When the pair moved in together last year, he bought her a wicker picnic basket as a housewarming gift, and they used it every chance they got!  So when it came time for him to pop the question, he knew it would be the best place in Chicago to propose— private, scenic and meaningful to them both!

How They Met:

The happy couple met back in 2007 as new members in a business organization at the University of Illinois.  Mickey was a sophomore, and Jackie was a freshman, and the instant she walked into the room, he was captivated.

They became friends and the next year, she sought out Mickey as an accounting tutor.  He says despite having to work with quite a few students, he would always tend to gravitate towards Jackie and she would often dismiss the other tutors in favor of him.  Their friendship continued to progress until Jackie’s senior year when she was taking a semester to travel abroad.  Although she didn’t know it at the time, Mickey was about to ask her out until he learned about the trip.

The pair fell out of touch for a few years before crossing paths.  This time, Mickey asked her out to dinner and the rest was history!

As they spent time together, it became apparent that even after being apart for several years, they still shared the same sense of humor!

“Not a day goes by without us breaking down into some type of laughing fit!” Mickey gushed.  “From terribly awkward reality television to silly impressions or inside jokes, we find the humor in everything possible!”

How They Knew:

For Mickey, the realization that he had found The One became apparent one night while they were at home watching a movie.  He thought about their future together, how compatible they were, and how he could see himself relaxing on the couch with Jackie one or fifty years from now.

For Jackie, it was when she introduced Mickey to her family and saw how well he fit in that she knew.  That day, she told her dad through a giggling smile that she had found The One!

The Proposal:

Mickey’s thoughtful proposal contained many elements that made it unique to the two of them— and Paparazzi Proposals was able to discreetly capture the whole proposal day with surprise engagement photography!

Mickey filled us in on the behind-the-scenes prep, involving their friends and family!

Mickey’s brother Richie picked out an incredible bottle of Dom Rose and arranged to have it engraved with a special message and the date of their engagement by their dear friend Mike, a glass-blowing teacher at New Trier.  He also picked up a bouquet of flowers from Flora, their favorite flower shop, and drove the two items to a restaurant where they met up with friends and family after their post-proposal portrait session.

When Mickey told Jackie’s sister Brittany that he was going to propose, she helped him with picking out the perfect ring, acting as a liaison between Mickey and Jackie to find out her preferred style while still keeping his proposal plans secret!

Mickey decided on this stunning design, a custom ring from Ethan Lord!

View more photos of their big day in their full proposal slideshow.

Ready to plan and capture your own incredible proposal? Paparazzi Proposals specializes in taking the stress out of your engagement!  Contact us today for a free consultation.  With hundreds of engagements planned and photographed nationwide each year, there’s no proposal idea we haven’t heard of!

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How They Met

Carole had recently moved to Chicago from New York City, and her longtime best friend and Chicago resident, Liz, had eagerly arranged a get together to introduce her to her group of friends.

Earlier in the week, Liz had created a group message intended to coordinate everyone’s schedules.  Liz’s friend Danny had seen an unfamiliar name, and instantly took to Facebook to see who the new girl was.  As soon as her page loaded, he was impressed by her beauty and charmed by how fun she seemed to be, even just online.

That night when he met her in person, he realized his initial impression was right.  He was entranced by how much personality beamed out of such a cute, petite person.  She was in turn drawn in by his smile and personality.

The connection was mutual as they struck up a great conversation, and at the end of the evening made plans to hang out again soon.

How They Knew

Sparks flew when the pair met up.  Everything seemed so easy, so natural, and they couldn’t wait to see each other again.  But they remained ‘just friends’ until they attended the summertime Chicago music festival Lollapalooza together, and everything changed.

“That was when the friendship began blossoming into something more,” Danny said.  They started officially dating shortly after.

Danny said he was never the type to commit to one girl, but he knew instantly that Carole was different.  His work at the time required him to travel frequently, which made dating challenging, but he said he made it clear that he wanted to be exclusive with her. Carole was an incredible woman, and he worried in the beginning stages of their relationship that she would meet someone else in the time that he was away.  But they had something truly special, and their relationship only grew stronger over time.

“Eventually, my schedule slowed down and we began hanging out with each other every night,” he said. “It was very clear that she was the one I wanted to be with for the rest of my life!”

The Proposal

Danny wanted Carole to be completely surprised when he popped the question.  So he chose the Chicago Riverwalk, where the pair loved to go on long walks together, because he knew she wouldn’t expect anything out of the ordinary.

And judging by her adorable reaction when he dropped to one knee, she was completely surprised!  But he had a few more surprises in store.  He had reached out to Paparazzi Proposals to capture her genuine reaction with discreet proposal photography.

And afterwards, the couple joined family and friends for an impromptu engagement shoot!  View their full proposal slideshow, here.

Interested in planning and capturing your own proposal?  We’ve got you covered.  Check out more of our Chicago proposal photography for inspiration! With countless proposals captured nationwide, there’s no idea we haven’t heard of or dream marriage proposal we haven’t photographed!  Reach out for a free consultation with one of our proposal planning experts.

The post Chicago Proposal Photography: Riverwalk Engagement appeared first on Paparazzi Proposals.

How They Met:

Ryan and Katherine first met at a University of Kentucky football tailgate on a warm September afternoon back in 2012.  Their mutual friend had invited each of them for a weekend away.  Katherine was in from Chicago, and Ryan from his small hometown Odessa, Texas.

As they watched the game, Ryan couldn’t take his eyes off of her.  He was mesmerized by her long, blonde, curly hair, and charmed by her warm personality.  The feeling was mutual.  Ryan says he believes that she was drawn in by the way he wore his cowboy hat and Wrangler jeans.  Conversation was easy at the game, and the pair hit it off over the course of the weekend.

When it was time for them to part ways, they had forged an unbreakable connection.  They started dating soon after.

How They Knew:

The couple fell deeper in love over the course of the next year as they dated long-distance. By the early spring of 2013, they both knew that they had something special. Ryan left his small town to move to the big city, heading up to Chicago to join Katherine and see what would unfold.

The Proposal:

Ryan wanted their proposal to commemorate their love story.  So, he chose the Cut, a bar and restaurant on the Chicago River, as the location for their engagement.  The restaurant had been the first place Katherine had shown him when he moved there and was a sentimental location for both of them.

He invited all of Katherine’s friends and family to wait nearby and join in after the big moment to celebrate, and pose for portrait shots.  He consulted Katherine’s best friend Laura for help planning Katherine’s dream engagement night.

And on a warm summer night, nearly three years after they first met, he dropped to one knee in front of the scenic La Salle Street Bridge, and presented her with a stunning ring from Rivard Jewelers.

She was completely surprised, and she could barely contain her joy as she said, “Yes!”

After the pair paused for some incredible portrait shots, she was surprised again when all of her friends and family joined to admire her ring, congratulate the couple, and join in some of the photos.  View their full photo slideshow, here.

Interested in planning and capturing your own dream proposal, in Chicago and beyond?  Contact us for a free consultation with one of our proposal experts!  We specialize in proposal planning and surprise engagement photography, helping you capture that once-in-a-lifetime moment for years to come.

The post Chicago Engagement Photography appeared first on Paparazzi Proposals.

As the nation’s leading proposal photography company, we know a thing or two about planning the picture-perfect Chicago marriage proposal!  We’ve helped countless couples plan and capture their engagement in the Windy City.

 

Fastforward to Your Proposal?

Call one of our proposal experts at (888) 287-5120 to begin planning your big, kneeling moment.

Submit your request.

And if you want to find out how to get a special discount off our proposal photography package, click here. 

Proposal With a View

One of the tallest structures in Chicago, the 1,729 foot Willis Tower (often referred to as the Sears Tower) offers incredible panoramic views of the Windy City.  Tell your special someone you want to take them to the observation deck to see your home city.  If you’re visiting from out of town, let them know that you want to capture a birds-eye view while you’re on vacation.  Once at the top, head to the observation deck to pop the question with amazing views.

Depending on your style and budget, you can make a reservation for two or reserve the entire Sears Tower Sky Deck restaurant.  There, you could have a meal for two either before or after your your partner says, “Yes!”

Ben opted for a Sears Tower engagement.  Little did Jess know, he had one of our photographers capture the whole thing! View Ben and Jess’ engagement, here.

Bridge Proposal

The Kinzie Street Bridge is one of the most romantic and symbolic Chicago proposal locations.  The former railroad bridge has long since been shut down, and now remains in its upright position.  Nearby is a pedestrian footbridge with wooden slates and quaint red railings.  It provides a rustic touch set against the city’s modern architecture. Its views of the canal, the bridge, and the city beyond make it the perfect place for surprise engagement photography.

Corey and Erin’s Kinzie Street Bridge Proposal

Lake Proposal

Lake Michigan is the perfect place to pop the question!  Take advantage of the gorgeous views by planning your marriage proposal on the waters of the Great Lake.  Shoreside strolls and sunset sails provide the perfect opportunity to pop the question in warmer months.  In the colder months, arrange for a fancy dinner at a nearby restaurant to take in the views in comfort and style.

Park Proposal

Choosing your neighborhood park is always a romantic option for your engagement.  Add a horse and carriage ride, or head to a local jazz bar after for an impromptu surprise engagement party with friends and family.

But if you’re more for big gestures, or if you’re visiting from out of town, Millenium Park might just be the place for you.  Home to “The Bean” statue, this picturesque park offers a panoramic reflective view in the statue’s reflective surface.  Not to mention the nearby pathways provide incredible views.  It’s a great spot to stop and smell the roses, and have your surprise engagement shoot!

Daniel’s Cloud Gate Millenium Park Proposal

Baseball Proposal

Whether its the place you two shared your first date, where you’re at every summer weekend, or somewhere your partner’s always dreamed of going, Wrigley Field is sure to impress.  Home to the Chicago Cubs, the field is the perfect spot to knock your proposal out of the park.  Class it up by renting a table with bites and your favorite beverage (hot dogs and a good cold beer, anyone?).  Have your proposal message flashed on the big screen, and capture it all with a discreet surprise engagement photographer.

Helicopter Proposal

Surprise your special someone with a helicopter ride high above the city!  If the two of you are the adventurous type, or if you just want to see Chi-town from a different angle, hop inside a helicopter.  Ask for your partners hand thousands of feet above the ground for a unique and memorable marriage proposal.

Abdul’s helicopter proposal

We have planned and captured amazing Chicago marriage proposals and are ready to help you plan yours!

If all this Chicago proposal inspiration has you thinking about popping the question, reach out to one of our proposal experts for a free consultation.  We are here to offer local knowledge, proposal planning and surprise engagement photography, so that your “Yes!” moment is beautifully captured for years to come.

The post Chicago Proposal Ideas appeared first on Paparazzi Proposals.