McKayla and Zane first met in high school through mutual friends in the band. At the time, McKayla thought Zane was quiet and calm, while Zane thought McKayla was shy but a little intimidating, which still makes them laugh to this day. Even though both were pretty reserved, there was a natural comfort between them from the very beginning.

Their first date was on a snowy February day in 2021, hiking up Mount Kessler just after a snowstorm. Zane barely spoke during the hike, but even in the quiet, there was something solid and peaceful about being together. A few weeks later, on February 24, they officially became a couple.

Since then, their relationship has only grown stronger. They quickly discovered they shared the same values, sense of humor, and overall outlook on life. Both laid-back and go-with-the-flow, McKayla and Zane also share a deep sense of drive and ambition. Their personalities balance each other out in a way that just works.

Over the years, they’ve built their relationship around shared experiences, floating rivers, cooking together, picking up new hobbies like pickleball or reading, and trying new places to eat. Zane has always been McKayla’s biggest supporter when it comes to her love of animals and gardening, whether it’s helping take care of chickens and ducks or encouraging her latest planting project. They have their own traditions too, like exchanging belt buckles every Christmas, and a long list of inside jokes that are impossible to explain but endlessly entertaining to them.

On December 13th 2024, Zane proposed during a trip to Branson. He planned what McKayla thought was just a fun shopping day, but it turned into something much more. At a scenic overlook, he surprised her with a memory box filled with small mementos from their favorite dates, movies, and concerts. He walked her through each item, reliving their best moments together. Then, with no one else around and no cameras recording, Zane got down on one knee and proposed. The ring box? A bedazzled chicken!!!

Now engaged and preparing for their wedding, McKayla and Zane will be settling into a cozy starter home while McKayla works toward her master’s degree in poultry nutrition and Zane begins his full-time career. They plan to travel, camp, and maybe adopt a few more animals along the way. Where they’ll end up is still undecided, but they’re excited to figure it out together.

If their relationship had to be summed up in one word, it would be balanced. Through each phase of life, they’ve grown, adapted, and leaned on each other in a way that feels natural. Their strengths and weaknesses fit together, creating something steady, lighthearted, and real. They cannot wait to live a life full of laughter and sweet memories!

M&Z

Wedding Ceremony

Wedding Reception