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It was a Friday night like many before

At a vibrant bar in Nairobi Chez Sonia! (where we first met)

Leshan had jumped in with the house band for some spontaneous guitar playing and singing, while Jolien was out enjoying the night with friends, having some drinks, and dancing. After the performance ended, we started talking… about where we’re from, politics, traveling in Kenya, friends, family, dogs (❤️Poppy). Before we knew it, we were dancing and talking the night away at one of Nairobi’s classiest clubs (Mercury at ABC place anyone?).

For our first date (okay, technically the second), we went on a camping trip in one of Kenya’s stunning national parks: Ol Pejeta. It was the perfect chance to admire Leshan’s fire-building skills (the bigger, the better), put Jolien’s adventure planning and driving talents to the test (very impressive!), and discover each other’s shared love for the wild (neither of us flinched at the sound of roaring lions in the night). We knew pretty quickly, we were into each other. And it didn’t take long to make it official.

Many more adventures followed, with friends and family, across Kenya and Europe and two years later, we made the big move to Australia, in pursuit of a certain pilots license. Yet another chance to explore a continent together.

It was there, in April 2025, that Leshan proposed to Jolien, and she said, “Of course I’ll marry you!” Naturally, the proposal involved a plane (it wouldn’t be a Leshan proposal without one), a stunning Aussie backdrop, and even a Dutch windmill (you can take the woman out of the Netherlands...).

From the start, it’s been our shared love for adventure, and for the diversity this world offers, this has connected us. It’s something we’d love to share with the people who matter most to us: you, our dearest family and friends!

Leshan & Jolien