Normally, I love having the chance to do downtown Annapolis engagement photos, but for Alexis and Yan, I was even more excited! We scheduled their nautical Annapolis engagement session for sunrise, and that morning, it was cloudy and really dark when we met in downtown Annapolis. Nevertheless, we all decided to make the best of it, and Alexis and Yan were great sports. I absolutely adored watching Yan keep Alexis warm while we waited for the sun to arrive and the weather to change for the better. They were such troopers as we waited! Finally, we made our way over to another dock on the Annapolis waterfront, where we found a lifesaver that was the exact color of Alexis’s shirt… just as the sun decided to show itself from behind the clouds! A nearby gull swooped down, and I caught this perfect shot as everything aligned in that moment. From that point on, our engagement session was smooth sailing. You can view their McLean Presbyterian Church wedding photos HERE🙂

Yan and Alexis’s story is rather sweet, starting with them being matched on eHarmony, and, despite Yan’s intimidating free-time activities (running a Spartan race and camping in 7 degree weather), they met for coffee one Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately, they both came home terribly sick (maybe Cupid’s potion was a bit too strong?). However, troopers that they are, they gave a second date a chance and haven’t looked back since.

Obligatory gorgeous ring shot here: (Didn’t Yan do a fantastic job on Alexis’s ring?)

One of my favorite stories from their early dating was that Yan took Alexis to a Russian museum she’d been wanting to go to for years. Obviously, they were meant to be, and if you need further proof, just look at how adorable they are.

I was so happy that Alexis and Yan wanted downtown Annapolis engagement photos, and even though it was chilly, we were able to find so many wonderful places to shoot that we all agreed the early morning in the cold was time well-spent.

In July, these adorable love birds will say, “I do,” at their McLean Presbyterian Church wedding, and I can’t wait.