We are so excited to celebrate with you!

Robert and Mackenzi started dating in the summer of 2016 with such a strong spark between them. Their flame, which was ignited by a Tinder box, quickly turned into a strong fire. When Robert's car broke down in Milwaukee, he was marooned at Mackenzi's apartment for a week before the auto shop claimed his Inifinity unsalvagable. Only knowing each other for a few months beforehand, the two lovebirds got acquainted rather quickly. Between Disney movie marathons, walks down the street to get local Thai takeout, and endless stories of their childhoods, friends, and family, Robert and Mackenzi fell for each other in that very week. Robert saw a woman who was not only the most beautiful woman he'd ever laid eyes on, but she was also kind, understanding, and never made him feel like he was unwelcome or unwanted. Mackenzi saw a gentleman who cherished his family and felt his emotions deeply. They both saw their soulmate.

Their love flowed from the start and blossomed during a trip to Fort Myers, Florida. The couple fondly recollects one of their favorite memories together being a night walk on Fort Myers Beach. With each step, they felt the tide envelop their feet and the sand shift under the pressure. Their hands held tightly together as they both breathed in the night air. With most people back at their hotels, this moment was private and shared between the two of them. They could hear the splash of marine life and an Elvis cover at a nearby tiki bar, as they dreamed aloud their plans for the future.

As a couple, Robert and Mackenzi have helped each other grow in astounding ways. Robert claimed to have a fear of horseback riding due to a fall off of his Great Aunt’s horse as a boy. As Mackenzi can attest, one does not simply not get back on the horse after a fall. Therefore, many years after Robert’s childhood incident, when he met Mackenzi, he knew somehow, someway this girl would get him back on a horse. And she did. Being respectful of his fear, the integration of horseback riding was slow. She started Robert off on a trail ride with a horse that was more focused on snacking than walking. After that, she began bringing him around more horses, including her Aunt Judi’s horse, Whiskey. It was then that Robert realized that horses are just big dogs (inherently) and he began to bond with the horse who begged for corn. In trusting Mackenzi and being open to this experience, Robert grew to enjoy horses and horseback riding (though not as much as Mackenzi). ***** Mackenzi has always had a fear of water. Robert, on the other hand, thrives in water and loves to swim. When the Jackson family and close family friends traveled to Kentucky for a Labor Day weekend getaway, Robert was determined to get Mackenzi in the water. Once everyone was floating in the lake with floaties, life jackets, and other buoyancy devices, Robert encouraged Mackenzi to join them. After some pep talks and coaxing, she found herself willingly clinging to her boyfriend in the lake where not only could she not touch the bottom, but she also could not see it. That moment in the lake, surrounded by such a supportive and encouraging group of people, is one of Mackenzi’s fondest memories. Stories like these speak volumes for the support Robert and Mackenzi give each other.

On January 25th of 2020, Robert whisked Mackenzi off to a wine tasting at Lynfred Winery in Roselle, IL. Neither had been there before, but Lynfred wine had become a staple to their Saturday night Dungeons and Dragons sessions, so they knew that peach wine was from the heavens and Lynfred decanted a delectable oaky red. Robert played it cool throughout the wine tasting, wearing his favorite shirt and leather jacket, while Mackenzi drank fruity wine, perused the cheese platter and inhaled bread cubes. She knew it was going to happen. She knew the question he was going to ask. She felt it in every fiber of her being, and she too played it cool. On the last wine of the tasting, Robert got down on one knee. He could hear his heartbeat in his ears and felt it throughout his entire body, as he looked up at the woman he was about to propose to. Her long hair had fallen into her face, her lips quivered for a moment, and her deep blue eyes swelled with tears. He waited a moment before recited that question as old as time, "Mackenzi, will you marry me?" And she said yes.

The story of Robert and Mackenzi is that of two souls who found each other delightfully early in life. They grow together, encourage each other, and support one another through anything and everything that life has thrown their way. And they do so with such grace. Though this love story is unconventional, their love is tried and true. When you find your soulmate, love is effortless. As the esteemed poet, Elvis Presley once said, "Wise men say only fools rush in, but I can't help falling in love with you."