On the outside, Andreya and Angie’s engagement during their Couples Boudoir Session may have seemed like the ultimate surprise, but for Andreya it was months, if not years, in the making.
“I had taken her to design her engagement ring a few months ago because I wanted her to have a ring she truly loved,” said Andreya, explaining how her vision became a reality.
Once the ring was ready, she picked it up and planned a surprise date, a Couples Boudoir Session with us at Allebach Photography.
“She had no idea what we were doing or where we were going. When we pulled up to the studio she got super excited because she knew where we were and was thrilled to be doing a shoot. We had both done previous shoots with Mike and our other partners/families.”
She continued, “Mike, Erika and I had come up with a plan on how and when to propose during the shoot and agreed to do it at the end while Angie was bound to the cross,” says Andreya.
Because they are a part of the kink/BDSM community and enjoy impact play, Andreya ordered a custom paddle that said, “Marry Me.”
“I wanted the proposal to celebrate this part of our relationship and our sexuality,” she explained.
Andreya then began to paddle Angie while she was on the cross, faced away from her.
“She couldn’t see the paddle or me because she was facing away from me while Mike was clicking away on his camera. Mike then told me to get down on both knees to paddle her and had Angie turn around. I was on both knees holding the paddle and asked her to marry me.”
Andreya pulled out the ring. Angie, who was completely surprised, said yes, and Mike and Erika worked their magic, clicking away and capturing the entire experience.
Andreya and Angie – an unconventional love story
Andreya and Angie believe their engagement means so much more than most because it represents “the willingness to lose everything we had built in life because we believed so much in our love.”
“The relationship that Angie and I have is a huge ‘Fuck You’ to society and to the heteronormative, monogamous world in which we live. While we are unconventional, we’re the happiest, strongest we have ever been and I have no doubt that our marriage will continue to emulate this,” says Andreya.
The two met back in 2016, when Andreya was searching for an animal communicator that could help connect her with her deceased English bulldog, Bella. Both of them were in serious, heterosexual relationships at the time.
“We met at my home for the session and the minute she walked in the door I felt an intense energetic connection with her. I was married and had just had my first child at that time and Angie was in a long-term relationship so I took that energy and put it in a box and figured maybe we could be friends,” said Andreya, looking back.
A year later, Andreya contacted Angie again, this time to set up a session with her other dog who was struggling with medical issues, and that’s when their friendship really took off.
“Angie and her partner would come and do communication sessions at my home with my husband and two children and we all just clicked. One of the things I loved most about her was the way she interacted with my children and how wonderful she was with them.”
When COVID hit, the two families began to hang out as a COVID pod, and that’s when the romantic feelings really began. After confessing to each other their feelings for one another on a plane ride home from a sex therapy conference (Andreya is a certified sex therapist with a Ph.D. in clinical sexology and Angie is a sex and relationship coach), they decided to share this info with their respective partners.
“It was imperative to both of us that we not break any relationship contracts in our other relationships so we each went home and spoke to our significant others about how we felt. Our other partners celebrated with us and encouraged us to pursue a polyamorous relationship. All four of us communicated and consented to each and every part of this journey.”
This relationship went on for eight months, but in the end, neither Angie’s partner nor Andreya’s husband turned out to be ok with the arrangement and Andreya’s husband asked her for a divorce, while Angie’s partner ended their relationship.
“So in June of 2022 Angie and I moved in together along with my kids and have been navigating the insanity of divorce and rebuilding ourselves and our lives ever since. While this journey has been unbelievably painful and toxic due to the insanity of our ex-partners and the terrible things they have done and continue to do we just keep getting stronger.” I have had to grieve the loss of my family and begin to rebuild a chosen family,” says Andreya.
Seeing their photos and life post session
“I felt peace when I saw the images, which I’m sure is not what most people think of feeling when looking at boudoir photos. We both commented on how calm and natural this shoot felt compared to the past ones we had done,” said Andreya.
They weren’t focused on how “sexy” they looked; instead they focused on their true, authentic connection.
“The pictures exhibited that beautifully. We will always have the album and paddle and canvas that we ordered for our bedroom to remember this special day,” Andreya said.
“Going through the slide show at the end was really special because the pictures they took really captured who we are at our core. They captured our deep love and the playfulness and humor with which we choose to invest in no matter what is happening in our lives,” said Angie.
Andreya and Angie plan to get married next year after Andreya’s divorce is final. The date and time aren’t significant, all they know is that they want the people who love and support them to attend their small wedding outside on a farm, where they both feel most connected to each other and to the earth.
To schedule your own Couples Boudoir Session, call Allebach Photography at 610.539.6920 or visit http://allebachphotography.com/contact/ to schedule a free consultation.