Sandman,
I'm fairly new to the sailing scene but I've looked and learned enough to have an opinion. Keep in mind that opinions are like eye brows . . . everybody has at least one. The Mac 26 is a nice boat and can be a reasonable value. They are fairly trailerable and you couldn't go wrong with one. However, one drawback (if it's the boat that I am thinking about) is the head room. I believe the Mac26 is a pop top. So, sitting room on the water, headroom in the harbor. Your bride might like to be able to go below and make lunch and stand while doing it. In my consortium, I am the sandwich king while she woman's the helm. But, I stand while doing it, and brace myself against the icebox. With a Mac, you'd have the crouch or something. Before you say, "Hey, Don's got a point" check it out and make sure I'm not lying to you. If you plan to slip or moor your boat, I suggest a Catalina 27. I really like the 84-87 models and you can pick one up nicely equipped for around $12,000. If you're trailering, check out a Seward 26. It has a really "shippy" look, but a 16" draft board up. I like my Lancer 25. 6'-0 of head room, 30" draft. We can have the boat in the water in less than 30 minutes. There's a book out there "The Complete Trailer Sailor" by Brian Gilbert. It has 50 or so small boat reviews, specs and descriptions in the rear. It might make sense picking it up or checking it out.
Keep in mind that MOST boat don't come with trailers. SO, if trailering is your thing, make sure the budget allows. Been there! Bought out boat . . . no trailer . . . no truck to pull it . . . never sailed in my life! But, I'm not a complete moron. Everything was considered and thought out before we wrote the first check. Total out of pocket was about $4000. She sailed right out of the box and had been a joy every time, except for the time that we were surfing the waves back to port.
Fair Winds!
Don