Photos: Decora Topp Photography
Featuring a trolley ride from the church to the reception—this classic wedding has it all.
Growing up in St. Paul, Megan Talbot (née Conley) dreamed, as many girls do, of falling in love with a prince—specifically, Prince Harry. “I had a calendar of him and wanted to marry him,” Megan says with a laugh.
And while the girl-meets-royalty moment never came to pass—she found her forever person in due time, as a junior at St. Thomas University. Megan first locked eyes with Stillwater native John Talbot in a management class in 2018, but it took a year before they shared their first conversation at Plums Neighborhood Bar & Grill near St. Thomas. “We’re like the exact same person,” Megan says. “Our sense of humor is our favorite part about each other.”
After a 15-month engagement, the pair tied the knot at an elegant ceremony at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Stillwater on July 20, 2024, followed by a reception at 7 Vines Vineyard and Winery in Dellwood. It was a day the couple remembers as classy, stress-free and, above all, fun.
Before the wedding, Megan embraced a mantra shared by a friend: The bride determines the vibe. She was determined to experience the day with joy and calm. “And I feel like it succeeded. It was just very fun and very relaxed,” she says.
The groom’s dinner took place at the Lowell Inn in Stillwater the evening prior to the wedding, and Megan spent the night in the hotel’s decadent penthouse with her mom, Sara Conley. Megan’s bridesmaids joined her at Lowell Inn the next morning, and it marked the first time she saw all the bridesmaids’ dresses together. Her bridesmaids picked out their dresses after selecting a shade of blue and referencing Megan’s Pinterest board. “You can see their personalities through the dresses they picked,” Megan says. “… It was a risk, but it turned out really well.”
John’s mid-blue suit was from Milbern Clothing Co. in St. Paul. The look was completed with a floral tie that complemented the bridesmaids’ dresses. Inspired by the sleek, modern cut of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex’s silk Givenchy wedding gown, Megan knew she wanted something classy and timeless for herself. She found her two-piece crepe dress at The White Room in Minneapolis and paired it with white heels, pearl jewelry and a cathedral-length veil with pearl details that wowed as she walked down the aisle at St. Michael’s. “I was so excited to walk down the aisle. Leading up to the wedding … that was the moment I was the most excited for,” Megan says.
The journey on the Stillwater Trolley from St. Michael’s to 7 Vines was a highlight for the newlyweds and their wedding party. “It ended up being both of our favorite parts of the day,” Megan says, adding that their wedding took place during Lumberjack Days in Stillwater. “… Everybody was waving and honking. It felt like we were in a parade.”
The couple’s 185 guests wandered the vineyard and enjoyed a social hour on the patio at 7 Vines. Despite it being mid-July, the weather was mild and sunny. As the sun went down, the Talbots enjoyed dessert—gelato and a personal Princess Torte from Wuollet Bakery—and shared a first dance. “We were on the dance floor with our guests the entire night,” Megan says.
Later, the couple and their friends settled in at White Bear Country Inn and enjoyed a nightcap at Rudy’s Redeye Grill’s rooftop patio. After a post-wedding pool party at John’s parents’ house, the pair departed for a mini-moon in Duluth—followed by a honeymoon in Greece in September.
Vendors
- Bridal Attire and Alterations: The White Room, thewhiteroommpls.com
- Catering and Dessert: Donatelli’s, donatellis.com; Wuollet Bakery, wuollet.com
- Florals: Bo Jons Flowers, bojonsflowers.com
- Groom’s Attire: Milbern Clothing Co., milbern.com
- Hair: Orly Tenenbaum, Meraki Hair Lounge, merakimpls.com; Bailey Strandberg, Sloane’s Beauty Bar & Medspa, sloanesbeautybar.com
- Jewelry: Patina, patinastores.com; Wedding Day Diamonds, weddingdaydiamonds.com
- Makeup: Hannah Hubbard, Beauty by Mae & Bleu, Instagram: @beautybymaeandbleu
- Photography: Decora Topp Photography, decoratopp.com
- Venues: Lowell Inn, lowellinn.com; St. Michael’s Catholic Church, stmichaelandstmarystillwater.org; 7 Vines Vineyard & Winery, 7vinesvineyard.com
