A Celestial Summer Solstice Wedding at Annapolis Maritime Museum
Leah and Celine’s Celestial Italian Summer Solstice wedding at the Annapolis Maritime Museum was a celebration of love, craft, and community. Planned with Jenna B Weddings, catered by Palate Pleasers, and photographed by Rachel Bond Photography, the day blended creativity and care in every detail, from thrifted plates and homegrown flowers to an Aperol spritz wall built by Leah’s dad and a chuppah-inspired arch wrapped in family fabric.
How did your story together begin?
Leah: We met through friends while living in DC. I had decided I was done with dating apps and wanted to meet someone organically, and I was right. We’d technically crossed paths months earlier at a party, but the only thing Celine remembered was thinking, “why is that girl wearing a sweatshirt to a party?”
At my end-of-summer party, sparks finally flew. Celine came home with me and stayed the night, and I woke up knowing something about our connection was different. We didn’t see each other again for almost two months, but when I invited her to my birthday party, I sat her down and said, “Something is happening between us, and you know it.” I was right again. We had our first date that week, fell hard, got engaged on 11/11 in 2023 and 4 years after meeting we have moved to a different state, have a sweet puppy together and are officially married!
What was the wedding planning experience like for you both?
Looking back, we actually kept things really organized and worked together as a team. Of course, there were moments where it felt overwhelming and we’d have the occasional disagreement, but through it all, we learned so much about each other’s strengths. I’m definitely the visionary. I love organizing vendors, negotiating contracts, and keeping all the details straight while Celine is great at grounding things and helping execute the plans. She had a more demanding job at the time, so I was happy to take on most of the planning (especially since I’d basically been planning my wedding on Pinterest for years). Honestly, wedding planning is a full-time job in itself!
How did you find your vendors, and what mattered most in choosing them?
We started by talking through what was most important to both of us. We wanted our wedding to feel sustainable, true to us, and connected to real people, working with local businesses wherever we could. A venue that gave back, like a museum or nature preserve, felt right, so we chose the Annapolis Maritime Museum. We didn’t want anything cookie-cutter or overly traditional. Good food, good drinks, and a welcoming space were top priorities.
As a lesbian couple, finding vendors who would celebrate us, not just work with us, was huge. I was nervous about it at first, so I did a lot of anonymous posting in wedding Facebook groups to find LGBTQ-friendly recommendations, and we got really lucky with the team we found.
How did you manage your wedding budget and keep track of everything?
I work in accounting in real life, so spreadsheets are my best friends. Even with that, we definitely lost “control” of the budget at times. But honestly, in the world of weddings, I think we did amazing. Our original budget was $25K, and we ended up around $30K in the end, which still feels like a win.
Did you take on any DIY projects for the wedding?
Oh, absolutely. Our wedding was basically one big DIY project. I’m the type who won’t spend money on something I can make myself. My dad, who’s a carpenter, helped bring a lot of my ideas to life, including the Aperol spritz wall he built from my design. We thrifted mismatched goblets, plates, rugs, and bud vases; my sister sewed a dance floor banner; and a friend built our chuppah-inspired arch.
Celine designed all our signage and menus, and she even grew most of our flowers, which I arranged into bud vases alongside florals from Bloomin Wild Florist. Every guest place card was a wildflower seed packet I filled by hand, a little energy exchange before the day itself. It was a year of crafting, thrifting, and creating, but it made everything feel personal and intentional.
How did you approach your ceremony and vows?
My aunt is a chaplain in the NICU at a local hospital, so we asked her to officiate our wedding. We worked closely with her to create a ceremony that felt true to us. Spiritual, but not religious, and really rooted in our connection to nature. For our vows, we chose a call-and-response format, going back and forth as we shared our promises to each other. It felt grounded, intimate, and exactly right for us.
Walk us through the wedding day. What moments stand out most?
We started the morning in separate suites getting ready with our mixed-gender bridal party, which felt relaxed and fun. Everyone drifted between rooms, helping each other and soaking in the excitement. Our planner, Jenna B Weddings, handled everything so we could truly let go and enjoy the day.
It was the first weekend in six months without rain, something I’d been manifesting all year. My parents drove me to the Annapolis Maritime Museum, and I snuck a peek from a classroom window as guests arrived. Celine’s sister walked our puppy, Ollie, down the aisle, and she followed with her mom to “Complete Me” by RuthAnne. I walked with both my parents to “The Vow,” already crying before I even reached her.
After our ceremony, we took a few quick photos with Rachel Bond Photography before joining cocktail hour, complete with a charcuterie table and dinner by Palate Pleasers. The Aperol spritz wall my dad built was a hit. Dinner followed, and instead of a traditional first dance, we invited our whole bridal party and family couples to join in. From there, it was just pure celebration. Dancing, laughter, and the best energy we could’ve hoped for, thanks to music by Baltimore Sounds.
What non-traditional choices did you make, and why?
We just wanted the day to feel like us: relaxed, fun, and unforced. Our bridal party wore whatever made them feel good, with a general theme of florals and nature-inspired colors. Guests didn’t have a dress code either; comfort mattered more than coordination.
Since we’re both big food people, we focused on a fresh, simple menu inspired by Italian summer: local ingredients, herbs, and good wine. We skipped the traditional first dance and invited everyone to join instead. We also chose Rachel Bond Photography because we wanted documentary-style coverage. Real feelings, not posed perfection. More than anything, we wanted it to feel like a big, love-filled party rather than a formal wedding.
Were there any vendors who really stood out to you?
Our photographer, Rachel Bond Photography, was absolutely amazing. She made us feel so comfortable and celebrated as a gay couple. That’s honestly why I wanted to submit our wedding because her work deserves to be seen. Our planner, Jenna B Weddings, was another star. She was such a “yes” person and made me feel completely relaxed on the day. And Urban Set Bride, the local shop where I found my Jenny Yoo gown, was incredible. They made me feel confident in my body and are loud and proud supporters of LGBTQ weddings.
Did you include any family or cultural traditions in your day?
Neither of us are religious, but Celine was raised Jewish, so we incorporated a small nod to that in our ceremony. Our arch was designed in the style of a chuppah and decorated with a cloth handmade by my great-grandmother. It felt like a beautiful way to weave our families and histories together.
How did you navigate some of the traditions that don’t always translate for LGBTQ+ couples
I always knew I wanted both of my parents to walk me down the aisle since they both raised me. Celine was walked by her mom, and we decided where to stand at the altar based on our “good sides” for photos, Luckily, they’re opposite!
We also mixed up the bridal party pairings with girl/girl and guy/guy duos instead of the traditional setup. It just felt more natural and true to us. Beyond that, we skipped things like the bouquet and garter toss. We wanted everything to feel comfortable, modern, and authentic to who we are.
Photography by Rachel Bond Photography
Cake Palate Pleasers
Caterer Palate Pleasers
Ceremony Venue Annapolis Maritime Museum
DJ Baltimore Sounds
Dress Boutique Urban Set Bride
Dress Designer Jenny Yoo
Florist Bloomin Wild Florist
Hair Blush Hair Salon
Planner Jenna B Weddings
Suit Designer Andre Julius
