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I · Still Water

Abigail+Edmund

Saturday, May 29, 2027

By the water

Join us as we say I do

It won’t be a party without you

Please join us for dinner and dancing

You’re invited!

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Together with their families

Abigail Ward and Edmund Valdez request the honour of your presence at their marriage, on the water in Maryland.

29 · 05 · 2027  ·  Pasadena, Maryland
Abigail and Edmund smiling at each other beneath red lanterns in Jiufen, with Abigail’s hand resting on Edmund’s arm.
Welcome

After all the miles between Annapolis, Texas, Oxford and Hawaiʻi, we can’t wait to gather all of our favorite people in one place.

Join us by the water in Maryland for our wedding, dinner, and dancing.

With love,
Abigail & Edmund

Saturday · May 29, 2027 Pasadena, Maryland
Celebrations at the Bay
Arrive by 4:30 PM Ceremony at 5:00 PM
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Our story

An evening in Annapolis. A first date in DTA. A great many flights.

Abigail and Edmund walking hand in hand across the lawn at Kualoa, the Koʻolau ridge rising behind them.

We met on the dance floor at O’Brien’s in September 2023. Edmund was visiting from Texas for a friend’s wedding, and Abigail was beginning her final year at the Naval Academy.

Our first date was in November 2023: dinner at Bonchon, then a visit to Abigail’s favorite store, Goodwill. The next day, we played quarter games at an arcade. An ordinary weekend, and one we still remember.

Over the next few years, our relationship stretched across Annapolis, Texas, Oxford, and Hawaiʻi. Abigail commissioned in May 2024, then flew to England in September 2024 to begin two years of master’s studies at Oxford. Edmund left for a new duty station in Hawaiʻi a month later. We spent a lot of time flying back and forth to see each other, meaning we really cherished the time we did have together.

In November 2025, at Kualoa on Oʻahu, Edmund asked Abigail to marry him.

In May 2027, we’ll return to Maryland to exchange vows by the water, surrounded by the people who have been part of our lives along the way. We can’t wait to have you there.

The day

Ceremony & reception

Celebrations at the Bay

2042 Knollview Drive
Pasadena, Maryland 21122

DateSaturday, May 29, 2027
Ceremony5:00 PM, outdoors on the waterside deck
ReceptionTo follow, indoors in the Chesapeake Ballroom
Arrive by4:30 PM, so you are seated in time
Departure Time11:00 PM
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One address for the whole day: the ceremony and the reception are at the same place, so nobody has to drive anywhere in between. GPS resolves this address correctly.

About 30 minutes from BWI, mostly on MD-100. Parking is on site and self-park; there is no valet.

The schedule

The full run of show
4:30 PM

Doors & seating

Arrive, find the seating chart, take a drink of water. The deck is outside.
5:00 PM

The ceremony

The ceremony will begin on the waterside deck at 5:00 PM.
5:30 PM

Cocktail hour

On the lawn and the terrace, as the light goes gold. Family portraits will take place during this hour.
6:30 PM

Into the ballroom

The Chesapeake Ballroom doors will open, followed by our grand entrance, first dances and dances with our parents.
7:00 PM

Dinner

Seated dinner, with toasts at around half past seven.
7:30 PM

The dance floor opens

Right after the toasts, and it stays open. Sunset is around 8:35, so step outside for it.
8:50 PM

Cake cutting

Then back to the dance floor.
10:40 PM

Last song

Followed by the send-off at ten to eleven.
11:00 PM

Departure Time

The venue will close, and the shuttle will return to the hotel block.

The ceremony and departure times are fixed. Everything between them is an estimate. Weddings drift, and this one will too.

What to wear

Semi-formal. A spring garden party on the water. Dress up in something you feel good in, with shoes suited to the deck.

The color palette is optional. Pastels and florals are welcome, but you do not need to match our wedding colors. Please avoid wearing white or ivory and leave those colors to the bride.

For women

Cocktail dress or an elegant jumpsuit

Illustrated semi-formal outfit examples: a rose midi dress with block heels, a navy jumpsuit with flats, and a sage blouse with a lavender skirt.
A cocktail dress, an elegant jumpsuit, or a blouse and skirt.

A knee-length or midi cocktail dress, an elegant jumpsuit, or a refined blouse with a skirt. Dress shoes: heels or flats. The ceremony will take place on a wooden deck over the water, so block heels, wedges or flats will serve you far better than stilettos.

For men

A tailored suit or a sport coat

Illustrated semi-formal outfit examples: a navy suit, a sage sport coat with charcoal dress trousers, and a gray suit with a tie, all with leather dress shoes.
A suit or sport coat with dress trousers. Tie optional.

A tailored suit, or a sport coat with dress trousers. A collared dress shirt, and leather dress shoes: loafers or Oxfords. A tie is welcome but not required. The reception is indoors, so a jacket you can keep on all evening is a kindness to yourself.

The palette

Every colour of the garden at once

Our optional color inspiration: a garden of pastels with warm gold accents. Feel free to wear these shades or choose another color you love. Please avoid white and ivory.

76°Typical afternoon high
59°Overnight low
Warm in the sun, cool once it goes down. A wrap or a light layer is worth packing.

Travel & stay

Flying

BWI is the airport

Baltimore/Washington International is the closest and by far the easiest, roughly half an hour from the venue. DCA and IAD are possible but add an hour of driving each way.

On the ground

Getting to the wedding

Guests staying in our hotel block can take the wedding shuttle to the venue and back. Separately, the hotel runs a complimentary, 24/7 shuttle to and from BWI Airport. A rental car is useful for exploring the area.

At the venue

Parking

On-site and self-park; there is no valet. There is adequate room for everyone. The shuttle is the easier choice if you are staying in the block and plan to enjoy the bar.

While you are here

Local tips

Downtown Annapolis

Twenty-five minutes from the venue and worth a whole day: the historic district, the City Dock, and the waterfront. This is where the two of them met.

The Naval Academy

Our alma mater: we’re both Naval Academy alumni. The Naval Academy is a meaningful stop for us both, and an easy addition to a day exploring downtown Annapolis.

The Chesapeake

You are on the bay. Crab houses, waterfront decks and the Bay Bridge are all within an easy drive. May is the front edge of the season.

Baltimore

Half an hour north of BWI. The Inner Harbour, Fells Point and Federal Hill make an easy extra day on either side of the weekend.

Registry

Your presence is more than enough.

A great many of you are flying across the country to be in the room, and that is the gift. But if you would like to give something as well, here is where it lives.

Two games

One for bragging rights. One for an actual prize, handed over at the reception.

Game one

How well do you know them?

Eleven questions. No prize, no pressure. Some answers are in our story; others might surprise you.

Game two

How many flights?

Annapolis, Texas, Oxford, Hawaiʻi, and every flight in between. By the wedding day, how many flights will Abigail and Edmund have taken just to be in the same room?

Questions

What is the dress code?
Semi-formal, with a spring-garden slant. Women: a knee-length or midi cocktail dress, an elegant jumpsuit, or a blouse with a skirt, in heels or flats. Men: a tailored suit or a sport coat with dress trousers, a collared shirt and leather shoes. The color palette is optional; there is no need to match it. Please avoid wearing white or ivory. The ceremony will take place on a wooden deck, so block heels, wedges or flats will be more comfortable than stilettos.
Can I bring a plus one?
Your invitation names everyone included in it, and the RSVP form asks you to reply for exactly those people — including an invited plus-one. Please add only the people your invitation names. Not sure who’s included? Write to us and we’ll help. It is never awkward.
Are kids invited?
Only the children named on your invitation. If a child is named on yours, they are welcome for the whole day, ceremony through send-off: include them in your RSVP and note their age so the kitchen can plan something they will actually eat. If no children are named, the invitation is for the adults listed. Not sure who’s included? Write to us and we’ll help.
What is the best way to get there?
We recommend flying into BWI. The hotel offers a complimentary, 24/7 shuttle to and from BWI Airport. Our wedding shuttle will run only between Holiday Inn Express & Suites Baltimore - BWI Airport North and Celebrations at the Bay, with return service after the reception. If you drive, parking at the venue is on site and self-park, with no valet. See hotel and shuttle details.
Is there a registry?
There is, and it is just above. Your presence is more than enough, particularly for the many of you crossing the country to be there. But if you would like to give something, that is where to look.
What if I have a dietary restriction?
Note it in the RSVP form. There is a free-text field on every guest for exactly this: allergies, intolerances, vegetarian, vegan, halal, kosher, anything at all. We’ll receive your RSVP and share the dietary information our caterer needs.
What time should I arrive?
4:30 PM. The ceremony will begin outdoors at 5:00 PM, so arriving half an hour early will give you time to park, find your seat and settle in. Doors and seating will open at 4:30.
Is it indoors or outdoors?
Both. The ceremony will be outdoors, on the waterside deck. The reception will be indoors, in the Chesapeake Ballroom. If the weather turns, the ceremony will move inside to the ballroom as well. Nothing about the day is weather-dependent except the view.
When do I need to RSVP by?
Please reply by March 30, 2027. Include everyone named on your invitation and let us know about any dietary needs.

RSVP

Ask us anything

Anything this page does not answer (a question about travel, the block, the menu, who is invited) comes straight to us.

Email Abigail & Edmund