To say I was excited (and nervous) to meet with Monika and Andrew about the possibility of photographing their US Naval Academy wedding is a colossal understatement! Naturally, I was over the moon when they asked me to be their photographer, and even more ecstatic when we discussed doing a week before shoot of just the two of them...OH, the possibilities!  I had never set foot on "The Yard" until we met for our first meeting, and let me tell you it is a gorgeous setting for some photographs.  Just check out this first one...

(Seriously...this picture is my all time favorite.)

Monika loves architecture.

Andrew loves sailing.

So, incorporating all of that in their pre-wedding shoot was a MUST!

Their wedding had it all...tears, laughter, tradition, but mostly love.  The love that I witnessed with family and friends was inspiring and beautiful.

Separated by deployment for longer than 6 months, Monika dove into planning a wonderful wedding down to the very last detail.  To show their Maryland pride and a love of Maryland crabs, the favors were tins of Old Bay.  A treat for all of the guests was a cup of Annapolis Ice Cream, Monika and Andrew's favorite ice cream shop, after the ceremony.  (Try the mint Oreo next time you go...it's delicious!) A demonstration of the city where they met, the invitations showcased all that is Annapolis.  During the reception guests could pick up a quick game of croquet or cornhole.  And no Naval wedding is complete without a sword arch!

Oh and one more thing, have you ever cut a cake with a sword?  I know, I know, a lot of service members can say yes to that, but I know I didn't get to at my wedding...and it looked like a fun way to serve some cake!

All in all, it was a beautiful day full of love and happiness spent with family and friends, capped off with 3 foot long sparklers to send off the wonderful couple.  I can't thank them enough!  I'm looking forward to another Annapolis shoot with them, maybe two, if the stork delivers before we move!