While most of the time the bride does the majority of the wedding planning… I think sometimes we forget that the groom has his fair share of stress when putting together the actual proposal. Whether it’s keeping it a secret from all their friends and family, picking out the perfect ring that she’ll love forever, or devising an intricate plan to surprise her – the groom has this part of the process tough.

For Brett, it didn’t help that he was planning it all from New York, where him and Bonnie live. But last weekend, while Bonnie was in Chicago visiting her parents – Brett planned a night that would change their lives forever. Bonnie’s dad told her they were going to the Lincoln Park Zoo South Pond to check out her brother’s new art piece that was being showcased there. Little did Bonnie know that Brett would be waiting there with the ring.

Anyway, when Bonnie showed up with her parents and saw Brett, who was supposed to be on a plane from New York getting into Chicago later that night, waiting underneath the “Beehive” (a term Brett and I decided should be the name of the structure while we were waiting) – I heard her say something like “WHAT are you doing?!” Brett took her hands, walked her to the center of the boardwalk, told her how much he loved her, got down on one knee, and then all I heard after that was, “OF COURSE I’LL MARRY YOU!” And from there – it was all smiles, kisses, hugs, laughter, and lots and lots of love.

Brett and Bonnie – congratulations on your new engagement! I’m not going to lie – after the actual proposal moment had passed and I took the camera away from my eye for a second… I had to wipe away a teary eye. I am so happy I got to be there for this special moment in your lives and I’m even more ecstatic that I captured it with my camera 🙂