Steve + Tesh || The Surprise Proposal in Chicago, IL
Hi Everyone! This is Jon writing up a very special post for a very special couple.
the background: Steve is one of my closest and oldest friends. So when he called me a few weeks ago, I thought it was another random phone call to check up on me. Instead, he called to tell me he was planning on proposing to his girlfriend and I had to book a ticket to Chicago the next free weekend I had. Within a few days, Steve had purchased the ring and I had confirmed my ticket.
the cover: Just in case, we concocted a whole story as to why I was flying into Chicago. I was scheduled to meet clients there for an engagement session on Saturday, thus leaving the rest of my weekend free to hang out with Steve and his then-girlfriend Tesh.
the location: After much research, Steve decided he would propose to her at the Garfield Park Conservatory, right off of the Green Line. This conservatory exhibits an amazing array of plant life from all over the world– palm trees, ferns, cacti, banana trees, etc.. Steve had secretly scouted the conservatory the weekend before I arrived, all the while Tesh thought he was at a teaching workshop. He then chose the perfect location to propose (the ‘Fern Room’) and sent me the details via email.
the friday before: I arrived at O’Hare around 1pm on Friday and immediately headed to the conservatory. I scouted the place out and quickly found the spot Steve wanted me to stand. As you will see in the photos below, the magnificent view of the Fern Room hits you even before you step into the room itself. Then I met up with Steve and Tesh after they had gotten off work, and we all grabbed dinner at Joy Yee’s and spent the night hanging out.
looking sharp the morning of…
Steve seeing the Fern Room for the ‘first time’
“Wow, look at this! Wouldn’t this be a cool place to propose?”
Steve gets down on his knees and begins with another one of his many fake proposals:”Teshie, will you mar…athon train with me?”
For a split second, she turns away to laugh off another one of his corny jokes. He quickly pulls out the ring box and opens it up.
(sincere tone) He asks, “No seriously, will you marry me?“, completely catching Tesh off guard.
(and she says YES!)
Steve and Tesh escape to spend a few minutes alone, absorbing their first few moments as a newly-engaged couple.
left-Fern Room info board || right- View of the Fern Room from where I was standing
Steve excitedly calling his parents to tell them their son is now engaged.
Finally, here are a few of my favorite shots from Steve & Tesh’s impromptu engagement session…
(Finally by popular demand, an after-session photo || Steve and Tesh phoning away to share the good news)
comments from others:
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Jon, this is wonderful. I can see that you put a lot of effort into this, and I’m so thankful. You are quite the good man. Don’t forget to include in your post that you’re going to be my BEST MAN.
28 Jan ’10 at 11:04 am
AHHHH! Congrats Steve!!! I was trying to say this on facebook but I can’t even see you on it. But anyways =DDD I’m super happy for you! And Jon, these photos are fabulous! Def gonna ask you to do mine, even though you might have to wait a good couple years lol =P
31 Jan ’10 at 11:47 pm
Another good photo session
31 Jan ’10 at 11:57 pm
congrats steve!
love the pictures!
1 Feb ’10 at 1:09 pm
love the picss. haha congrats sag
1 Feb ’10 at 1:42 pm
Aw, yay!!! Congratulations, Steve and Tesh! (And Jon, nice pics – but where’s the ring?
)
1 Feb ’10 at 3:17 pm
oh my goodness, i just saw this. congrats steve! and the pictures look great!
2 Feb ’10 at 2:19 pm
Well done! These are beautiful photos and I welled up a bit reading the story and watching the series of photos where she realizes he’s proposing and then the hug!
7 Feb ’10 at 10:11 am
Oh my gosh, this is SO something Steve would do. “No seriously, will you marry me?”
AHHHHHHHHH!! How wonderful
8 Feb ’10 at 9:59 am
haha… i really like these. mad excited for these two… Jon tan… i will take pictures of your future engagement shots with my camera.
8 Feb ’10 at 7:33 pm
really happy for you guys! love the pics too =D
15 Feb ’10 at 11:11 am
We love you Tesh and we are so happy for you!
Love,
Aunt Susanna, Uncle Jesse and Annah
16 Feb ’10 at 7:55 am
SOOOO Happy for you tesh, these pictures are awsome!!
Love you,
Luli
16 Jun ’10 at 8:37 pm
This has got to be the cutest, sweetest thing I have ever seen!!!! Steve you are such a great guy………any mother would be proud to have you as a son-in-law. God bless you and Tesh!
5 Aug ’10 at 2:32 pm