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College Neighbors Evolve From Close Friends to World Travelers


Kira and Mark at their wedding held in The Ritz-Carlton by the sea in Santa Barbara. Photo by Jillian Rose
Kira and Mark at their wedding held in The Ritz-Carlton by the sea in Santa Barbara. Photo by Jillian Rose

It is always exciting to read about how the bride and groom met and the steps they took towards knowing they wanted to get married.

Kira Lavac has been in our pages each year when we ran photos of fathers and their children as she was growing up.


Her dad, Dr. Frank Lavac, is the Santa Monica veterinarian who has written a column for us since the paper began. So, it is always fun for me to write about someone I’ve known as a child. Below, Kira shares her story with us.

Kira grew up in Venice, moving to Malibu to attend middle and high school there. She also attended the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica where she trained under Yvonne Mounsey for 15 years. Kira’s mom was part of the ballet school staff. Her husband, Mark Arthur, grew up in San Ramon in Northern California.

Somehow the fates brought them together when they were college students at UC Santa Barbara in 2014. They lived on the same floor of an apartment complex in Isla Vista. They quickly became friends, when studying, going to comedy shows, for bike rides, running errands, and supporting each other through life experiences.

After being close friends for six months, both Mark and Kira realized that their friendship had turned into deeper feelings, and they dove in headfirst into their relationship!

Their love of travel immediately bonded them, and Kira joined Mark on multiple medical missions in South America. They had about one-and-a-half years soaking in the sun at UCSB together before Kira graduated, and their years of long-distance began.

They made the most of it by having FaceTime dates, surprising each other, going on trips, lots of airports, tears, and supporting one another through their unique phases of life. Although it was painful to be away from one another, long distance allowed them to travel to some fun places, such as New York City, Bali, Santorini, Chicago, Singapore, Paris, London, and Prague!

In 2020, their four years of long distance finally ended when Kira moved to Albany, New York, where Mark was attending medical school. They were in heaven, not only living in the same city, but living together!

They began another adventure in 2022 and moved to Phoenix, Arizona, when Mark matched into the University of Arizona Phoenix residency for orthopedic surgery where he is working now.

Eventually, Mark romantically proposed to Kira on the roof of the apartment complex overlooking the ocean in Isla Vista, where they had met seven years prior. Kira was completely shocked and immediately said “Yes!”

Kira graduated from Prescott College with a Master’s in Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2024. She is now a Licensed Associate Counselor at Psychological Counseling Services in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Mark and Kira were married on November 23, 2024 at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, on the bluffs overlooking the ocean. As Kira recalls, “Special memories of the wedding included having friends and family from all walks of life and all over

the world attend and support our love and celebration.”

Kira added the officiant was Rahul, their best friend. She expresses, “It was so special to have someone who knows us and our love story so intimately officiate at our wedding.” Also, she said that when she and Mark changed into traditional Indian clothing and danced, “This was a surprise to all our guests!”

The couple had a second traditional Indian ceremony (Maru Veedu) in San Ramon four days later.


Mark and Kira had a traditional Indian ceremony in San Ramon.
Mark and Kira had a traditional Indian ceremony in San Ramon.

As they reflect on their many years together, they are grateful for their incredible life together so far, and even more excited to look ahead towards their future!


By Diane Margolin

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