WHEN YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW: Carly and Zack McDaniel

Photography by Kiersten Taylor

CARLY SCHWARTZ & ZACK MC DANIEL

The sun started setting and the sky had turned a soft shade of pink when Zack and Carly’s eyes met on their wedding day. Held outdoors by the water’s edge, the setting for the ceremony was tranquil and romantic, featuring stunning water views. The flower girl started running, not just walking, followed by a flurry of petals. With laughter for such enthusiasm, family and guests could barely hide their emotions and happy tears. Pure joy filled the air. Carly Schwartz and Zack McDaniel met for the first time in 2016 at their workplace, Hy’s Toggery, a family-owned clothing store–the oldest of its kind in Bay County. Carly had just started her position while Zack had been an associate for more than a year. She caught his attention right away with her outgoing personality and huge heart for animals.

Carly laughs when she recalls her first impression of  Zack, “I remember thinking at first that I would probably not like him.” But he felt the exact opposite and it did not take long to ask her out on a date. They remember the day exactly. Carly brought her dog, a mini schnauzer and the three of them spent the day at Bay County’s Dog Beach Park. “The dog was my wingman,” Zack grins about scoring points that day. What made them fall in love? Carly says it just happened. “Probably because he made me laugh all the time. He has a joke for everything,” she grins. They quickly became inseparable, cheered on by the entire Hy’s Toggery crew. “The store owners are very family-oriented and were supportive. Our co-workers are also our friends,” the couple smiles. They did not realize that other life-changing events would soon follow. A year after she started working at the store, Carly received an offer she could not refuse–she was asked to become the manager and open a new Hy’s Toggery in Daytona Beach. It was a big career step but would require her to move back to her native South Florida.

While she looked forward to the challenge, the realization came that she and Zack would have to make decisions. Would a long-distance relationship work? To Carly’s relief, their employer had already considered the circumstances. “They were very accepting of the fact that we were together and welcomed us working alongside each other at the new store.” This is when Zack saw his moment. They had been together for more than a year and he knew she was the one. “My mom was very excited when I told her,” he remembers. Hi was ready to propose. He bought the ring and set out to speak to Carly’s parents. “As soon as I popped out the ring, her mom started crying and her dad shook my hand and gave his permission.” His next mission, the proposal, would take a little more preparation. He decided the day would be New Year’s Eve. He planned on starting the evening with a casual pizza dinner with friends, who would be his accomplices in preparing for the big moment. He would ask for her hand at midnight, accentuated by the fireworks. He recruited two of their friends to help organize everything. But when the day came, he quickly realized things would not go according to plan. “Everyone said I would be really nervous but I did not want to believe it. I had the ring in my pocket and could not think about anything else. Every time someone asked me something I was scared ‘Will you marry me’ would come out.’’ He proposed long before midnight. Champagne, ring, flowers, signs, and a camera were quickly on hand with their friends’ help. OnceCarly said yes, everyone was relieved that now, finally, they could relax and have a good evening. The months until the wedding passed quickly. They were thrilled when Hy’s Toggery’s store owner, Josh Wakstein, the grandson of the store founder, Hy Wakstein, agreed to be their officiant. “We were always treated like family members and this made our big day complete,” Carly and Zack nod. “Josh made the ceremony very personal. It was a special touch for us. We appreciate him so much.” Many of their relatives traveled from out of town to celebrate the wedding with them. “When they say it happens fast, they are not kidding. It was over in the blink of an eye,” says Carly about her big day. Both were 21 when they got married. “Some might think it’s too young, but when you know, you know. We still get to experience life, but with our best friend by our side for all of those special moments.” Carly explains that her parents were 21 when they married and they have been happy for the past three decades. They had a few very exciting months.

The wedding was in October, they moved into a new house in Daytona in January with their two rescue dogs and Carly also moved her two horses to a stable close by. Set to open in May or June 2018, the Hy’s Toggery store in Daytona Beach will be much larger than the Panama City Beach store. “We are on our own now, so that’s a bit different,” Carly says. “But being together all the time is easier than I thought it would be. Life has changed a lot for us. We moved into our first house together in a whole new city just three months after getting married. As for our relationship, it just keeps getting stronger, we rely on each other a little more because it’s just the two of us.” They say for now they are planning to enjoy each other and go on as many adventures as they can, making memories along the way. Their advice to couples who are planning their wedding: “Take things one day at a time. It’s easy to get overwhelmed but, at the end of the day, you will always have each other.”