“I’ll always do the work.”

There wasn’t a dry eye left in the entire room, including my own. Sophia and Brandon are two musical souls who are the definition of “made for each other.” It took Sophia a little while to realize that Brandon was more than just her best “music friend”; they would talk for hours after their shifts were over at the downtown Annapolis tavern where they met. Talk about music, and life, and everything, and nothing. But Brandon knew—pretty much from the get-go—that Sophia was meant to be more than just a friend to him, and so he never stopped patiently pursuing her as she also came around to realize the inevitable. He never stopped doing the work.

And so, just after this musical pair’s very first public duet singing Bob Dylan’s Girl from the North Country at their Maritime Museum reception, Brandon surprised his bride by serenading her with his own song that he’d written just for this moment, and it was absolutely the proverbial cherry on top of such a deliciously wonderful and meaning-filled wedding.

Everything about Sophia and Brandon’s day pointed back to who they are and what they value in their life and relationship. They chose to honor Sophia’s Greek heritage by being married in at the Greek orthodox church in Baltimore, celebrated their shared love for all things Annapolis by holding their reception at the Maritime Museum, and incorporated their love for music in every way possible by having a full choir sing at the ceremony and close friends perform at their reception, decorated the tables with flowers cut from Sophia’s mother’s garden, and paid homage to their love for the water, Maine, Maryland, and their dog Stanley in dozens of different details throughout their reception. As a photographer with a soft spot for couples who weave extra meaning into their day wherever possible, Sophia and Brandon’s day got me right in the heart and I am SO excited to share their love with you.

Introducing: Mr. and Mrs. Hardesty