I already shared the happy news on Instagram but I think this warrants a longer post: we’re engaged! I was already so excited to spend Christmas in Maine with our families but Will completely surprised me with the perfect proposal and the most beautiful ring. I am so excited to get to spend the rest of my life with him! Here’s how it all went down…
Right before dinner on Christmas Eve, he suggested we take Rory out for a walk. We bundled up but it was still pretty chilly outside and it was super dark outside the house. I remember saying we should head back inside and hearing Will say, “Kenz…” and then I turned around and he was down on one knee (with Rory frolicking on his leash somewhere in the background) asking me to marry him! It was perfectly low-key and I’m so glad it was just this quiet moment between the two of us and our beloved pup…
…because the second we walked inside, my entire family already knew what was happening! Will had asked my dad earlier in the trip and Will’s mom was busy fetching bottles of champagne from her luggage, which tipped off all of my cousins and siblings that something exciting was in the works. Will and I walked inside to all fourteen of them cheering and taking pictures and I just burst into happy tears. Of course I would have said yes no matter what but having my entire family there (and his parents too!) just made it 100 times more special.
We are planning a longer engagement as I have a pretty specific idea of when and where I’d like to be married and we’re just excited to be engaged and enjoy the planning process! I can’t wait to share a little wedding inspiration on the blog so let me know of anything you’re particularly interested in seeing! And thank you all so much for the kind words during this happy time in my life. Happy 2016, everyone!
Hi! I’ve been reading your site for a long time now and finally got the courage to go ahead and
give you a shout out from Humble Texas! Just wanted to
say keep up the excellent job!
Congratulations Mackenzie! Will is a lucky guy! I can’t wait to see some wedding content, especially since I have a feeling you will be getting married in ACK.
Congratulations to you both 🙂 I can’t wait to see your wedding planning blog posts!
So excited for you, Mackenzie! And especially happy that this all happened in Maine – you’ll have to come back here to celebrate at some point in the future! Wishing you both the very best!
The best news! Sounds like it was the perfect engagement! Congratulations to you both!!
XO, Jillian
http://rhymeandreason-jillian.com/
Congrats! PLEASE spill the deets on your plans and share inspiration with us here! I am getting married in June and need inspiration as the final pieces come together in the next couple of months!
CONGRATS!!!! so very excited for you two!!!!!!
OH MY GOSH! I am sooo happy for you guys! Congratulations — Our engagement year was one of the best of our lives, and filled with so much joy, love and excitement. To a lifetime of love and happiness! Congrats!!
xx
Kelly
Kellyinthecity.com
Congratulations! I would love to hear how you two meet! ( i remember you teasing it on your moving announcement post!) Cannot wait to follow along on your planning process!
OH my goodness, this post brought happy tears to my eyes too!! So happy for you, congratulations!
-Monica
http://www.careofmon.wordpress.com
I’d love to hear how you and Will met!!! Congratulations on your engagement! I’m so excited to hear more about it!
Congratulations! Being engaged was so much fun; I wish I could do it all over again. Wishing lots of happiness for you and Will!
ADORABLE! I love the private proposals that still somehow involve the family when you’re that close. Amazing. Cannot wait for more wedding planning posts!
I think I need to see a nice closeup of this ring 😉
CONGRATULATIONS!
YAY!!! Congratulations! I’ve followed your blog for a couple years now–it’s been so fun to watch your big life milestones. Cheers to you and this wonderful adventure!!
Congrats!! Such an exciting time! I hope you share wedding planning deets with us all! Looking forward to it!
~Mel
http://www.thegossipdarling.com
Congratulations! Enjoy every minute!!
Ahh congratulations girl!! Enjoy this amazing time in your life!
Congrats!! Can’t wait to see more wedding planning inspiration, but definitely enjoy the whole engagement excitement and process 🙂 Best wishes for a long and happy marriage!
xoxo, Jenna
Boston Chic Party
Congrats to you and Will (and Rory too!)! I can’t wait to read all about your wedding planning!
xoxo,
Katie
chicincarolina.blogspot.com
Congratulations to you and your groom-to-be!! I’m so excited to see into your {preppy} planning process. As a Bostonian, I’ll be even more excited to follow along if it’s perhaps in the great state of MA (wink wink)? 😀
Congratulations Mackenzie! Long time reader here and I am SO happy for you!!
Congratulations, Mackenzie! So excited for you and can’t wait for your updates along the way! I’m sure Rory was thrilled he was there 😉 Happy 2016!
I so enjoy the blog…. I am so happy for the two of you and your families. Our daughter turned me on to blogs, she is turning 30 this year….. I so enjoy reading. My husband and I started out in a similar situation — 33 years ago …. He n I bought our first home and then got engaged—- rest is history.. I so love this man and having history together, and 3 children later. Congratulations! Your story continues!
OMG! So unbelievably happy for you both! It sounds like it was the most perfect and low-key moment – completely special and adorable! You two are the cutest couple, and the ring is stunning! I wish you both incredible amounts of happiness! (And can’t wait to see what will probably be the most adorable wedding ever!!)
xo
Olivia
prepessentials.blogspot.com
congratulations, mackenzie!! wishing you both the very best in 2016!
Congratulations! That is so very exciting!
Congrats Mackenzie!! Enjoy this time— it’s so much fun!
a perfect proposal! i love the simplicity, no bells and whistles. just how it should be in my mind!
-Annie
http://www.takeabiteblog.com
Ahh, that is so adorable and so exciting!! Congratulations again, I can’t wait to hear about the planning and to see your wedding inspo!
xx, Mikkaela
So happy for you! Enjoy this amazing time in your lives. Can’t wait to see you as a bride! 🙂
What a lovely way to do it – the perfect combination of intimate proposal and family being with you! Congratulations! Wishing you both a wonderful 2016.
Congratulations! So excited for you 🙂
LONGTIME READER HERE!! so happy for you!!
#missnewbeutty
xoxoxoxo to the moon and back !!
Congratulations! What a sweet proposal!!
So exciting!! Congratulations to you both! I love that your families were in on it and there to celebrate with. Such a special moment
Congratulations, Mackenzie! I’ve been following your blog for 3-4 years now and although we don’t actually know each other, I feel like something wonderful just happened to a friend. I’m so happy for you and I wish you and your groom-to-be all the best as you build your future together.
Congrats!! Getting engaged is SO exciting! I’m getting married this summer and would love to hear about registry items (if you’re having a registry) and wedding decorations!
Congrats again and enjoy this special time!
Congratulations! I love sweet and simple proposals, they are the best!
Such an exciting time! It sounds like it was the perfect moment – congratulations to you both!
xo
Amanda
http://www.fashionablyclearance.com
Wow, what a perfect proposal. I love that you had a special moment between the two (three) of you and then got to celebrate with your families. Congratulations on your engagement. I know you’ll have the most beautiful wedding ever!!!
Still so thrilled and excited for y’all!!! Hope to see you in-person the next time y’all can make it to NYC! xoxo Jen
AHHH!! I have never been so excited!! We are so excited to celebrate with you and Will!! 🙂 🙂 xoxox
i am a longtime reader and rare, rare commenter but i am so happy for you guys! i want to give my advice since i got married a year ago and this is what i tell all my friends… take all the time you need to plan an engagement. you’ll be a wife forever but you only get to be a fiancee for a short time! enjoy the planning! and of course, come up with a fabulous hashtag 🙂 xoxo
Thank you for the lovely advice! 🙂
Congratulations!!!! What a wonderful story! So happy for you both 🙂
That sounds like the perfect engagement- your man, your dog and your family. Congratulations, friend!! Can’t wait to see what kind of preppy wedding amazingness you scheme up 🙂
Congrats, I’m so happy for you and Will! Selfishly, I’m looking forward to seeing posts about the planning process and your wedding inspiration 🙂 !
Such great news!:) I got engaged on Christmas Eve too.:) Looking forward to wedding planning and looking forward to all of the posts from other newly engaged bloggers. Congratulations!!:)
~Krisztina
http://www.krisztinawilliams.com
Congratulations, Mackenzie! I have been following your blog for a long time and am so happy to see you SO happy 🙂 Enjoy this time and if the planning craziness ever becomes stressful, remeber to keep your eyes on the prize: Will!!
Love that advice! 🙂
So sweet! Congratulations!
Congrats! This sounds so similar to my engagement story! It was just the two of us outside (plus the dog) and the family was all in on it inside!
Alyssa
No way! #twins 🙂
Congratulations!!!! Enjoy your engagement and the planning!
Congratulations beauty!! Such a fun an exciting time– enjoy every moment! My proposal happened the exact same way– me walking ahead, him getting down on one knee while I wasn’t paying attention! If you’re getting married in New England, let me know if you need a photographer suggestion 🙂 xox
I would love that, thank you! 🙂
Congrats to you & Will (and Rory!) I love that your entire family and his parents were able to be there- that makes a special moment even more special!
I hope you will include wedding planning/the engagement stage in your content! 🙂
Thanks so much, Emily! I definitely will! 🙂
Yay! Best wishes to you both! Enjoy the wedding planning process, it’s all so much fun! xo
Thanks, Heather!
congrats! sounds like the perfect proposal for you two and a gorgeous ring! I can’t wait to see all stages of planning you are willing to share!
Thank you so much!
Congrats! Can’t wait to follow along as you plan
So many congratulations for you two! I love your low key proposal story, I know I would want something really special just the two of us (my boyfriend and I) one day. I can’t wait to see glmpses into the wedding planning process, I know your wedding is going to be absoloutely gorgeous. You have the best taste!
Thank you so much! 🙂
So happy for you! And love how Will did it. How joyous to have both sets of your parents and your extended family there!
My husband and I will have two weddings- one was in the US a couple months ago, and one will be next Spring in his home country in Eastern Europe. I’d love to see some accessories inspiration for bridal looks! I’m wearing the same dress but want to change the look a bit with different accessories. Belts, earrings, necklaces, or hairpieces will be much appreciated. My MIL is taking care of all the decor at our second wedding, but I love peeping on tablescapes and the small, thoughtful details of a wedding. We had lawn games during our cocktail hour and painted everything our wedding colors. I was shocked by how many people noticed that and commented on- my husband and I were convinced I would be the only one who cared!
Thanks so much for the suggestions and congratulations to you! Love the lawn games idea 🙂