Couple’s lakefront engagement session is filled with joy, laughter, and so much love (featuring their adorable puppy!).
Alex and Paul first met while working on a political campaign on the south side of Chicago in 2016. However, it wasn’t until 2018 at a friend’s “Wakanda” summer party where they really connected. After a bit of convincing on Paul’s end, Alex agreed to a single dinner date, to which Paul replied: “one date is all I’ll need.” And he was right – they’ve been together ever since!
The couple celebrated their engagement against the backdrop of south shore lakefront in Chicago, where Paul originally proposed to Alex. Captured by our very own coterie member, NishimotoPhoto, you can truly feel the love from these two!
Keep reading below for more on their love story and details on their beautiful lakefront engagement session.
- Couple: Alex Sims & Paul Jones II
- Occupations: Political Consultant (CEO) & Staff Civil Rights Attorney
Quick facts:
- Date of shoot: January 15, 2021
- Location of shoot: Chicago, South Shore Lakefront
- Wedding date: July 9, 2022
- Wedding location: Detroit, Michigan – Fisher Theatre
How they met…
Paul and Alex’s story began one night in March 2016 while working on Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s 2016 campaign. They were introduced through a mutual friend, Chris Percy, who also worked on the campaign, and a friendship blossomed between them.
When the campaign came to a close, they kept in contact sporadically over the next two years. Then, on June 24, 2018, they both happened to attend their friend Chris’s “Wakanda” summer party.
After catching eyes from across the room, they were drawn to each other and “struck up a conversation which ended up lasting the entire party!” When the night started winding down, Alex began gathering her things to leave when Paul asked if he could take her out to dinner. She hesitated at first. But Paul was very persistent. Eventually she agreed to a single date, to which he replied confidently: “one date is all I’ll need.”
Their first date…
In spite of her initial hesitation, Alex is so grateful she said yes to Paul’s date!
She recalls, “He took me to dinner at Momotaro…. [and] it remains one of our favorite restaurants!”
The date was filled with talking about their dreams, motivations, pivotal moments in their lives, and their passions for social justice and uplifting their community. By the time the check came, a second date was planned and the rest was history.
The proposal…
After two years of blissful dating, and one adorable puppy (who they named Baldwin, “aka the real king of the house”) later, they decided it was time to take their relationship to the next level.
So, on January 15, 2021, Paul surprised Alex with an intimate south shore lakefront proposal beneath the stars. Baldwin, of course, served as the official witness.
The engagement session…
As Alex puts it, their engagement session “was cold – but fun!” They worked with Ryan of NishimotoPhoto, who was recommended through a friend.
“It was our first time meeting Ryan,” she says. “We met him through our friend Sharone, who used Ryan in a surprise proposal. Ryan scoped out the spot before we arrived and found a boardwalk in the snow that he felt would be perfect. We [had] to trek through the snow to get there (in 4 in heels for me!) but it was definitely worth it. I really love these photo’s and they are just a few feet away from where our proposal took place.”
Their theme…
While they didn’t have a set theme, it was important for them to “take the photo’s at the same location of [their] engagement.”
Conveniently, the spot “is also just 5 blocks from [their] home.”
Favorite thing to do as a couple…
As a couple, they “love relaxing together in [their] home, playing with [their] puppy, and traveling.”
Wedding planning so far…
So far, wedding planning has been pretty fun for these two.
Alex admits, “It is a nice relief from our fulfilling but heavy/stressful jobs.”
What they’re looking forward to most on their wedding day…
They are most looking forward to “seeing [their] friends and family celebrate, the ceremony, and sharing [their] love for one another with others.”
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Vendors:
- Photographer: NishimotoPhoto
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