The bustling study lounge at G40 in 2014 became the place where Thanh Huynh met Brian Tran. Both were in their first year at Griffith University, marking the beginning of a heartwarming love story.
Thanh and Brian were pursuing a Bachelor of Dentistry at the Gold Coast Griffith University campus. Thanh recalls, “We both frequented the lounge to study, but soon I was annoying Brian and distracting him from his studies HAHA.”
One of their standout moments was when the couple attended the third-year dental ball, a celebration of end-of-year achievements after stressful exams. Dressed to the nines and surrounded by friends, they savoured every moment. Another significant experience was their rural placement in Kingaroy, where they embraced the quiet life in rural Queensland. There, they met incredible mentors who guided them through their final year.
Graduation was a monumental event, celebrated with their families who travelled from Sydney to join them on the Gold Coast. After graduation, Thanh and Brian moved to Sydney to start their dentistry careers. In 2021, Brian proposed to Thanh during the Coogee to Bondi walk.
Their wedding planning took an unexpected turn when Thanh discovered a KFC competition seeking unique proposals involving an onion ring. The prize—a paid wedding—was too tempting to resist. Together, they crafted a heartfelt entry and won the grand prize of $80,000! This allowed them to host a memorable micro-wedding at the Sydney Opera House, followed by a KFC-themed reception on the Bennelong Lawn.
Their wedding featured KFC delights, from nuggets to popcorn chicken, and decor inspired by KFC’s iconic colours. Instead of a traditional bouquet, Thanh threw an empty KFC bucket. With KFC covering most expenses, the couple could afford a six-week honeymoon in Japan.
Their love for travel, food, biking, and hiking often takes them outdoors, exploring new adventures together. In Japan, they biked 75 km across six islands in one day on the Shimanami Kaido trail across the Seto Inland Sea. Thanh said, “The adventure was exhilarating, though our bums are still recovering from the ride!”
Reflecting on their journey, Thanh describes Brian as her buoy, keeping her calm through life’s rough seas. “Even after the most turbulent of storms, I’ll be happy if I can see the rainbow with him,” she says. Brian, ever the humble partner, adds, “Thanh brings out the best in me, and I am thankful every day for it.”
Their love story sparked at Griffith University and celebrated in the most finger-lickin’ good way, stands as a tribute to their love and the shared moments that have brought them closer together.
Tell us how you met at Griffith
Griffith University has been a place of teaching, learning and research for nearly 50 years—with thousands of personal connections made on campus. Did you enrol in a degree and walk away with a lifelong friend? Did you meet your soulmate, business partner, mentor or confidante at Griffith? What adventures have you shared along the way?
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