Hamilton Photography USNA Wedding Photographer | Annapolis, MD | Veronica & Ryan - Hamilton Photography| Weddings, events & portrait photographer serving Annapolis, Baltimore, and Washington D.C.

Finally we are back at the US Naval Academy after a 14 month pandemic-hiatus! And what a wedding to welcome guests back to the USNA! Veronica and Ryan had a colossal wedding celebration. The day started off at Veronica’s parents home, where the girls got dressed and perfected. These ladies were the epitome of beauty, with their shades of blue dresses and bold colored bouquets. When it was time to head to the US Naval Academy Chapel, a Rolls Royce arrived, to ferry mom and Veronica to the chapel.

It was an unusually chilly day for late May and the rain was coming down hard. Mom and dad helped their gorgeous daughter out of the Rolls Royce and walked arm-in-arm into the chapel. Dad looked over at his little girl with love and pride, took her hand and proceeded down the blue-carpeted aisle. The tall stained glass window at the alter and windowed-dome lit the chapel with magic light. Veronica’s dad gave her a great big hug and then handed her over to her husband-to-be, Ryan.

The ceremony was all love and smiles. Rings were exchanged and a kiss sealed the marriage. Ryan and Veronica were husband and wife! Down the aisle they walked to the cheers of their guests, outside to the front of the chapel and through the Naval Sword Arch. The guests waited outside in the rain, like paparazzi, to cheer once more for this newlywed couple.

Veronica and Ryan loaded into the Rolls Royce to head over to the reception location, the William Paca House and Gardens. The decor was colorful and lively with a Mexican flair. Then suddenly, the sounds of a Mariachi Band was heard coming towards us! Amazing! What a delight to have a live band walking through the reception area. Many guests and our wedding party couldn’t resist the urge to get up and dance.

What a party! Toasts in honor of Veronica and Ryan, couples dancing, wild dancing and a cake cutting with a sword… then… then… a New Orleans style parade, yes a parade! It may have been cold and raining, but that didn’t stop this wedding day fun.

Veronica and Ryan grabbed their umbrellas and marched out into the streets of downtown Annapolis with The Naptown Brass Band in tow. Through the streets they went, all the way to the Fleet club on Ego Alley. This was a Second Line Parade, which has a deep, rich history in New Orleans. When it’s performed during weddings it celebrates a new life for the couple. This wedding sure did celebrate new life; new life for weddings, new life for Annapolis and a new life going forward in 2021.

A little background info from our couple:

The Bride is a Navy Lieutenant Commander, groom is a civilian; they met at grad school in Monterey, California. Father of the bride graduated from USNA in ’79, and her family are local Annapolitans! Groom’s family is from Sacramento, California, so we incorporated poppies and touches of California throughout the wedding (look at those wine cork name cards!). Mexican talavera pottery was the basis for the decor and made up many of our centerpieces.

Bride’s mom is originally from Mexico. Bride was born in New Orleans, and her father grew up there. Both of these aspects are important to the bride, so we decided to combine them into the ultimate party! An amazing Mariachi band crashed the reception and helped us get the dancing started early, and the locally famous Naptown Brass Band kept the party going by leading all the wedding guests through the streets of Annapolis to the Fleet Reserve Club to continue the festivities in the most Navy way possible! Welcome to the family, Ryan!