McKenzie and Jordan first crossed paths at the annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Bar Crawl in Grand Rapids in December of 2021. This outing was orchestrated by their mutual friends, Ben and Anna Soltis, with the intention of playing matchmaker and introducing them to each other. Jordan says that as soon as he looked into McKenzie's blue eyes, he immediately sensed a deep connection and felt that she was the woman he was destined to marry. However, he was taken aback by her opening line: "Are you wearing that University of Michigan sweater because you're a fan or because it's ugly!?" Coincidentally, Michigan was playing in their first of recent Big Ten Championship games that night, and Jordan was hoping to find a suitable place to watch the game later on. As the day progressed and they indulged in numerous jingle juices, McKenzie found herself joining Jordan in cheering on his Wolverines to victory, and allowing Jordan to win a first date for the following weekend. Thanks Ben & Anna <3

For several months, Jordan had been meticulously planning the perfect moment to propose to McKenzie. He knew that her love for the arts and her hometown of Muskegon made the Frauenthal Theater the ideal backdrop for his grand gesture. Everything seemed normal to McKenzie that day, blissfully unaware of excitement brewing behind the scenes. Meanwhile, Jordan had been orchestrating a covert operation, enlisting the help of friends and family from all corners of the state. His plan? To go out for a casual drink before meeting up with McKenzie's family to celebrate her sister, Lauren's birthday dinner. Little did she know, everyone was in on the scheme, with their phone locations turned off to avoid any accidental leaks. As they strolled out of the bar, Jordan led McKenzie to a carefully marked spot in the heart of downtown Muskegon. With a mixture of nerves and anticipation, he dropped down on one knee, ready to deliver the surprise of a lifetime. Unbeknownst to McKenzie, a photographer was hiding in the bushes, capturing the momentous occasion with all the stealth of a secret agent. To McKenzie's bewilderment, her phone calls went unanswered. Jordan, quick on his feet, suggested they simply proceed with the original plan of going back to dinner to show her parents the ring. Little did she know, a storm of excitement was brewing behind those restaurant doors. As they walked in, McKenzie was greeted with a thunderous roar of applause. Jordan had pulled off the ultimate surprise party, with family members and friends from all corners of the state joining in the celebration of their love. In that moment, McKenzie couldn't help but cry with excitement at the beautiful chaos that had unfolded over a casual drink!