I arrived at Cantigny Park in Wheaton, and was beyond excited. A couple from New York that was in town visiting family was about to get engaged underneath a gazebo in a beautiful park. As a Chicago proposal photographer, I loved capturing this moment for Brant and Kristen.

As I walked around Cantigny, I had trouble at first finding the gazebo where Brant planned to propose. Over the past 8 years, I visited Cantigny countless times for photo sessions. I knew that it wasn’t the gazebo toward the front of the park, but it was somewhere in the back. Brant wanted to make sure that he proposed in a more secluded area of the park, so that the moment would be extra special for Kristen and it wouldn’t be interrupted by park goers passing by.

I kept walking back and forth around Cantigny, and still wasn’t able to find the gazebo. I asked an adorable elderly couple that was walking by. “I’ve been coming here for over 40 years, and I only know of one gazebo in this park,” she said. “It’s towards the front by the entrance.”

I quickly explained to her that there was another gazebo by a small pond near the back of the park by a greenhouse. She had no idea where the gazebo was, but pointed me in the direction of the greenhouse.

As I walked by the greenhouse, I saw the gazebo in the distance. I still had plenty of time before Brant was arriving with Kristen, so I got myself all set up and ready to go before their arrival.

After six stops on their scavenger hunt to represent each year they have been dating, Brant took Kristen to the gazebo at Cantigny Park. He read from a letter connecting each of the scavenger hunt stops to their 6 years together. He then got down on one knee, and asked Kristen to marry him.

Also there to witness the special moment was Kristen’s cousin, Katie. She helped Brant coordinate some of the details for the proposal – including finding me to photograph it 😉 I know that both Brant and Kristen were so glad she was there to share the special moment with them.

Taking photos of Brant and Kristen together was so much fun. As a Chicago proposal photographer, I love capturing images immediately following a proposal, because you are so excited and in the moment, which definitely shows through in the photos .

Brant and Kristen, thanks for having me capture this special moment in your lives. Congratulations on your engagement!

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