Date: Sept. 3
Her story: Samantha Mildenberg, 31, was born and raised in Frederick. She works as an assistant state's attorney in Anne Arundel County.
His story: Brian Loiero, 30, was born and raised in Bel Air. He works as a Baltimore police officer.
Their story: The couple met in February 2013 when Samantha was working as an assistant state's attorney in Baltimore. Brian was assigned to a drug operations unit in the Police Department. They began to socialize outside work through mutual friends, and eventually began to date.
"We were in the same district," she recalled. "We started hanging out more socially. We just really hit it off when we met."
Samantha was immediately drawn to Brian.
"He was very, very attractive," she said. "That's what stood out to me."
The couple live in Baltimore.
The proposal: Brain proposed to Samantha while on a West Coast vacation in September 2015.
"We were staying in a bed-and-breakfast in Napa, [Calif.]," Samantha recalled. "We brought a bottle of wine back to our room. We were watching the sunset. When I turned around, he wasn't there; he was on one knee. I thought he was playing a practical joke on me, I thought he was joking. After I realized he wasn't joking, I said 'yes' right away."
Brian purchased a special ring box from Smyth Jewelers that came equipped with a video camera so the entire proposal was recorded.
"We're not big criers," she said. "We were excited. But there was no crying."
Venue: About 200 guests attended the couple's outdoors ceremony in Mount Vernon Place, followed by a reception at the Engineers Club. "We choose the venue because it embodied Baltimore," Samantha said. "We met in Baltimore, work in Baltimore and want to spend our lives in Baltimore."
Flowers and decor: Because the wedding had a peacock theme, the colors were purple, blue and green. Scentsational Florals provided the flowers, using mostly succulent plants and peacock feathers.
Her dress: Samantha wore an ivory-colored V-neck dress with low draping back by BHLDN from Anthropologie. She added a sparkly belt, also from Anthropologie. "It was simple but elegant," she said.
Bridesmaids' dresses: Bridesmaids wore whatever dresses they wanted, so long as they fit with the color scheme. "The colors allowed us to give our wedding party the freedom to wear whatever made them comfortable," Samantha said. "We are in our 30s. No one wants or needs to buy a bridesmaid's dress they will never wear again."
Men's attire: Brian wore a blue suit from Brooks Brothers. The groomsmen were asked to wear a blue suit, white shirt and any tie they wanted that fit the peacock color scheme.
Music: Bachelor Boys Band provided the music. The couple's first dance was to "One and Only" by Adele.
Food and dessert: Food was served buffet-style by the Engineers Club. The appetizers included crab cakes, fried ravioli, coconut shrimp and pastry puffs. Dinner consisted of steak, alfredo pasta, pumpkin ravioli, asparagus, and salmon in a pastry puff.
The couple also offered a Scotch bar, with Scotch that Brian had collected for more than a year.
Their chocolate and vanilla cake was made by Samantha's aunt, Irma Chapin.
Favors: Guests were given a bag of Riot Coffee, the coffee that Samantha and Brian roast themselves.
Special touches: At 11 p.m., the couple offered guests a macaroni and cheese bar, which lasted through the extended reception (ending at 1 a.m.).
The couple plan to honeymoon in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.
Just wedded? Or planning your nuptials? Tell us about it. Email your wedding details and contact information to weddings@baltsun.com.
