CHICAGO ENGAGEMENT : NELLCOTE + GOLD COAST ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS // concetta + steve

In between junior high science class, basketball games and school dances, Steve and Concetta became friends. At first it was a typical girl / boy junior high friendship, but as the years passed, their friendship deepened.

While Steve’s friends were determining who they would ask to their high school senior homecoming, Steve knew he would go with Concetta. After all, they were best friends, so there was no one else either would want to share the evening with. Dressed up in a suit and gorgeous gown, they realized they had fallen in love with each other in the way that friendships turn into beautiful romances. Slowly and unexpectedly.

They went to college (Steve packed his bags for Iowa, while Concetta stayed close to home at Dominican), graduated and remained close friends as their lives remained twisted in different directions. It was only a matter of time once they were back in the same state, that their relationship picked right back up from their high school romance.

Walking along Lake Michigan years later, with the twinkling of the Chicago skyline in the background, Steve dropped to his knee and asked Concetta to be his wife (and best friend) forever.

Steve and Concetta adore Chicago, so we started our photo shoot at Nellcote in the West Loop with some yummy cocktails and snacks.

The outdoor patio at Nellcote is so charming (especially when you have it to yourselves), and we had such a lovely fall day for our engagement photos.

I went to high school with Concetta and Steve, so it was such a fun afternoon to hang out with them and photograph their love.

Steve works in real estate, and he looked extra handsome (and powerful) in his suit.

Concetta and I used to be Nordstrom sales girls together, so I knew that I would love whatever Concetta picked out for her photos. She is such a fashionista (and insanely beautiful!)