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It seems that Cupid was one of the angels hovering near Main Street Promenade’s holiday tree just before Christmas.

Warmed by the glow of the festive lights and charmed by the garlands draped in the archway, Angelo Bartocci chose this as the beautiful setting for a marriage proposal to his college sweetheart, Lora Van Arsdell.

Wanting to surprise Lora, Angelo began his elaborate planning several weeks ago when he asked her parents for their blessing. Angelo then worked with Lora’s sister to determine the details of the event. “We thought, okay, what is the most beautiful place in downtown Naperville? As soon as we walked into this archway with the lighting, the garlands, the holiday tree, I knew immediately this was the place where it was going to happen. It was beautiful. It was perfect. I knew Lora would love it.”


Photo Caption: Cupid was working his magic on December 20th as Angelo Bartocci proposed to Lora Van Arsdell near the Main Street Promenade’s holiday tree. He spent weeks planning the special surprise. Lora said, “Yes,” and the couple is now planning their wedding.



Angelo learned that, since childhood, Lora had dreamed of having “Unchained Melody” as her wedding song. He got a CD with the song, borrowed a boom box from a friend, arranged a secret dinner at Hugo’s Restaurant and Frog Bar, and coordinated the placement of the boom box and a special gift box under the festive tree with Main Street Promenade staff and Lora’s sister.

Then, on December 20th, the young couple just “happened” to select Hugo’s as a place for a drink before dinner and then decided to take a look at the lovely holiday tree in the archway outside.As they walked beside the tree, Angelo looked down at the boom box and asked, “What do you think this is?”

Lora answered, “Oh, they probably play Christmas music from it. It’s just not on right now.” Then Angelo hit play, and “Unchained Melody” began.

“I started laughing!” Lora recalls. “I told Angelo, ‘You don’t even understand. I wanted this song to be my wedding song since second grade’ – thinking this was just a coincidence.”

At this point, Angelo reached behind the boom box and pulled out the small gift. Then he turned and dropped to one knee. Lora responded, “That’s not funny!” and started to walk away, thinking the fun-loving young man was tricking her.

Angelo then untied the bow, opened the gift box, and asked her to be his wife. When Lora saw the ring, she realized that it was not a joke. “I said yes! But I started crying before I said anything,” she admitted. Lora’s sister and a friend came out of hiding and began taking photographs of the happy occasion.

Angelo then announced that they had a table waiting for them inside Hugo’s. “This is when Lora realized that this had all been planned,” he said. “I had gotten some flowers, and they had champagne waiting for us. So we went to the special secluded booth inside and enjoyed dinner as we celebrated our engagement.”

Lora and Angelo are both in the PsyD program at Midwestern University in Downers Grove. They met onstage during a Midwestern University Improv Night performance for charity. After meeting for this interview, they left Main Street Promenade hand-in-hand to look at Sts. Peter and Paul Church where they hope to be married. Lora’s parents were married there. She was Baptized there, and her grandparents renewed their vows there. “It’s a special church for my family,” she explains.

As the year comes to an end and the Promenade’s holiday tree is put away, the faith, hope, and love of this holiday season have been etched permanently in the memories of this young couple. May they have a happy new year and life together.

Contact: Dwight Yackley, BBM Incorporated 630-544-3404

Teresa Jonasson, BBM Incorporated 630-544-3402

Jini Clare, Clare Communications 630-983-9964