ANNIVERSARY/COUPLES PHOTOGRAPHER: BRITTANY SCHNELL

This couple celebrates every wedding anniversary in a new state together. It’s the eighth anniversary, and they chose the Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. In the past they have visited (in order) North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Virginia, Wisconsin, Nevada and Maine. Some of their most anticipated stops in North Dakota include the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, World’s Largest Turtle on a Snowmobil, and the Enchanted Highway.

As a wedding and engagement photographer, I often teach couples how to pose together for photos- but Darbi & Shane needed no guidance- they have over a decade of experience taking pictures together.
Our photo location is the Painted Canyon Trail at the Painted Canyon Visitor Center just outside of Medora, North Dakota.

LOVE STORY

The couple “met in high school during Science Olympiad, which may just be the nerdiest extracurricular activity that exists. We are high school sweethearts, but didn't really spend much time together at high school. We didn't officially become a couple until March of Darbi's senior year, and even then, Shane was already enrolled in college courses through a special program. 

Shane reluctantly went to prom with Darbi, and that was basically their first real date. At prom, our mutual friend borrowed what she thought was her boyfriend's jacket. When she came back to the table, she set it down. Right on a candle. It ended up being Shane's jacket, and the flame burned a hole right through it. Oops. 

After he finished college three years early, Shane joined the Navy and moved to California, so we were in a long-distance relationship for two years while Darbi finished college. We wrote letters when we needed to and talked on the phone whenever we could. We also visited each other every time we had time off. On her last undergraduate Spring Break, Darbi went to visit Shane in Monterey for vacation, and we took a road trip north to the Redwood Forest. That is where Shane proposed, and we officially decided to spend the rest of our lives together. 

We got married in 2012 after a stressful year of long-distance wedding planning on top of student teaching. After our wedding, we moved to Georgia for four years, where we adopted our two gorgeous cats and traveled around the Southeast. When Shane's military contract was up, we finally made our way back home to Minnesota. We travel as much as we can, spend our days loving on our cats, and enjoy spending time with our family and friends.”

What is your favorite thing about each other?

Darbi: I love how Shane has conversations with me through our cats and melts when they do anything remotely cute.  I love Shane's smile because he shares it so rarely. I love how he is loyal, dependable, and less of a rule-follower than I am. I love how he boosts my confidence and supports me when I need it. I love how he will drop everything he is doing to take care of me or buy me a Diet Coke. He is the best gift-giver, he is as bad at surprises as I am, and he tolerates my sing-alongs in the car, despite never actually singing along with me. Most of all, he loves me, accepts me, and makes me feel like I can do anything (most of the time, even if I don't admit it).

Shane: I love Darbi's kindness and generosity toward others, while maintaining a fierceness and determination that drives her to be successful. She is quirky beyond belief, and probably part cat, but all things that make everyday with her a new experience. She is the ultimate rule follower and it's always fun to be with her when we are on the edge of rule breaking! Never more so when we travel and experience new things.

Has you heart melted yet? Aren’t these two the cutest.We took a few photos that they have taken every year. I can’t wait to see their photo album in 42 years!

Since I knew they were driving down the Enchanted Highway, I invited Shane and Darbi to Lemmon the following evening for photos with a sunflower field. It was nice to see them a second time on their trip. To Shane and Darbi, Thank you so much for trusting me with your special tradition. I wish you safe travels! (And call me when you come to South Dakota!)

A special thank you to all the local farmers who responded to my sunflower call! I’m so happy to be surrounded by such generous neighbors.