
Ivana met Jay when she came to rent his house during her school years in Irvine. She expected a landlord — and instead, at the door stood a young man with the kindest smile she'd ever seen. That moment, she felt it: “I want this man to fall in love with me.”
Jay, in turn, was struck not just by her beauty, but by her warmth, intelligence, and presence. With the help of Ivana’s mom — who cleverly invited them both for tea — they shared their first spark across the table, exchanging glances that said more than words ever could.
From that tea to today, it’s been 12 years of love, travel, laughter, growth, and trust. They’ve built a world together: one that started with a look, bloomed with patience, and deepened through everything they shared — from teaching each other to drive a stick shift to dancing across continents and dreaming a life into reality.