High school sweethearts, Ashley and Matt met many years ago in their school library. Matt, a year older than Ashley, thought Ashley was “really cute”. Their relationship began with a first date like many high school romances … watching a movie at the local movie theater.  Yet as the football games ended and the last song was played at the senior prom, most high school relationships faded. But not for Ashley and Matt. As the years went on …. through high school, college and entering the real world, these two stuck by each other’s side.

Matt is quiet … a bit shy, but very clearly a deep thinker. In my short time with him, he didn’t say much but when he does, it is clear that his conversation is well thought-out and is from the heart. Ashley is the outgoing one. She is super bubbly and it seems like she is always smiling. They are the sweetest people … and the cutest high school sweethearts I have met.

Oh … and they both love to read (real books … no Kindles here) … which only makes the story of how they met even cuter.

We started the session at Humboldt Park with Ashley and Matt’s dog, Marlowe. Ashley and Matt love to take Marlowe here to play toss and just walk around the park, so it seemed like the perfect spot to get some photos of their little family.

Marlowe was beyond excited to be at the park. This guy has TONS of energy!

Matt proposed to Ashley at the Lincoln Park Zoo in December. They were there checking out all the gorgeous holiday lights when he decided to sneak out of the zoo with Ashley to this exact spot overlooking the Chicago skyline. It may have been blocked off … but that didn’t stop Matt from making sure he proposed with this perfect view.

Hello …. how sexy/adorable are these two? I’m just saying this is exactly the moment I wanted to capture … and it took a lot of giggles before we managed to get this.

I could shoot at this location in Humboldt Park all day long. I mean how romantic is this?!

To see more photos from Ashley and Matt’s Lincoln Park Zoo engagement session, click the link above or watch the slideshow below.