KATIE ROBERTSON AND SOPHIE CHEW’S WEDDING IN BRITISH VOGUE. MAGE BY EMMA KENNY.

Who knows where Katie Robertson and Sophie Chew went on their honeymoon. The proposal came on a mini-break in Amsterdam, a city known for its indy spirit. The Amsterdam location was perfect for their “very non-traditional” selves, as was their COVID-delayed, alfresco July ceremony at Crumplebury in the picturesque Herefordshire, England countryside.

Crumpleberry’s restaurant is named Green Cow Kitchens — seriously that is the name. Reading all the details of Katie and Sophie’s exquisite wedding at British Vogue, my own mind took flight. The honeymoon vision came to me with total clarity. But what about the proposal itself?

What if both women were quite certain that they wanted to marry each other, but being trippy spirits, they decided to test the hypothesis, without admitting to each other what they were doing. “Katie is the creative mastermind behind most things we do,” says Sophie.

In my imagination, then, it was Katie, who decided they would go glamping in America. Pretend there was no COVID, only the normal impediments to a grand life adventure across the Atlantic, and the duo commissioned me to find them the perfect glamping spot.

Looking at their dreamy wedding pictures, I first envisioned the couple in a water taxi skimming New York Harbor to Governor’s Island.

In July 2018, AOC wrote Glamping Sweeps America, Embracing Gaia With Soothing Natural Refuge In Trumplandia. New Yorkers are increasingly desperate to get back in touch with nature, asserted The New York Times.

Three years later, living in our COVID-raging, climate-fires burning, hurricanes hitting New York daily life — many of us have increased reverence for Gaia-inspired connections. Beyond our migraines associated with the 2016 presidential election and America pulling out of the Paris Climate Treaty, we struggled to imagine daily life becoming much worse — until it did.

Considering glamping in New York in 2018, the Ralph Lauren-like decor of the Collective Governor’s Island getaway was irresistible. And the magic of the tents lit up at night was too seductive for words.

When I first saw Katie and Sophie’s wedding pictures, this was my vision for their fantasy glamping excursion. Then a voice spoke to me saying “Green Cow Kitchens.” It’s not very Manhattan. And while the Statute of Liberty is very near and dear to my heart, it may not resonate as deeply with Katie and Sophie.

Think Amsterdam, Anne. Where would these two blonde beauties go to cement their future, to test their spirit vibes for the long-run— if you will. Well, of course then, we’re going glamping in Sedona, Arizona.

Collective+Glamping+on+Governor's+Island.png

One assumes that glamping in Sedona would be an easy Google search. The biggest challenge would be finding glamping sites that are simple, sophisticated and authentic.

Four hours later reality felt like Alice in Wonderland falling down the rabbit hole or — better still — Dorothy being blown away to Oz. Good goddess!

Loving Sedona deeply, I looked and looked and looked for a spirit-rich, tented glamping place for our two lovebirds to fantasy-test their future before the proposal.

Google delivered countless Las Vegas-style glamping in the desert offerings, pink mini-bus included.

I met proposal planners with networks all over America. Guys looking to make a big impression love event-proposal planners who photograph the event itself. They even fly in actors from Las Vegas to create a celebratory crowd.

How awful! Who knew that today’s wedding proposals can be as complicated as the wedding itself. AOC’s Katie and Sophie have a trippy and spiritual glamping adventure was dissolving before my very eyes.

We weren’t headed to Oz at all. And why aren’t there flowers in these glamping photos? Who pays $300 a night for a tent with no flowers? For that matter, there’s no flowers in the $1000/night tent. Who goes on a romantic, spiritual marriage proposal adventure with no flowers? These people have no soul.

Ouch! What in the world! A force of some kind just banged my head. An energy vortex? What in the world is an energy vortex?

A vortex is believed to be a special spot on the earth where energy is either entering into the earth or projecting out of the earth’s plane. Vortexes (or vortices) are found at sacred sites throughout the world – the Great Pyramid in Egypt, Machu Picchu in Peru, Bali, Stonehenge, Uluru/Ayers Rock in Australia.

In America. the top energy vortex places are Sedona, Arizona; Asheville, North Carolina; and Mount Shasta, California.

Cathedral Rock, Sedona, Arizona. Image via Kaileen Fitzpatrick unsplash

No wonder I wanted Katie and Sophie to go to Sedona. Many vortexes are reported to bring feelings of peace, harmony, balance, and tranquility, while others are believed to promote personal reflection, deep insight, and a clear mind. Others still act as powerful centers of physical or emotional rejuvenation.

Cathedral Rock–the “womb with a view” is a well-known magnetic vortex, writes this Sedona red-rocks tour operator. Magnetic vortexes have a feminine or “yin” energy because the energy flow is very nurturing, soft and welcoming and can assist you in inward activities, such as contemplation, meditation and reflection.

Oh please. This is so Anne of Carversville.

An electrical vortex is a “yang” or masculine vortex. Electrical vortexes tend to be very energizing and are really great for getting the energy moving. Balanced vortexes are simply a mix of electrical and magnetic energy, both yin and yang.

Airport Mesa is one of the best known balanced Sedona spiritual vortexes. Go to Airport or any balanced vortex to see things from a larger perspective and to gain clarity and a higher vision for your life.

I see Katie and Sophie at Cathedral Rock. Of course they have a ying/yang thing going on, but I see them at Cathedral Rock. This is perfect.

If you are intending to marry someone, observing how both of you respond to each other in the midst of an energy vortex sounds like a great confirmation of your future relationship. If one of you is seeing prisms in the sky and the other suggests a martini, you might want to think deeply about your mutual connection.

We want two prisms. If you’re both thinking about martinis, well that’s good, too, but we don’t need to worry about glamping in an energy vortex. Rick’s Cafe Casablanca will do just fine.

The Perfect Wedding Proposal: A Great Glamping Tent in an Energy Vortex, a Private Dinner for Two, Organic Flowers for Certain, Maybe a Photographer

Simplify this post, Anne. No one wants to go to Casablanca today. We’ve got two lovely people Katie and Sophie. Check. They are quite enchanted with each other. Check. These two beauties have no interest in a wedding proposal planner, nor do they need to hire a crowd to witness any wedding proposal. Check.

These women are old school new age. They need a lovely glamping tent, organic flowers and — to be honest — maybe they do want a photographer taking intimate images like their real-deal wedding photographer Emma Kenny, who did a bang-up job.

So find a woman photographer who understands small but elegant and doesn’t think energy vortexes are for the birds. Check.

We need a photographer who travels the region and an organic florist who isn’t straight out of Las Vegas. Be sure the flowers are sustainable and the workers fairly paid. Certified fairly paid, Anne. And she ships anywhere in America. And get a florist who talks to people and doesn’t only rely on an online order form.

FOUND! Eureka. The Bouqs Co. is perfect. And the backstory behind the Bouqs centerpieces is uncompromised AOC. If we must arrange for the flowers, we will. We’re not sending these two marvelous women halfway around the world to an energy vortex glamping tent with no flowers, even if this proposal is pure fantasy. Did you read that these gorgeous blooms are grown with recycled water?

Who knows. We may be talking a future elopement and this is all a trial run for another couple’s perfect day. That photographer you found specializes in groups of 20 and I’ll bet she is on top of energy vortexes. Even WSJ Magazine wrote that elopement weddings are making a major comeback.

Just imagine that Arizona Muse flew in from her new regenerative agriculture farm in Ibiza. I’ll bet Arizona Muse knows all about energy vortexes and sustainable, farmers-friendly, certified flowers are the only option. Check. Check. Check.

Let’s get going now, Anne. People don’t have all day. There’s no guarantee that Sedona is our final stop, as nothing suits you. We may be off to the energy vortex at Mount Shasta in northern California.

Under Canvas Glacier at Glacier National Park in Montana

Dear AOC loves, truer words have never been spoken. I can tell you straight-away that Sedona is not our destination today. And I am totally bummed out because we’re not going to Under Canvas Glacier at Glacier National Park in Montana either. This glamping tent is swoonworthy for certain, but the energy vortex in Montana is reputed to be a fake.

The highs and lows of writing the perfect engagement proposal while glamping at an energy vortex are becoming daunting. I had already transported myself to Mount Shasta while you were reading, and rejoiced that we had struck gold at Out Livin’.

This was perfect — right in the midst of a major energy vortex, I found a fabulous glamping tent guaranteed to put Katie and Sophie in a place of saying “yes, yes, yes!”

Jason and Jessica Matthews have combined their passion for the outdoors and their love of camping to create a unique outdoors experience in the Shasta Trinity National Forest [STNF].

They are one of about 80 outfitters who have Special Use Permits to utilize local forests for a wide variety of recreational activities. Unfortunately, reality checks into the glamping site, not Sophie and Katie.

Not all the locals are happy with the temporary, short-term improvements Jason and Jessica make to a site. It’s probably the rug that got them in trouble. Here we are in the midst of a powerful energy vortex in California, with a lovely glamping tent fit for two London Brits with great style. And the locals are unhappy.

On top of that — sadly — ‘Out Livin’ will be closing for the season and intends to leave no trace. We will not be breaking open a bottle of champagne.

Charges of Elitism Around Sustainability Practices in Mount Shasta

Jason and Jessica aren’t products of San Francisco or some high falutin’ Napa Valley family. They are locals in the Mount Shasta area, with a reverence for nature. Their commitment to sustainability runs so deep that Jessica has a degree in conservation biology.

Reality is that many locals living near Mount Shasta don’t practice a sustainable approach in their enjoyment of the land, according to Jessica. ‘Out Livin’ seeks to create a blueprint for other local small businesses to follow, abiding by the ‘leave no trace’ model of land stewardship.

The couple performs any restorations needed to return the land their glamping tents reside on to its original state.

All we know is that Katie and Sophie can’t come here again — to this energy vortex spot near Mount Shasta. Out Livin’ intends to stay in the STNF. It sounds, though, that the way forward could be a bit precarious as the locals embrace camping, but perhaps not glamping.

Is there no place in America not the source of controversy today? We came so close but our glamping marital proposal fantasy is escaping our embrace.

AOC chooses to believe that the Mount Shasta energy vortex will side with conservation and sustainability, showing us the way to Jason and Jessica’s Out Livin’ in 2022.

For now, our little glamping expedition ends with Mount Shasta in the rear view mirror. Katie and Sophie are happily married in real life and we’re only fantasizing about the perfect place for their marriage proposal. They are soulmates for life, whatever happens with our little game.

Mount Shasta image by Ryan Hoffman on Unsplash.

Think of this idea, though. These two beauties will be celebrating their first anniversary, and AOC is seriously on the hunt for sustainable, style-worthy glamping sites. This fantasy will continue . . . farm-fresh flowers included. We may be in Ibiza and we may be in Cairo or Nairobi.

Wherever we go — for a perfect marriage proposal, a country wedding, or a civilized separation ‘uncoupling’ as Gwyneth Paltrow calls it — farm-fresh blooms will be on board.

I can’t live without them, having once owned a plant store called Metamorphosis. And today you'll find me deeply immersed in the study of biophilia. You could say flowers are my perfect jam. Just remember — the journey is the destination. See you on the road of life. ~ Anne