Will Nuelle ‘15 and Isabella Norris Nuelle ‘16 sparked a romance in Latin’s hallways that blossomed into a lifelong commitment. Though both Latin Lifers, their romantic journey did not start until high school.

“I knew Will from years of being at Latin. He was this really tall, skinny kid and was so recognizable and such a character,” she said. “It was quite a crush my freshman year.”

Even though they didn’t share many classes, Will and Isabella spent a lot of time together during their high school years. After a school year of quick glances, shy smiles, and small talk, the underclassmen rendezvoused at Lollapalooza 2013. They spent the whole weekend attending concerts together and continued texting afterward.

Will said, “The official first date was at the Pancake House.”

Their differences complemented each other. While Isabella was an artist and volleyball player, Will was a rower and writer. However, the two would spend a lot of time in art classes, bonding through creative pursuits.

“I learned a lot from Isabella,” Will said. “I think we traded a lot of knowledge during that time and just grew together.”

Isabella and Will were both dedicated to their studies—sometimes a little too dedicated. Will recalled a moment when he was a junior and a returning justice in the Nazi Mind trial, and Isabella was a sophomore defense attorney. They had only been dating for a few months. “I had to disclose to [former history teacher Dave] Fript my conflict of interest. He said, ‘Don’t worry.’ I was being too prudish about it,” Will said.

Upper and Middle School Latin teacher and Upper School Languages Department Chair Elissabeth Legendre recalls Will’s studious nature. “He was good-natured and curious, prepared for class, and helpful to other students,” she said.

As the high school chapter of their relationship closed, Isabella and Will ventured off to colleges on opposite sides of the country. While Will studied architecture and mathematics at Stanford University, Isabella traveled East to Columbia University, majoring in architecture and studio art. Through many visits and summers together, Isabella and Will’s relationship survived the test of distance.

“We were both healthily independent and interested in pursuing what we were passionate about,” Isabella said. “I think that gave us the stability within a long-distance relationship that [was] important.”

After Will graduated from college, he moved to New York City to be with Isabella. Isabella and Will both got jobs in New York and supported each other as they embarked on their careers.

“I’m going to talk up Isabella a bit, but she got to work on a ton of really cool projects,” Will said. “She did the floor of the runway show for Bottega Veneta in 2023. The show space, the set, essentially the runway set design.”

Isabella worked for Italian architect and designer Gaetano Pesce. She traveled all over the world, from Aspen to Shanghai, China, working on exhibition spaces and design shows.

While Isabella made her mark in the fashion industry, Will pursued venture capital at the digital asset company Galaxy.

After settling into their new life in New York, the couple returned to Chicago on their 10-year anniversary, where Will got down on one knee.

“We did a nice walk on the lakefront for a while, and then I had my younger brother’s friend waiting with a bottle of champagne in a bucket of ice,” Will said. “I had him, when he saw us, run away, and then I proposed there.”

With familiar sights and special memories from when their love story began, Chicago proved to be the most meaningful place for the proposal.

After spending some time in New York, the couple returned to Chicago again for their wedding. They got married on September 7 last year at Fourth Presbyterian Church.

“I knew that Will was this amazing, special person the whole time,” Isabella said. “I always knew it was a very serious once-in-a-lifetime love from the very start. That I know for sure in my heart to be true.”