Phoenix Wedding Photographer | Jeanette LeBlanc

Dirtbags. It doesn’t sound like the name of a place where you’re likely to meet the love of your life, does it?  Yet sometimes unexpected things happen in unexpected places.

It was Andrew’s senior year of college.  After a few years of single fun and living abroad, he decided it was time for a serious girlfriend.  Still, when he headed out to the bar that night he wasn’t planning on finding his future wife.  He was going out for a drink, not planning a wedding.

But then he saw Andrea and somehow, in that first moment, he just knew.

With her long blonde hair and beautiful smile, she was undeniably gorgeous – but there was something more that really captured Andrew’s attention.  Despite her petite stature, she exuded an easy confidence that intimidated his friends.  Andrew was captivated.

Before meeting Andrew, Andrea had her eyes set on a semester of stress free single living.  After a busy term as president of her sorority, Andrea was ready to take it easy.  But sometimes fate steps in – in the form of a round of drinks and a gentlemanly kiss on the cheek in a bar with an unlikely name – and plans change.

When Andrew was ready to propose, he knew it had to be special.  He took Andrea for an early birthday treat – dinner at  The Royal Palms.  He left nothing to chance; even her outfit was taken care of.  Just after he popped the question, her two best friends (flown in from out-of-town and waiting in the wings) ran in with champagne.  Amazing enough, but Andrew didn’t stop there.  He followed the proposal with an engagement party for 30 of their closest friends and family, including Andrea’s sister Kate, who had traveled from St. Louis to Phoenix just to be a part of the night.  The evening was overwhelming, an emotional blur, a high of family and friendship and amazing, once in a lifetime love.

He loves her sarcasm and wit.  She loves his inherent goodness and knows that he makes her a better person.  Andrea says Andrew pushes her to pursue her dreams, supports her choices and is her biggest fan.  Andrew knows that Andrea’s patience and understanding have been the glue that has held their relationship together (and he’s quick to add that her sexy face and butt don’t hurt either).  As a couple they are the best bad dancers on the dance floor, and have built a partnership that continues to get stronger with time.

From Dirtbags to Soul Mates.  Works for me.

Andrew and Andrea – I am so glad you chose me to capture your love and to be present as you speak the vows that join your life together.  You are both beautiful people, inside and out, but it’s your infectious (and sometimes goofy) energy and love of life and of each other that make you shine.  I hope you enjoy the images we captured at your engagement photography session and  I cannot wait for your wedding day!

(Oh, I got a little carried away choosing images for this post, so I’m gonna have to do this in two parts!)

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Andrea and Andrew are wine connoisseurs, so we began their engagement photography session by heading to Bomberos. Bomberos is an awesome Phoenix wine bar (you have to try their bruschettas and paninis) with an fantastic outdoor patio.  Because it was early Sunday afternoon – right before close – we had the place to ourselves.

(Andrea is wearing the outfit she wore the night she got engaged – love it!  Such a fabulous, fashionable couple!  And the yellow heels?  I die!  If it were not considered poor form to steal clothing from your clients, I totally would have made off with the shoes!)

When the restaurant closed we headed downtown, in search of texture and color.  Nothing says love to me like urban decay!

Stay tuned later this week for even more images from this fabulous engagement photo session…next up – my favorite junkyard!