For Northern Ireland natives Mark and LeeAnn, it was love at first DM. Though they lived only 10 minutes from each other their whole lives, they’d never crossed paths until 3 years ago, when Mark started following LeeAnn on Instagram. He eventually mustered up the courage to message her and ask her out on a date, and they’ve been together ever since!

They’d been dating for 3 years before Mark decided it was time to make it official. According to him, he always knew he was going to propose in Chicago, a city that means so much to LeeAnn. He chose the pier at North Avenue, her favorite area, as the place to pop the question. When they booked their trip from Ireland to Chicago last July, Mark put the wheels in motion. It had always been a dream to capture their important moment on camera, so he combed Instagram to find the perfect person to help him realize that dream.

On the day of the proposal, he arranged for LeeAnn to take him to the pier, where I was there waiting to capture everything! Mark says that the moment that will live forever in his memory is being on one knee, ring in hand, looking up and seeing the joy, surprise, and tears on LeeAnn’s face. “An amazing moment and feeling,” he says, “that I will treasure forever.”

Their connection was instant. They both knew after their first couple of dates that what they shared was something special. From their first date, Mark says, nothing else compared to what they had together, and it was as though they’d known each other all their lives.

What makes their relationship so special is that they’re best friends and each other’s favorite person to be around. They support each other through everything, bringing each other joy, laughter, and happiness every day. 

It was so beautiful to be able to capture Mark and LeeAnn’s special moment. Mark says, “The moment goes by in the blink of an eye so it’s amazing to look back at the fantastic pictures we have and relive it all over again!”