪🏻
By fate, the two crossed paths, and on 4 October 2022, they had their first date at TanYu Westgate where they discovered a shared love for good food. As the date was ending, Daryl asked if Cynthia would be seeing anyone else after, making the night even more memorable. Fun fact: Daryl later claimed he was “catfished”… because Cynthia looked even better in person. 😒🐟
A few days later, Daryl cheekily sent a video to Cynthia. "My friend posted a pic of me having lunch today. I wanna send you the pic cos he says ppl are sliding into his DMs saying I'm cute." 👀 Cynthia shared the video with her friends, because his smile was, in fact, very cute.
After a month of courtship and one late-night heart-to-heart by the pool, Daryl swept Cynthia off her feet with the most romantic line: “So you want to be my girlfriend or not?” To which Cynthia, equally romantic, replied: “Huh.. like that ah?” She said “ok” after. 🙃
Winning Cynthia’s heart was only half the battle. Daryl still had to get past the real gatekeeper, Charlie... Fortunately, he passed on the first try, a historic first really, and received the highest honour possible: The Charlie Seal of Approval™ 🥇
Teddy took to Cynthia fairly quickly as well. A nervous boy by nature, he didn't take long to warm up to her endless pets, cuddles & affection. 🐕
What really sealed the deal for Teddy, however, was Charlie. He had eyes for Charlie from the moment they met. Charlie, on the other hand, had eyes only for Daryl. 👀
And just like that, they started dating 👫🏻 Their first date as a couple was at Flower Dome, surrounded by Christmas Avatar magic and the happiest smiles. ✨
On their first monthsary, Daryl picked Cynthia up from the airport after one of her many work trips. A very sweet moment… made more memorable because it was also the only time. 🤪
What began as little monthly celebrations slowly turned into something bigger... more adventures, more meals, and more reasons to choose each other. 💞
From meeting both sides of the family... 🏠
To arcade date nights... 🕹️
Zoo trips...🦒
New year... 🎆
Axe throwing... 🪓
Late night prawning... 🦐
Doggy dates... 🐾
Beach outings... 🌴
Kite flying... 🪁
Water sports... 🚣🏽♂️
Through all the little moments in between, their connection grew deeper & their story kept unfolding in the sweetest way. (PS: If you’re still reading this, you must really love us 😵)
Before they knew it, monthsaries became anniversaries. 🫶🏻
Slowly, they became part of each other’s everyday lives, until their two little worlds began to feel like one. ❤️
As their worlds became one, they started discovering even more of the world together... 🌍✈️ (PS: You're getting close to the engagement chapter. Keep reading! 🫣)
For their first overseas trip together, they chose Thailand 🇹🇭 A trip filled with massages, food, and shopping… though Safari World somehow ended up stealing the show. 🦒
Then came Sydney... 🇦🇺 where the views were stunning, the walks were long, and as always, the food itinerary was taken very seriously.
Case in point ✨ Daryl planned Cynthia’s birthday dinner at Bistecca, where he watched her fall in love all over again… not him but with the steak 🥩😑
They even took a trip through the vineyards! Sunburnt, wine-relaxed, chilling in the Model Y boot, and very, very happy. 🍇
From city dates to desert dunes, every adventure felt better together. 🏜️☀️
Saigon was next! 🇻🇳 Cynthia shopped to her heart’s content, Daryl happily ate his way through the city, and both left emotionally attached to Bánh mì Hoa Hoa. 🥖😂 So good that Cynthia orders it every time she's in town for work.
Then came Korea, 🇰🇷 where they journeyed through Jeju, chased waterfalls, braved the rain, and somehow still looked like two very happy orange traffic cones. 🍊 🍊
Naturally, they ate their way through Jeju, Busan, and Seoul. But to this day, one meal still lives rent-free in their minds: Jeju black pork with savoury anchovy sauce and cooked white cabbage. 🐷🔥
In Seoul, Cynthia found her happy place: Olive Young. Again and again and again. Eventually, she suggested, “Let’s get a caricature!” Daryl’s response? “Yes. Thank God.” 😮💨 Little did he know… there is no such thing as too much Olive Young.
Up next was Japan, where they journeyed through Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Hokkaido. 🇯🇵 Cynthia may or may not have thought Daryl might pop the question on this trip… until Day 1, when he casually said, “Not Japan ah!” If you ask Daryl today, he claims he has no memory of saying this. Cynthia, however, remembers it very clearly. 🙃
The highlight was Hakone hot springs with Mt Fuji views, and a moment so peaceful that they both agreed almost immediately. They had to come back to Japan just for this. ♨️
Another highlight was Hokkaido ❄️ where Daryl got his road trip, Cynthia got her scenery, and together, they got one of their favourite memories.
Somewhere between the cold weather, silly moments, and endless laughter, they realised this was what they loved about life together: being completely themselves and never taking things too seriously. 😌
In July 2025, Cynthia had to leave for a 2 month work trip to US. 🇺🇸 Without hesitation, Daryl said YES to going with her, because by then, home was no longer just a place. It was wherever they were together. 🥺
They travelled on separate flights and finally met at the airport. Tired, happy and together again. Somewhere in that little reunion, Cynthia captured one of her favourite photos of him. 📸
They made the most of every weekend together, exploring places that felt almost unreal… from wide open deserts to quiet little escapes & moments that genuinely left them in awe. It was a work trip, but somehow, it became one of their most unforgettable chapters together. 🛁
What Cynthia didn’t know was that Daryl had been carrying the ring since the day he arrived. Because it was a work trip, she wasn’t expecting anything, even as they kept finding themselves in one breathtaking, proposal-worthy place after another. 💍
A heart in the middle of the desert… no proposal 🌚
One of the best sunsets they had ever witnessed… still no proposal 🌝
Waterfalls, surprise rainbows, and jaw-dropping stunning landscapes… proposal nada 🌚
Whales, seals, elk, and jaw-dropping views along the way... nature was clearly putting in the effort. Daryl, however? Still waiting for an even better view, or so he says 🌝
A romantic trailer stay tucked among the trees, with cosy campfire nights… definitely one of the coolest stays of the trip, but still not proposal worthy enough. 🤷♀️
Then came one of the BEST days of their lives, completely unplanned. Kayaking at sunset on Lake Tahoe was magical, and honestly VERY proposal-worthy. 👀 But Daryl had one very practical concern: what if the ring fell into the lake? So once again… no proposal. Little did Cynthia know, the ring had been with him every single day. 🤭
Finally, it was their last weekend in the USA, and the clock was ticking. Cynthia was ready to stay home and take it easy. 🥱 Daryl, however, had other plans... Despite Cynthia’s very strong “let’s not go too far” energy, he somehow managed to drag her out.
And on 6 September 2025, after all the almost-perfect moments, Daryl finally chose the one that was perfectly theirs. No grand views, no dramatic backdrop. Just the two of them. And it was the easiest yes. 💕
And just like that… the next chapter of their story began. 💍 They now cannot wait for the biggest one yet, celebrating their wedding with the people they love most. The countdown is officially on. 🥂✨
Shadow Heart. An image to remember to proposal.
If you made it all the way here, we’re impressed. There may or may not be a quiz at the wedding, so stay quiet and keep the advantage to yourself. 🤫