VanWoerkom-Wendzel To Tie The Knot

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 10/09/2025) Fourth-term Reps. Greg VanWoerkom (R-Norton Shores), 45, and Pauline Wendzel (R-Watervliet), 35, are engaged to be married, making the couple only the second duo of Michigan legislators to be married to each other while serving, and the first in 50 years.

“We're blessed to share the news of our engagement and truly appreciate the kind words and encouragement,” the two wrote in a joint statement. “While we both live much of our lives in public service, we value keeping our personal lives private and are enjoying celebrating with family and friends who know and love us best.”

The date and time of the wedding was not released.

Former Reps. John Engler and Colleen House are the only other couple of active Michigan legislators to be married. That ceremony took place April 5, 1975 in Bay City, according to the Detroit Free Press. At that time, Engler was 26 and House was 23. At that time, Engler held the mark as the youngest person ever elected to the state House. He was 22 when first elected in 1970. House was the youngest woman elected when she captured her first term in November 1974.

The event was a candlelight ceremony followed by a black-tie reception of some of Lansing's biggest names, including then-Lt. Gov. James Damman and 25 members of the Legislature and their spouses. Engler and House lived in a Lansing apartment but maintained separate residences in their own districts.

MIRS - is Michigan's leading capitol news and legislative tracking service. Voted best capitol coverage by lawmakers, staff, lobbyists and associations 20 years running. To learn more, visit us at home.mirs.news