From Running Track to Walking Down the Aisle: Andre and Harleigh’s Sunlit Beach Engagement Session

For this couple’s beach engagement session (featured in issue 33!), the laid-back pair collaborated with coterie photographer Reje Rush of Nativ Lens to create a casual yet modern mood with Andre and Harleigh taking a romantic evening stroll through the beach town of St. Petersburg, Florida.

Andre and Harleigh were initially introduced through a friend. Soon the two found themselves on the same track team at Clempson with sparks starting to fly as they both decided to take a chance and go out on their first date. Andre recalled, “Harleigh remembers telling her mom that she would never find her husband at Clemson, and sure enough we found one another, and boy, are we glad we did.”

The soon-to-be bride and groom coordinated their engagement session looks with Harleigh looking so perfect for an evening out in her full-length draped halter neck dress with a high slit and Andre wearing a casual white shirt and khaki pants.

Take a look at all the cute pics from the couple’s beach engagement session below!

*This article has been lightly edited for clarity. Pre-order a copy of Issue 33 on our Muna Shop.

---

• Couple: Andre & Harleigh
• Occupations: Academic Support Counselor & Head Track and Field Coach | Registered Nurse
• Wedding date: June 28, 2025
• Wedding location: Orlando, FL
• Location of Engagement shoot: St. Petersburg Beach, FL

Tell us how you met and all about the proposal.

Andre: We met in the summer of 2021 in Clemson, SC at our friend’s graduation lunch, who happened to introduce us. When we met, we talked about how Harleigh decided to take her extra year of eligibility and start her master’s, and I decided to transfer to Clemson for my last season and start mine as well. Thank you God… and COVID for the extra year of eligibility! We both ran track at Clemson University and did the same exact event, Triple Jump.

We started to train together as the fall training season was approaching. Soon enough, we became inseparable. We spent a lot of time together with our teammates and finally, we went on our first date (kind of), with our friend. Truth is, Harleigh dragged her along because she claimed she wasn’t too sure about me yet. Safe to say, after that night, she knew she had to tell her mom about me. The sweet country boy. That is what I was, and what I still am today.

We remind each other often of how lucky we are to have each other.

From me writing notes to leave in Harleigh’s lunchbox when she worked nightshift as a Nurse in SC, to moving states and starting a new career to be with her is how much I love her. Harleigh remembers telling her mom that she would never find her husband at Clemson, and sure enough we found one another, and boy, are we glad we did.

The couple’s shoot was a modern ode to their love story.

Harleigh: Our proposal was a gorgeous night.

We got engaged on August 11, 2023. Andre found a hotel with an ambiance that was perfect for the occasion. He got our closest family and friends to fly down to Orlando for the proposal. It was about 30 people who came down, that’s how much our people love us.

I remember Andre telling me I didn’t have to rush to get ready (he has NEVER told me that before), so I was taking my sweet time while my poor family members were outside sweating to death!!

Fast forward, we arrive at the destination, Andre keeps telling me how much he loves me, we turn the corner and there’s a big tree with lights dangling, letters spelling “Marry Me” that were lit up, a candlelit walkway to the sign with rose petals delicately lining the path with our support system standing right by the beautiful setup.

I think everyone said “Surprise!” but I was so shocked I don’t even remember. I was so overjoyed!!! Andre knows how much my family and friends mean to me, and he made sure everyone was there. He got down on one knee, was shaking when he was holding my hand, and asked me to marry him! Easiest “yes” of my life. It was such a beautiful day and a memory we will cherish forever.

What did you do on your first date?

We did our homework together at the student-athlete building, then we went to the movies to see Candyman. This was our second date, but the first one alone. On the very first date, Andre took my friend Jessie and me to dinner in Greenville… I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go alone, haha.

The beach and ice cream, yes, please!

Describe your beach engagement session.

We knew we were going for earthy tones for our actual wedding, so we wanted to stick with that. We decided the beach would be a good idea since we are getting married in Florida. We weren’t sure at first, but our photographer gave us multiple reasons why the beach would work, and we definitely didn’t regret that decision. Shoutout to Nativ Lens, he is the real deal!

A quiet stroll through St. Petersburg.

What’s your favorite thing to do as a couple?

We LOVE trying new restaurants and going to the movies. In college, we went to the movies every Tuesday for $5 movie night and would get tacos at our favorite taco spot.

How has wedding planning been so far?

It’s going great! Time is flying by so we know our big day is going to be here before we know it. It’s fun figuring out different things that we want to be a part of our day together. Meeting some of our vendors has doubled as a date night for us, so it has been great to meet them while also enjoying our time together.

What are you looking forward to most on the wedding day?

Having our favorite people all under one roof to celebrate our love. We are so excited!!!

Still looking for romantic beach engagement session inspiration?

Click here!

Vendors

• Photographer: Nativ Lens
• Hair: Keypicasso