It all started with a middle school volleyball camp. Mackenzie had arrived early to help out, not knowing that a simple text and a few chance encounters would lead her to the love of her life.

Jordan first saw a picture of Mackenzie through a mutual friend, and naturally, he wanted to meet her. He asked if she wanted to go bowling. She said no. (Oops. Still laughing about that one.) But he didn’t give up and tried again the next day, this time with a more enticing offer: hanging out with a few hockey guys at his buddy’s place - hot tub included. After a long day of coaching, that sounded like the perfect way to unwind, so she said yes.

That night, Mackenzie met three hockey players - one of them being Billy, who would later become their best man. And another? Jordan - her future husband.

They started talking, and it was like the rest of the world faded away. They had so many of the same interests, the same sense of humor, and a mutual love for the same music artist (which at the time felt like the ultimate sign of fate). By the end of the night, they exchanged numbers, and from there, everything just clicked.

For the next two months, they texted and FaceTimed while counting down the days until Mackenzie officially moved to the east side of Michigan for college. Jordan offered to help move her in and even offered to put together her IKEA furniture, which in hindsight, was a major green flag. One night, Jordan drove 45 minutes just to see Mackenzie. No plans, no big reason - he just wanted to be there. That night, they shared their first kiss, and it was electric. The kind of moment that shifts something. From that night on, they’ve been by each other’s side through everything.

Jordan became Mackenzie’s number-one cheerleader, never missing a single one of her college volleyball games. And when she moved away from everything familiar, he became home. They always knew this was something special, something different. And they both knew, without a doubt, that they had found the person they were meant to spend forever with.

Then came the proposal.

Anyone who knows Mackenzie knows her love for birds is unmatched. One of their favorite places to go together is Kensington Metropark, where the birds will eat right out of your hand. One summer day, they met a kind photographer who showed them around, teaching them more about the birds they adored. At one particular bridge, the sun streamed in, and cedar waxwings darted around them - that day became a core memory.

A few months later, Jordan brought Mackenzie back to that same bridge. She got to feed her favorite bird, and just as she was soaking in the moment, Jordan asked the most important question of his life. As if the universe itself was celebrating, a bird flew over Mackenzie’s hand just as she was taking a picture of the ring, perfectly landing in the frame. It was perfect.

And now, here they are - excited for a lifetime of love, laughter, and all the little moments in between.

M&J