'I was immediately captivated by Janis' smile,' David recalled. If Janis felt the same, she did a good job of hiding her feelings.

Nevertheless, they e-mailed each other every day after their first meeting. They talked about many things and found they had a mutual passion for gourmet food. Two weeks later, they went on their first date. To make their romantic dinner complete, the foodies shared a large dessert platter. The pair had chemistry and were soon dating regularly.

'For me, it was love at first sight,' David said. 'I knew she was the one the first time I saw her. Our subsequent dates only further confirmed my feelings. Seeing her smile, I knew I wanted to keep that smile on her face forever.'

The feelings were mutual. 'We certainly hit it off right from our first meeting,' Janis said. 'But it was David's determination and unwavering belief from very early on - that I was the right person for him - that made me realise he was my Mr Right, too. And he certainly proved himself right.'

As 2011 dawned, David proposed to Janis at the New Year celebrations in Lan Kwai Fong.

In front of many of his friends, David got down on one knee, took out a ring and shouted at the top of his voice: 'Janis, will you marry me?' Amid the din, Janis kept nodding her head. Then the DJ played Janis' favourite song, and friends rushed over to congratulate them.

'There really isn't any particular thing I like most about Janis - this may sound like a clich?, but I suppose it is true love,' David said. 'But if I have to list them, then she's gorgeous, kind-hearted, smart, always bubbly and a fantastic cook.'

Janis said David was the one who touched her heart. 'He's the person who makes me laugh and cry, often at the same time. We are always in tune with each other's thoughts.'

The London-based couple returned to Cambridge to have pre-wedding photos taken on their old campus. They are planning a summer holiday on the Caribbean island of Antigua.