Derek and Jessica met while teaching together at Lincoln Elementary in Anoka. He had been teaching 4th grade when she was hired as the 5th-grade teacher in June 2012. They were friendly but professional the first half of the year. It was around Christmas time that their friendship started to blossom into something more.
Throughout the school year, they tried to keep their relationship hidden from the students. She had all of the students he had the year prior. All throughout the year, the kids kept telling them they “knew the perfect person” for both of them and loved playing matchmaker. They did end up telling the kids the very last day of school and they were thrilled! The kids helped them make their Save the Dates.
On Monday, August 5, 2013 he popped the question. Derek asked Jessica to go over to her mom’s house and when she arrived, she found a beautiful bouquet of her favorite yellow roses with a note attached that said “These flowers represent your pure beauty from the inside out. Jessica, you are truly the love of my life. Below I have written a cheesy poem for you…
“Roses are red, violets are blue. I am ready for our journey and I hope you are too. (P.S. I know these roses are yellow, but nothing good rhymes with yellow)” See the whole engagement story at http://bit.ly/1o6grbt SHE SAID YES!
The weather could not have been more perfect for the Groom’s Dinner and June Wedding celebration at Pine Peaks. The garden was in full bloom and the grounds were immaculate. The Groom’s dinner was held in the pavilion with family and friends after the rehearsal. A true BBQ was catered by Jr’s No.19 of Pine River, MN. Their fabulous cheesecake stole the show.
The bride was “practicing” wearing her wedding shoes on Friday night to try to “break them in”. (My heritage is that my family used to have a shoe store so I had an antique shoe stretcher which I brought on Saturday and in Jessica’s words “made the shoes perfect”). Jessica and Derek decided to have a private “first look” prior to the pictures and ceremony on Saturday. The couple could not have been more in love than at that moment. The wedding was held in the garden with their closest family and friends present to witness their I DO’s. The reception was a success starting with appetizers served by Kate of Maucieri’s Catering in the pavilion.
The wedding party was escorted by Clyde of Safe Ride to celebrate around Crosslake. Upon return, the bridal party was introduced for the grand march in the Event Center. The energy of the couple is felt in the video of this “Grand March” http://bit.ly/1nkEG0l. (This still gives me goosebumps when I watch it! Amazing love and energy!)
Chef Brian served the guests a fabulous Italian buffet dinner of a Caesar salad, antipasto, pasta primavera, and stuffed shells. The cupcakes were a crowd favorite. Later in the evening in a Pine Peaks’ tradition, Kate baked freshly made pizzas for the guests to replenish after dancing the night away.
Jessica is currently in her masters for Differentiated Education at Concordia University and Derek just graduation from the program a few weeks ago. The couple recently purchased a house in Otsego, MN and plan to add a puppy and possibly baby in the next year!
We at Pine Peaks truly wish the best of luck and love to this fabulous couple and thank them for choosing Pine Peaks Retreat and Event Center to celebrate their wedding weekend. Like the tight shoes, realize that with time and just a few adjustments, life can be altered enough to be a perfect fit!
-Dave and Julie Peterson