Missouri Engagement: Mackenzie + TJ
I don’t even know where to begin with Mackenzie and TJ; they are incredible people, and I am so grateful to work with these two. Needless to say, they inspire me! Mackenzie and TJ plan to exchange their vows in November at First Presbyterian Church with an incredible reception following at The Atrium on Tenth in downtown Columbia, Missouri.
Mackenzie and TJ knocked on my door back in August of this year, just 3 months away from their wedding day. Faced with vendor changes, COVID-19, ordinances, and much uncertainty, these two were hanging on to keep the spirit and magic alive of getting married. In fact, during our initial consultation, I nearly teared up (okay, I teared up) when Mackenzie responded to my question, “When you look back on everything, what do you want to be most proud of?” Her response, “We just want to be married, and we want to do it safely.”
I’ve had the fortune of getting to know these two very quickly over the past few months. I’ve had the honor to learn their story, of how they fell in love, of the importance of friends and family, of TJ’s heroic and selfless action of donating bone marrow TWICE, to how they’ve chosen to celebrate their marriage and do it safely with no less joy and love.
Want to learn more about these two? Keep reading below. But first, check out these amazing engagement photos taken by Amber Garrett Photography. She’s incredible!
How did you meet?
We met teaching Tiger Swim Lessons at MizzouRec in 2014. We were assigned to teach private swim lessons to two siblings. We were forced to communicate with each other and spent a lot of time together and with that family over the summer. By the end of the summer we were "officially" dating.
How did TJ propose?
We went to California to [visit] Yosemite and Lake Tahoe with my [Mackenzie's] brother, Thomas, and his girlfriend, Tenna. We planned a difficult hike for the first day. It was cool, and raining the whole hike. I (Mackenzie) threatened to quit hiking up multiple times throughout the day. Everyone but me knew that TJ was going to propose at the top of Yosemite Falls. Thomas even carried a bottle of champagne up in his hiking pack. Once at the top, we started taking pictures of the beautiful view. I (Mackenzie) was wearing gloves and had my hood up. TJ tried getting me to take them off for a picture but instead I cried because I was cold. Once I finally agreed to taking them off, TJ got down on one knee and pooped the question. I'm not even sure what he said because I was in shock!
So far, what aspect of planning the wedding has been the most enjoyable?
Finding vendors that fit our style and the vibe we have for our wedding. We want something fun, upbeat, and memorable and we feel confident that the vendors we have selected will make that happen!
️Do you have any advice for recently engaged couples to help them stay stress-free throughout the planning process?
Throughout the whole process always remind yourself why you're getting married and that the reason behind to process is that at the end of the day you get to marry your best friend... oh and for sure hire a wedding coordinator. You will not regret it.
What are you most excited about for the day of the wedding?
To be married and begin the next chapter of our lives! Also, to have our family and friends there to celebrate our love and to dance the night away!
What are three words to describe the feel of your upcoming wedding?
Genuine, Romantic, and Fun
What made you choose First Presbyterian Church as your ceremony venue? The Atrium as your reception venue?
We chose the ceremony venue because of the amazing sanctuary that First Presbyterian Church has. It is huge and very beautiful! The Atrium was the first and only venue we looked at and Mackenzie fell in love with it the second we walked in. She gave TJ a look that he knew was the "Can we write a check right now?" look. The Atrium has a modern industrial vibe with a lot of history since the building is over 100 years, we both love everything about it!
What made you decide to hire a planner?
We wanted to ensure that our wedding day ran smoothly and that we as the bride and groom and our families got to enjoy the process. We did not want to have to worry about all the small things. We wanted to have a trusted planner that we knew had our best interest at heart and would make sure our day was perfect.
Hey, I’m Terra!
Born and raised in Missouri, I’m a grateful wife and dog mom to my rescue pups, Hildi & Lola. I’m a true believer in the pursuit of bold dreams, learning from mistakes, and staying curious.
I'm a girl that lives in her Chacos during the summer, and I'm typically always wearing lipstick. Yes, red is my preference! When I'm not helping engaged couples plan weddings, you'll find me on stage teaching Jazzercise classes. Needless to say, creating engaging experiences that leave people feeling good afterwards is my passion. Seriously!
I’ve created this blog and my wedding packages to empower you to plan an awesome wedding day and put all of the stress and obligations straight into the dumpster! Now that sounds like a party.
