<strong>Instant connection: </strong>American twenty-something Mandy Sanchez moved to Prague and moved in with Finnish student Marcus Wecksten. The two hit it off right away.
Instant connection: American twenty-something Mandy Sanchez moved to Prague and moved in with Finnish student Marcus Wecksten. The two hit it off right away.
Prague Photographer Kemal Onur Ozman, www.kemalonurozman.com
<strong>Moving to Europe: </strong>Mandy moved to Prague in the Czech Republic in January 2020, when she was 22. She'd just graduated from college and was planning to teach English there for a year. She moved in with Marcus in an apartment in the city's Vinohrady neighborhood.
Moving to Europe: Mandy moved to Prague in the Czech Republic in January 2020, when she was 22. She'd just graduated from college and was planning to teach English there for a year. She moved in with Marcus in an apartment in the city's Vinohrady neighborhood.
Mandy
<strong>Falling in love:</strong> Mandy and Marcus were instantly attracted to each other and found themselves spending more and more time together. Then they ended up locked down in Prague together during the Covid-19 pandemic. Here's the couple pictured in their apartment in 2020.
Falling in love: Mandy and Marcus were instantly attracted to each other and found themselves spending more and more time together. Then they ended up locked down in Prague together during the Covid-19 pandemic. Here's the couple pictured in their apartment in 2020.
Mandy Sanchez
<strong>A photo from Finland: </strong>Mandy decided to stay in Prague for a little longer and in summer 2021 she traveled with Marcus to Finland to meet his family.
A photo from Finland: Mandy decided to stay in Prague for a little longer and in summer 2021 she traveled with Marcus to Finland to meet his family.
Mandy Sanchez
<strong>Traveling together:</strong> Here's the couple in early 2023 in Mandy's home state of Texas. Marcus enjoyed meeting Mandy's loved ones too, and after those important introductions, "we felt it was getting more serious," says Mandy.
Traveling together: Here's the couple in early 2023 in Mandy's home state of Texas. Marcus enjoyed meeting Mandy's loved ones too, and after those important introductions, "we felt it was getting more serious," says Mandy.
Mandy Sanchez
<strong>Exploring together</strong>: Here's the couple on vacation in Albania in 2022. "We feel very secure," Marcus tells CNN Travel. "We know that it's going to be the two of us going forward."<br />
Exploring together: Here's the couple on vacation in Albania in 2022. "We feel very secure," Marcus tells CNN Travel. "We know that it's going to be the two of us going forward."
Mandy Sanchez
<strong>Getting engaged</strong>: In Spring 2023, Marcus proposed to Mandy in Prague. It was a special moment for them both.
Getting engaged: In Spring 2023, Marcus proposed to Mandy in Prague. It was a special moment for them both.
KemalOnurOzman.com
<strong>Looking to the future:</strong> Today, Mandy and Marcus are busy planning their Czech Republic wedding. Mandy expresses "how absolutely joyful, smitten, and thankful we are that we allowed ourselves the joy of loving each other -- even when we weren't sure how things would turn out."
Looking to the future: Today, Mandy and Marcus are busy planning their Czech Republic wedding. Mandy expresses "how absolutely joyful, smitten, and thankful we are that we allowed ourselves the joy of loving each other -- even when we weren't sure how things would turn out."
KemalOnurOzman.com