Maria & Tim | Chicago Botanic Garden | Chicago Engagement Session
Sunday, February 27th, 2011
On days like today all I want to do is cuddle up with a blanket, a warm mug of coffee and my laptop. And dream about sunshine. In that spirit, I thought I’d share one of my favorite sessions from this past autumn at Chicago Botanic Garden.
It was Match.com that brought Maria and Tim together, but it was their enjoyment of the same amusements, their respect and admiration for each other, and their ardor for life that made them fall in love. The two share a passion for cooking, dancing and travel- so much so that they decided to spend a romantic vacation together in Italy this past September. They explored the streets of Rome, sipped wine, looked in awe upon illustrious duomos and magnificent sculptures, savored authentic cuisine, shopped in Florence, sampled gelati, and soaked up the sweet melodies of Italian conversation that rolled off people’s tongues. While in Cinque Terre, they made it a point to stroll along the romantic Via dell’Amore. It was a trail that had been built in the 1920′s to connect the cliffside towns of Riomaggiore and Manarola, which eventually became known as a lover’s lane. Lined with impassioned graffiti and padlocks placed by lovers in a popular ritual, the Pathway of Love is rich with romantic tradition. And on that day, a new chapter in their own story began. There on the Via dell’Amore, on a little incline away from the passersby, Tim got down on one knee and asked Maria to spend the rest of her life with him.
And there on the edge of the deep blue Mediterranean Sea, Maria said yes to the man she loved.
It was a little over a year ago that I met Maria, and over coffee last month with our mutual friend Amanda, we marveled at the beauty that has transpired in her life. I remember the first time she spoke of Tim, her voice softened and her smile reached her eyes as she said she had found the man she had always dreamt of. I could not be happier for them!

The vibrant fall colors, the fresh blossoming flowers and the unique European feel of the lush gardens was the perfect place for Maria and Tim’s engagement session.

I just adore the rose gardens. They are so romantic. And apparently Maria and Tim thought so too…


Maria just takes my breath away in this photo.


There are so many diverse nooks and unique textures at Chicago Botanic Garden! This one section of the English walled garden actually felt so reminiscent of Italy, we had to linger here for quite awhile.


And autumn at Chicago Botanic Garden?! Breathtaking. I am so thrilled Maria and Tim chose to have their engagement session here during the most colorful season of the year.

The evening ended with warm, sultry, glowy light….mmmm, it gets me every time.

Maria and Tim, I so enjoyed our adventures at the Chicago Botanic Garden. I am so very thankful our paths crossed and to have you in my life!!








































































































































