There’s something to be said about love that blooms before we’ve had time to blossom ourselves. Maybe it’s the fact that it grows alongside us and shapes who we are, or perhaps it’s just the earnestness of it all. As I put together our second annual weddings issue, I found myself returning to that idea—how relationships that start in the early chapters of life carry a history and depth of meaning that’s difficult to find elsewhere.
One of the couples we feature on page 18 shares their classic love story as high school sweethearts. Cole and Allie Peterson met at Hill-Murray School, and their relationship continued even as Cole transferred to Woodbury High School. As someone who also met my partner in those same locker-lined hallways, their story struck a chord. It reminded me that true love—even in younger ages—can weather any storm, including the long-distance relationship the Petersons experienced throughout college.
Another pair featured on page 26 met as freshmen in college. Ethan and Hanna Johnson found each other just as they were starting a new chapter in their lives. As they discovered their independence and built new friendships, they also found the person who feels like home.
What connects these stories is that love often finds us in the in-between moments and when it’s least expected. And the communities that we’re a part of—our friends, families, schools—help shape the relationships that we build. This issue celebrates all that and more, which is why it has become my favorite to date. I hope that these pages remind you of your own love story and fill you with joy, as they have for me.
Cheers,
Hailey Almsted
