Back in October 2020, Andie and Joe were both hired on a project for Kennesaw State University. An important detail to note here is that Andie had just broken up with someone two weeks prior to this project - she had declared she would go one full year without a man!

On Friday, October 16th, two fully capable adults, Andie Leeds and Joe Laponis were both lost. Unable to find the rest of the crew, Andie pulled up next to a truck that had a camera on it... "Atlanta Grip Truck." Little to Andie's surprise, the most handsome man in the world popped out of that truck!

Joseph approached Andie and they quickly learned that neither of them knew where to report. They both laughed at themselves and got back in their respective vehicles to figure it out.

It was at that moment that Andie messaged her mom and her sister saying, "I just met my future husband!" Andie's mom and sister begged her to calm down. They said, "you will scare that poor, poor man!"

Eventually the two idiots realized that the rest of the crew was on the opposite side of the building that they were parked in front of. So, they reported for work (still early, might I add)!

It wasn't long into the day that Director Dale Goldberg asked Art Department Andie to move a cement trash can. Andie, being a strong independent woman, gave that trash monster a big hug and slowly started to twist it out of frame. Before she knew it, her knight in shinning grip-truck sweatshirt, came to her aid. The only crew member to come help her was the hot Gaffer Joe Laponis!

Over a two day shoot, Andie and Joe developed a (very professional) crush on each other... Andie was ready to say the "L" word already, but Joe was easing himself in!

Towards the end of day one - Joe snapped the photo above on top of a parking garage! (Our first photo together 🥰)

By day two, the pair was eager to see each other again. Andie arrived on set but her gaffer-lover was nowhere to be seen. Turns out, the universe was trying to keep them apart. Joe's tire had exploded on the side of the road!

Eventually, Joe made it to set! After almost losing him, Andie knew she had to be more aggressive this time around. Joe told a group of people how much he loved hiking and film photography... (Andie loved hiking too... and her dad just gave her a film camera... how convenient!)

Eventually Joe and Andie started talking about going on a hike together and Andie knew what she had to do...

"Okay but if we go on a hike... it's a date!"

And oh a date it was... it would end up being the last first date either of them would ever go on. ❤️

The following entry was written by Andie the night of her first date with Joe...

10.25.2020

Okay, honestly, I was pretty nervous before our first date. I pulled up to his house in Decatur and he came outside, he looks so good in his hiking flannel! So cute and happy to see me! I love this man's smile so much!

I gave him sort of an awkward hug and reached over to gift him the Hawaiian shirt that was in my car. (When we worked together, some of the crew declared a "Hawaiian shirt day" but poor Joe didn't have a Hawaiian shirt! So I brought him one ☺️) Joe was so nice and excited about it!

We walked over to his two-door Honda Civic and he got my car door for me!! (Yes, I'll marry you already, Jesus!) We then headed to Arabia Mountain.

I was very nervous in the car, I think he was too. We had some small talk and a few cute, awkward conversations about how excited we both were. Both of us just kept blushing and giggling which was adorable and a little corny.

When we parked at the mountain, we fiddled around with my ancient film camera for a little bit. Trying to figure out how to even put batteries in it! We eventually decided to start on our hike and use the two cameras that Joe brought, "we’ll figure out your camera on our next date", Joe said. (OMG!!!)

As a gift, Joe got me my own rolls of film to use on our little adventure ☺️. He's so thoughtful!

So, we started on the hike - it had just rained the day before, this ended up being really convenient immediately! Joe has long legs, so he cleared the first large puddle easily! He then turned around and reached his hand out to help me over. After the very first time he did that, neither of us let go of each other's hand.

We walked around the lake first and talked about what we like to do for fun. He loves to hike and see new things, he loves photography and I think that’s beautiful. I told him I like video games and he was so excited, it was adorable and made me really excited to introduce him to my sister and my friends - they’re going to love him, honestly, I don’t know who wouldn’t love him. He’s incredible.

I told him about how I liked video games and I wish I could’ve taken a picture of his face, he was SO cute and excited! I hope he stays excited when he finds out I’m only good at Mario Kart...

We started up the rocky part of the mountain, this part was amazing! We stopped about halfway up at a little landing, added a rock to a little Jenga tower and grabbed some water. This is where we stayed for a little bit. I learned about his brothers, he has one older brother and two younger ones. I think I’m really gonna like them, I mean how could I not, if they’re anything like him I’m sure they’re amazing!

He told me about how he’s had two heat strokes in his life - it was weird that we had that common! haha

In an ironic way, we both laughed and shared our heatstroke stories. His was A LOT worse than mine, I wanted to grab him and protect him when he was telling it. I think he’s so cute and I don’t want anything bad to ever happen to him.

We sat down and he taught me how to use the camera, taught me things that I’ve always wanted to learn about photography and videography. He’s so smart and patient, a really great teacher. He never made me feel dumb or bad for asking.

I made sure to get really close to him, he smelled so good and I couldn’t get enough of his touch. It’s a new feeling, real safety and security around this guy. I have no doubt in my mind that I can completely trust him even though we just met.

Anyways, we both set up our cameras and sat there taking pictures for a little while. It was so beautiful and I kept hoping maybe our first kiss would be there. But after not too long we decided to keep walking up the giant rock. We talked about music and our interests. He’s so easy to talk to and I love everything that he says. I can’t get enough of him!

We held hands a lot and climbed up and down the rocks. We both kept genuinely laughing! Throughout the whole date!!! Like we were friends already!!!

And then, like a timer went off, I couldn’t take it anymore... I jumped up on my toes, grabbed the back of his neck and planted one on him! 🤗

His lips were so soft! I could tell I took him by surprise but after about one second he held me and leaned into it. It was amazing... a feeling I truly can’t describe. We pulled away and he said “oh wow...”. He took the words right out of my mouth. We leaned in and kissed again, as though we both didn’t believe that it actually happened. We both sort of awkwardly laughed after that, it was adorable and I hope I never stop kissing him.

We got to the top of the mountain and posted up on a rock. This is where things took a funny turn! We were entertained by a very basic photo shoot on one side, and what we called “live porn” on the other.

It was a curvy Asian woman in a black thong and a black strapless bra - reminder, this was November! - with a man that looked exactly like Taboo from the “Don’t Phunk with my Heart” music video!! They took out this red light saber and Taboo started stabbing the half-naked woman with it! The camera guy was running around charging them and Joe and I were cracking up! Later, it appeared that the naked woman came back to life and stabbed Taboo back! (A win for women, everywhere!)

ANYWAY! After a lot more laughing and kissing, it got dark and we decided to walk back down the mountain and go get some dinner. (But not before we took our first date photo... the worlds worst photo of me!)

The puddles were harder to get across this time but we worked together and figured it out, he always thought of me and tried to help me maneuver the safest way possible ☺️

We drove back towards Decatur and stopped at this Pho restaurant that Joe suggested, he had never been and thought we could try it together. It was very cute! The place was almost empty so we had it to ourselves! We sat on the same side of the table and both ordered giant bowls of Ramen. It was so hard to look sexy eating these giant noodles but I never once felt scared or embarrassed. We both just kept laughing. I've never felt like this before, like for once in my life, I know I'm in EXACTLY the right place.

This time feels different. I’m scared to say this but I think this might be the guy. It almost feels like love at first sight, but I’ve never believed in that before. When I say it feels magical, I don’t mean to sound corny, I mean it literally feels like it’s inhuman! There is something about this man... the sound of his voice, the words that he speaks, his background, his present, his touch, his kisses... everything... it’s all just so incredible and I can’t believe I get to talk to this guy. 🥰