Love in Bloom

Engagement: Steph and Wes

Wes has been working at the Montgomery Orchard since he was a teenager, so it was a no-brainer when it came to picking a location for engagement photos with Steph, his bride to be.

With those years of experience, Wes also knew when it would typically be the peak moment to capture all those rows of apple trees in full bloom. However, with an unusually cool Minnesota spring, much of the orchard was behind schedule this year.

When it came time to create engagement pictures the apple trees were far from being at their showiest. However, the orchard's vast stand of plum trees was in full bloom and helped to set the scene (and perfume the air) for a dreamy photo session.

Steph and Wes will be married at the orchard in September, when the landscape will be ripe for even better pictures.

An American Story

Couple's love goes the distance

Alex and Maeve are rewriting history.

The couple's history seems perfectly fit for a World War II romance, but it's one of the countless new American stories that will one day define our modern era.

Alex and Maeve met as toddlers before a move and a change in schools separated them. It would be about 20 years before the two were reconnected when Alex returned to the couple's hometown of Owatonna, MN, after serving as a Marine overseas.

Like so many wartime love stories, the couple instantly connected, but was soon divided when Alex returned to his post thousands of miles away.

As a military contractor, Alex kept in contact with Maeve while he worked throughout Europe and his home station in Washinton, D.C. The two officially were a couple despite the distance between them.

Alex and Maeve's full story will be featured on Anthologie's website in the coming months. To learn more about having your own story told, contact us today.

Visit our Facebook page to view more pictures from this engagement photo session.

Scoring points

Devising the perfect game plan for a proposal

It was love that sent Matt Jackson on his biggest life journey. Not love for a woman, but love for a game — hockey.

Matt was a standout on the Apple Valley, MN varsity hockey team and advanced to the collegiate level before a snowmobile accident sidelined his aspirations of going pro. It was during his time on Eagles high school team, however, that would change his life. It was then that he first crossed paths with Lori Taormina, the squad's team manager.

While the two never spent much time together, they obviously made an impression on one another. Years after their brief high school encounters, Matt and Lori easily noticed each other while socializing with friends at an area sports bar. A connection was made, and the two quickly started dating.

Two years later, Matt had purchased an engagement ring, had asked Lori's father for her hand in marriage, and was already plotting the perfect proposal.

Matt had treated Lori to a full-day spa treatment at the Oasis Salon in Lakeville while he was off deer hunting in Southern Minnesota. Well, at least that's what Lori was led to believe. Matt had actually postponed his trip a bit to surprise Lori as she neared the end of her day of pampering. The salon had requested me to produce photos for marketing materials so I would be on hand during all the action. Plus, we needed a model for the brochures — that's where Lori came in.

As Lori luxuriated in each phase of the treatment — hair, make-up, massage, manicure and spa pedicure — she had no idea Matt was anxiously counting down the minutes until he'd be cued to make his entrance. Matt stacked the deck and brought along champagne with personalized flutes, chocolates and strawberries, and a sushi platter on top of the stunning ring he had selected.

Finally, Matt's moment came and he was able to catch Lori completely off guard as she relaxed with a glass of wine during her pedicure. A traditionalist, Matt got down on one knee and asked Lori to marry him. In between tears of excitement and joy, she said yes.

Congratulations, Matt and Lori!!