Shannon Roche and Colin Markison first met during their high school years at The Pennington School. “Pennington is a small school, so you get to know everyone really quickly,” says Shannon. “On one of the first few days of freshman year, I was walking up the stairs to class in Old Main, when apparently, I caught Colin’s attention. He said when he saw me, he turned to his friend and asked, ‘Who is that girl?’ and thought to himself that one day we would be together. Well, he wasn’t wrong!”
Halfway through high school, Colin left to play junior hockey in Omaha, Nebraska, but he and Shannon remained friends despite the distance. They also kept in touch during college, both being D1 athletes – Colin playing hockey at the University of Vermont, and Shannon playing soccer at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
“One night during freshman year of winter break, a few of us met at a friends’ to catch up,” Shannon recalls. “This was the first time I’d seen Colin in months, and I couldn’t help but think, ‘WOW – Colin Markison is so attractive, and I really love talking to him.’”
A STYLISH SUMMER WEDDING AT CASTLE HILL INN IN NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND
It wasn’t until their junior year that the two friends were presented with the perfect opportunity for a first date. Colin asked if Shannon would accompany him to his sister’s engagement party, and she agreed. “When Colin was walking up my parents’ driveway to the front door, I couldn’t help but smile, and a sense of warmth came over me,” she shares. “It’s a feeling I never can explain, but I still have to this day every time I look at him.”
The proposal took place in New York City, where Colin planned a beautiful weekend with a special surprise. Staying at the Lotte Palace Hotel, he and Shannon went to one of their favorite restaurants before seeing The Book of Mormon on Broadway. The next morning, room service was delivered with a breakfast display that included a flower arrangement and card. After Colin handed Shannon the card, he said, “I just have one more question…” before getting down on one knee.
“This intimate moment was one for the books that will forever be one of the best days of my life,” Shannon describes. “But the surprises were not over. Colin arranged a limousine to take us ‘home,’ but instead we were dropped off at the Hopewell Valley Vineyards, where we were met by our families waiting for us to celebrate!”
Plans were soon in the works for a summer wedding at Castle Hill, where the couple felt like they were vacationing in Europe with unbeatable views and delicious food. Detailing her wedding planning experience, Shannon says, “I knew I wanted to stick with more neutral colors with my flowers and for the bridal party.
My dress was the second dress I tried on during the entire gown shopping process. I fell in love with the Alon Livne dress for so many reasons. The detail on it is out of this world and it was actually the inspiration for our wedding cake.”
When the big day arrived, the bride was gifted with a David Yurman bracelet from her husband-to-be with a large pearl. “Pearls are lucky,” Colin wrote in one of the five letters he gave her, leading up to her walk down the aisle.
