27 years of love, laughter, and an unforgettable proposal. Marco Rubio and his wife, Jeanette, just celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary — reminiscing about the sweet and funny moment when it all began.
Friends say Marco had practiced his proposal all week, but when the moment came, he forgot every line and managed to say just one sentence — a line that still makes Jeanette laugh every time she remembers it
Two Decades and Counting: Inside Marco and Jeanette Rubio’s 27 Years of Love
Twenty-seven years ago, before Marco Rubio became one of the most prominent figures in the United States Senate and a consistent voice in Republican politics, he was simply a young man, nervous and utterly smitten, standing on the precipice of asking the most important question of his life.
This October, as Senator Rubio and his wife, Jeanette, marked their 27th wedding anniversary, friends and family are reminiscing about the simple, unforgettable proposal that launched a lifetime of love, laughter, and a political partnership that has endured the relentless glare of the national spotlight.
The story of their meeting is a classic Miami tale. Marco, a law student at the time, and Jeanette Dousdebes, a former Miami Dolphins cheerleader and bank teller, crossed paths at a party in the early 1990s.
Their connection was immediate and profound, evolving quickly from a casual friendship into a serious relationship. As Marco’s career took him from the West Miami City Commission to the Florida State House, Jeanette became his anchor, his confidante, and his greatest supporter.
However, when it came time for the proposal, the future political orator—known for his polished delivery and commanding stage presence—suffered a moment of uncharacteristic and utterly charming failure. According to close friends, Marco had meticulously planned every detail.
He had practiced his lines all week, aiming for a perfectly crafted, heartfelt speech that would sweep Jeanette off her feet. He envisioned a moment worthy of a classic romance film, perhaps incorporating a meaningful quote or a poetic reflection on their journey together.
Yet, when the crucial moment arrived, all that preparation vanished. The nerves of the moment, the sheer weight of committing to forever, short-circuited his brain.
As he knelt down, ring box in hand, Marco Rubio forgot every single word of his prepared speech. The eloquent, policy-focused wordsmith of today was reduced to a flustered young man staring up at the woman he loved.
Instead of the lengthy, rehearsed declaration, all that came out was one single, earnest, and hilarious sentence: “Are you ready to do this thing?”
The brevity and sheer awkwardness of the question, stripped of all romance and fanfare, was so unexpected that it immediately broke the tension. Jeanette, instead of being disappointed, burst into laughter.
It wasn’t the proposal he’d planned, but in its authentic, slightly clumsy way, it was perfect.
The line—”Are you ready to do this thing?”—still makes Jeanette laugh every time she remembers it, according to people close to the couple, serving as a hilarious reminder of the human, slightly imperfect man behind the powerful title.
Their marriage, formalized in 1998, quickly grew to include a family, with the couple raising four children: Amanda, Daniella, Anthony, and Dominick. As Marco’s career ascended, Jeanette, who largely keeps a private profile, became his essential grounding force.
She is often credited with keeping their life centered and their children protected from the tumult of political campaigns, presidential bids, and the constant media spotlight.
Through the highs of his Senate victories and the intense scrutiny of national campaigns, the partnership between Marco and Jeanette has remained one of quiet resilience.
The story of that simple, forgotten proposal is more than just a funny anecdote; it speaks to the core of their relationship—a blend of ambition and humility, high-stakes public life and grounding private humor.
The successful, decades-long marriage of Marco and Jeanette Rubio, built on a foundation laid by one spectacularly flubbed but profoundly sincere line, proves that sometimes, the most enduring declaration of love is the shortest and most honest.