Under the Radio Tower
Wills and Mackenzie met while braving life in the pre-Shinola Cass Corridor (aka Midtown). Their apartment buildings shared a parking lot. Wills' apartment was newer, nicer, and swankier in every way imaginable, while Mackenzie's (at the time) grad school apartment would be described by Wills at first sight as “uhhh....quaint”. Mackenzie and Wills had noticed each other in the parking lot – but as neither was a parking lot pickup artist, they had yet to speak.
One balmy afternoon while Mackenzie was home studying, she noticed quite a commotion outside. The Wayne State radio tower, which rises high above the the Midtown skyline adjacent to the parking lot between Mackenzie and Wills' apartments, was surrounded by police cars. Peering out the window, Mackenzie saw neighbors congregating – including the particular neighbor for whom she had a keen eye. Everyone was watching the police yell at a thrill-seeker climbing near the top to come down - this was the perfect opportunity to strike up a conversation, starting with, “Wow, have you ever seen someone climb that??! I hope they don't fall!”
Because they were so high in the air, it took some time for the climb down. Meanwhile, Mackenzie and Wills chatted about everything from where they grew up, went to college, to love for certain Detroit bars (especially The Bronx). As the police arrested and hauled off the thrill-seeker, Wills romantically asked for Mackenzie's number.
Five years and countless brunches later, after a move to Ferndale, and acquiring an adorable Australian Terrier named Zara, Wills proposed to Mackenzie in the dog park across the street from their old apartments. Spoiler alert: She said YES!
We are so excited to get married at the Masonic Temple in Detroit, less than a mile down Cass from where we met “Under the Radio Tower”. Our eternal gratitude to whomever it was that decided to climb the tower that day, and to our family and friends, THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts for being such wonderful people! We cannot wait to celebrate with you!