Though they grew up just down the road from one another, Mackenzie Drazan and Karl Cook didn’t meet until their shared love of horses brought them together as teenagers. Karl is a professional equestrian and 2024 Olympic silver medalist and Mackenzie is the founder of myteam.org and CEO of MiResource, two platforms focused on improving access to mental health support.
They dated briefly before Mackenzie left for college, choosing not to stay in a long-distance relationship. In the years that followed, both entered serious relationships—she became engaged, and he married. “We didn’t really speak for seven years,” Mackenzie says. “And during that time, neither of those relationships worked out.”
Their paths crossed again unexpectedly in Cabo, Mexico. “Even though so much time had passed, the second we were back together again in person, everything came right back,” she recalls. After a year of dating, Karl proposed in the same place where they had reconnected. And Cabo, already meaningful, became the natural choice for their wedding.
They were married on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Chileno Bay Resort & Residences beneath a lush floral arch by Cristina Gonzalez Bazaar, with the ocean stretching out behind them. “The ocean is my happy place,” Mackenzie says. “I love the smell of roses, so getting married on the beach and hearing the waves and smelling the roses, surrounded by the people we love, was pure magic.”
The celebration was planned with Amy Abbott, Paola Franssen, and Carena Trampe of Amy Abbott Events, who brought the weekend to life with ease. The entire day was captured on camera by Over The Moon Editor’s Pick Photographer Marlies Hartmann andOver The Moon Editor’s Pick Videographer Wild + Free Films. Invitations and paper goods were designed by Katherine Jezek Design.
Mackenzie approached her dress selection without a set plan. “I have never been that girl who had her wedding planned since the age of five, so I had no idea what kind of dress I wanted to wear,” she recalls. After trying on a range of styles, she chose a blush-colored strapless Monique Lhuillier dress with a full skirt. “Was it white? Nope. Was it realistic for the beach venue and wooden stairs I was going to have to walk down? Nope! Was it absolutely perfect—YES!” She then added a meaningful finishing touch embroidering a light blue heart under the folds of the dress’s skirt near her right hand as a memento to her sister.
Later in the evening, she changed into a strapless Vera Wang mini dress with black balloon sleeves. She paired both looks with heels by Jimmy Choo. Hair and makeup were done by the team at Blanc Bridal, who created a look that was suited to the setting.
The reception took place at Chileno Bay’s El Huerto. The couple created a menu inspired by both Asian and Mexican flavors—a nod to their shared love of travel and food. Rentals from Del Cabo and Baja Boutique added to the setting, and Stage Pro handled the lighting and production. Music was central to the evening. Before the Nu Fusion Band opened the dance floor there were toasts from family and close friends, followed by a surprise fireworks show that lit up the night. Their first dance, to “God Bless the Broken Road” by Rascal Flatts, remains a favorite moment for Mackenzie.
48 hours later, Mackenzie and Karl flew to France, where Karl began training for Olympic qualifiers. After the games, they traveled to Kauai, Hawaii, to hike the Lanai Coast and celebrate their honeymoon.
