Mackenzie and Martin met for the first time during their freshman year at Bucknell University on a weekend away with the ski team. While their relationship didn't begin for a few years, going away every weekend with the ski team their senior year is where Mackenzie and Martin really began. They officially started dating in the spring of their senior year, with only months until Martin’s student visa ran out, and no idea what the future would hold. After graduation and a couple of weeks in Upstate NY, they simply decided it wasn't time for their story to end, and Martin began the search for a job that would bring him back to the US, while Mackenzie moved to Atlanta to pursue her PhD in Psychology.

Martin finally made it to Atlanta in the summer of 2016. Finnley, the cutest dog on the planet, joined the family in January 2017, and in April 2018 his parents decided he needed a yard, so they bought him a house in Atlanta where they are all happily living now.

After booking a spontaneous trip to the Azores Islands off the coast of Portugal for May in November, Martin had plenty of time to begin planning the proposal. After a few scares that Mackenzie found the ring in its hiding spot in their house (she didn’t!), all the preparations were made and they were off on a vacation they would never forget!

On the second day of their trip they hiked up to a viewpoint overlooking an amazing volcanic lake. Despite the fact that Martin wore a button down on their hike, Mackenzie was still surprised when they walked out on a ridge overlooking the crater and Martin got down on one knee. She thought he was just shaking because he was afraid of the height! Of course she said yes, and they spent the rest of an amazing trip in a constant state of excited bliss, that still hasn’t gone away! It was the ultimate location for a romantic proposal, perfect for them.