Summer Lovin’: A Wedding Story from USNA

Some love stories begin with grand plans. Others begin with a handwritten note on the back of a restaurant receipt.

For Christina Antonini, it all started during the summer of 2012 on an ordinary Wednesday shift at Red Robin in the Annapolis Mall. Christina was a sophomore at Towson University, balancing school and work, when she picked up the receipt from a recent table and noticed something unexpected written across the bottom:

“I’m in the Georgetown t-shirt.” Underneath was a phone number and a very generous $30 tip.

At the time, Christina was hesitant. She was already dating someone. But her grandmother, who had spent years encouraging her and her sister to meet midshipmen, immediately saw something special.

“You’d better call him,” she insisted.

Thankfully, Christina listened.

His name was Andy Rice, and years later, that simple moment would lead to a proposal along the seawall at the United States Naval Academy, and eventually a beautiful wedding on the Yard itself, creating a love story wrapped in Navy tradition, Annapolis charm, and a wonderful dose of fate.

Falling in Love With the Yard

Like many couples connected to the Academy, Christina and Andy’s relationship became intertwined with Annapolis over time. The city’s waterfront, historic streets, and Naval Academy traditions became part of their shared memories together.

By December 2018, Andy was serving as a Navy officer stationed in Oklahoma. The couple flew home to Maryland ahead of the Army-Navy Game, planning to spend one night with Christina’s parents before heading to Philadelphia.

Or so Christina thought. Andy suggested they make a quick stop at the Midshipmen Store on the Yard to pick up more Navy gear (despite already owning what Christina jokingly described as “everything you could think of that is Navy”)!

Before heading to the store, however, Andy guided her toward the seawall near the Triton Light, one of the most romantic spots on the Yard.

There, with the Chesapeake breeze rolling in and the Academy behind them, he handed Christina a leather-bound photo book filled with snapshots from their relationship. Each page marked milestones and memories from the years they had spent together.

Then he said, “Flip to the back.”

Printed there was the date: “December 7, 2018?”

When Christina looked up, Andy was already down on one knee.

“Then he was kneeling and proposing and I was hugging him and jumping up and down! We went to the MidStore after that and spent three hours there,” she remembers.

It was personal, heartfelt, and unmistakably Annapolis.

Planning a Naval Academy Wedding

The moment Christina returned home, her mother immediately asked one important question:

“Did you call the Chapel yet?”

Anyone familiar with the Yard knows securing a Naval Academy Chapel wedding date requires early planning, especially during the busiest wedding season months. The Chapel remains one of the most sought-after ceremony locations in the country, particularly for military couples hoping to celebrate surrounded by history and tradition.

Their ceremony took place there on December 21, 2019, at 3:00 p.m., beneath the soaring dome. “We were the last couple to get married that day, and my favorite part about getting married on the Yard was being a part of the history,” Christina recounts.

Getting married at the Academy felt deeply personal since the Yard had always been part of her life story, and marrying Andy there felt like bringing everything full circle. “The Chapel was beautiful and I was thrilled to be part of such a long-standing tradition. I was proud and honored to get married there, and to my husband. I grew up in Annapolis so this was really special,” she says.

It was also eventful. “We chose the coldest and shortest day of the year by mistake, but it ended up being perfect. I also saw one of my old teachers from middle school that day, and it was a happy surprise. It turned out she was now working at the Chapel and immediately recognized me. She helped all of my wedding party get in the proper positions and move at the right time. It was amazing seeing her again,” says Christina.

Then there was a really funny moment. Christina describes it: “As we exited the sword arch, the best man’s sword got stuck in my veil or dress and I got dragged back and almost fell over. Quite a memorable moment!“

So many memorable moments happen on the Yard. Although this ceremony was a winter wedding, many of the same qualities that make the Yard magical in December also make it unforgettable for a summer wedding: the waterfront scenery, timeless architecture, and unmistakable romance of Annapolis itself.

Moments They’ll Never Forget

The couple also captured photos throughout the Yard, including:

The Chapel steps
Dahlgren Hall’s Christmas tree
Memorial Hall
The Bancroft Hall Rotunda

Every location added another layer of Navy history and elegance to their celebration.

Why Couples Love Naval Academy Weddings

There’s a reason so many couples dream of a Naval Academy wedding.

The Academy offers more than just beautiful architecture and waterfront views. It provides a sense of meaning and permanence that’s hard to describe until you experience it in person.

For military couples in particular, such weddings symbolize not only love and commitment, but also service, sacrifice, and shared purpose. Whether couples choose a formal summer ceremony overlooking the waterfront or a candlelit winter wedding beneath the Chapel dome, the Yard creates an atmosphere unlike anywhere else.

And for many couples, the Academy becomes part of their family story for generations to come.

Begin Your Story on the Yard

The couple recently moved from Oklahoma City, and Andy continues serving as a Navy lieutenant commander in the capacity of E-6B Operations for Joint Force Maritime Command l Strategic. Christina recently wrapped up her job at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center PICU. They’re now located in Norfolk, Virginia, and are preparing to welcome their first child in July!

Though life has taken them beyond Annapolis, the memories of their wedding day remain deeply connected to the Yard where their next chapter officially began.

For couples considering a summer wedding or exploring venues during the peak wedding season months, the Naval Academy offers something truly timeless: history, tradition, romance, and a setting filled with meaning. Weddings also give back to the Brigade, since they help fund the extracurricular activities that bond them together.

Your story is the midshipmen’s story too, and sometimes all it takes is one unexpected moment (like a handwritten note, a walk by the seawall, or a proposal at sunset) to begin a story that lasts forever.

On The Yard