When Ryan initially reached out to me in early November with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend Maggie I was immediately over the moon with excitement! He and I worked through the planning process together, and eventually landed on a Sunday post-brunch surprise proposal at the gorgeous Lincoln Park Conservatory in Chicago. There’s nothing like a stroll through the warm oasis of the conservatory during a frigid Chicago winter, and a proposal just makes it that much more special!

Ryan’s Surprise Proposal at the Lincoln Park Conservatory in Chicago

When the day finally arrived for Ryan’s proposal to Maggie I was giddy! As the time drew closer, and they wrapped up their brunch date, we all made our way to the conservatory for the big moment. They wandered through the beautiful greenhouse, and we eventually ended up in the same room, at the same time, ’cause I’m a mastermind (sorry not sorry for the T Swift reference!) Part of what makes the Lincoln Park Conservatory such a wonderful location in Chicago for a proposal is how easy it is to blend in as a photographer. There’s so much to see, so many plants to hide behind, and even if you are seen it’s completely believable that someone would be here to take photos of the breathtaking greenhouse.

Thanks to this, Maggie was completely unaware as Ryan made his move. He set up his phone to “take a quick selfie” and as they turned towards one another he dropped down to one knee to pop the question! The joy on Maggie’s face was so pure and immediate, and only continued to grow as Ryan slid the sparkling pave band with its pear-shaped diamond onto her finger. The two could NOT stop smiling and hugging one another, and we had the best time wandering the conservatory together documenting this incredible point of their beautiful relationship!

Proposal Photos at the Lincoln Park Boardwalk

Following our time inside of the Lincoln Park Conservatory, we decided to brave the cold of the Chicago winter for the remainder of their proposal photos. Just a short walk south of the conservatory is the Lincoln park Nature Boardwalk, which has some of my favorite views of the city’s skyline in all of Chicago. Atop the south pond bridge we took our final portraits of the day, and both Maggie and Ryan were just beaming with happiness! Even in the cold winter air these two were smiling non stop, and I’m just SO glad that I got to be a part of this incredible moment between them!

Ryan’s proposal to Maggie inside the Lincoln Park Conservatory of Chicago is an experience I’ll never forget. These two have such a sweet, pure, and joyous love, and documenting it in a moment as special as this is one of the many reasons why I adore what I do SO much! For more proposal inspiration check out this blog, and if you’d like some assistance with planning your own proposal in Chicago be sure to give this guide a read. Finally, if you’d like me to document your proposal, engagement, wedding, or all three, head to my contact page to send me an inquiry!