For Marco and Jeanette Rubio, 27 years of marriage have been filled with faith, family, and more laughter than most couples could dream of — but nothing beats the hilarious story of how it all began.

It was Valentine’s Day, years before politics and campaigns would define their lives. Marco had planned what he thought was the perfect proposal — one lifted straight from Jeanette’s favorite movie, Sleepless in Seattle.

His idea? A romantic evening atop the Empire State Building, with the city lights glittering below. Everything was set — the ring, the timing, the nerves.

There was just one small problem.

“I told her, ‘Let’s go up to the top!’” Rubio later recalled with a laugh.

“And she said, ‘No way — it’s freezing!’”

The wind that night was brutal, and Jeanette wasn’t about to brave the cold, movie moment or not. So there he was, a nervous young man with a ring in his pocket and a once-in-a-lifetime plan crumbling before his eyes.

But if there’s one thing Marco Rubio is known for, it’s his quick wit.

Thinking fast, he cracked a joke that Jeanette still laughs about to this day:

“Fine,” he said, “but if King Kong shows up, it’s your fault for not being there!”

That was the moment she burst out laughing — and somehow, that laughter turned into one of the most memorable proposals in modern political love stories.

Instead of the top of the Empire State Building, he proposed right there, improvising the moment that would define their future together.

Jeanette said yes… but the story didn’t end there.

Just as he slipped the ring onto her finger, Marco — in a mix of excitement and disbelief — did something so unexpected that it’s become one of their family’s favorite stories.

“I actually took the ring back for a second,” Rubio admitted years later, laughing. “I just couldn’t believe she said yes — I wanted to look at it again to make sure it was real.”

That lighthearted spontaneity, friends say, still defines their relationship nearly three decades later. Through the chaos of campaigns, long nights in Washington, and the pressures of public life, the Rubios have held on to what matters most — their shared humor, humility, and deep devotion to one another.

Today, as they celebrate 27 years of marriage, Marco and Jeanette say their love is stronger than ever — not because it’s been perfect, but because it’s been real.

“We’ve had seasons of joy and seasons of challenge,” Jeanette shared recently. “But laughter has always been our glue. It’s how we started, and it’s how we stay together.”

In an era when politics often feels divided and cynical, their story is a rare reminder that behind every headline, there are human hearts — capable of love, imperfection, and warmth.

So here’s to 27 years of Marco and Jeanette — the laughter, the faith, the family, and yes… that unforgettable night when a freezing wind and a King Kong joke turned into forever. ❤️

“She didn’t need the top of the Empire State Building,” Rubio once said. “All she needed was me — and somehow, that was enough.”