Some love stories begin quietly, but for Valerie Fitton and Campbell Blue, fate arrived on wheels – literally. The two met in 2016 while juniors at Boston College, riding a party trolley bound for a football game at Gillette Stadium. When the trolley broke down on the highway, what could have been a fleeting conversation turned into an eight-hour hangout. “It felt like we never ran out of things to talk about,” Campbell remembers. That effortless connection carried them from college into a lifetime together.

Years later in Washington, DC, Campbell surprised Valerie with a rooftop proposal atop their apartment building. He had told her they were headed to brunch with her visiting family, so Valerie got ready in 10 minutes flat. Campbell presented the sparkling diamond ring, marking one of the rare times Valerie was completely caught off guard. “I was truly so surprised,” she laughs.

Valerie and Campbell planned a wedding that reflected both their personalities and their shared history. Valerie leaned on her mother for much of the planning, as well as talented wedding planner, Pamela Barefoot, while Campbell took on the task of securing an officiant for their Catholic ceremony outdoors – something allowed in only a handful of U.S. dioceses. “I was so happy we were lucky enough to have a ceremony outdoors!” she remarks, smitten with her fiancé’s hard work.

Through years of long-distance romance between Connecticut and Massachussetts during Valerie’s physician assistant program, they often reunited at Campbell’s family home on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Choosing Annapolis as their wedding destination felt both sentimental and symbolic and organically provided the perfect location for their nuptials, as the Chesapeake Bay holds special meaning for the couple.

“You blink and the greatest day of your life is now filled with incredible memories.”

On a fall afternoon, guests gathered in an alfresco space for the ceremony that showcased a gorgeous view of the Bay. Valerie was resplendent in a classic ball gown, carrying a bouquet of roses, peonies, ranunculuses, tulips, and delphiniums. At the conclusion of the service, light rain began to fall as the newlyweds recessed, creating a sweet memory for the pair. “It rained for about 15 minutes while my dress was bustled,” she shares, “and then when we came out to cocktail hour, the sun was peeking through the clouds after being overcast all day.”

As if on cue, a rainbow arched across the sky – a moment of deep personal meaning for both families. “For us, rainbows hold significance, especially when loved ones who are no longer with us feel present,” says Campbell. The couple recessed to Taylor Swift’s “Daylight,” their favorite song, which later became even more serendipitous when Swift performed it as a surprise song at The Eras Tour they attended a month later.

Guests transitioned to cocktail hour before entering a stunning tented reception. Valerie had told her planner she wanted the vibe to be “Coastal Grandmother” with a whimsical edge – a dream that came to life through draping designed by Holly of Paper Refinery. Blue, Valerie’s longtime favorite color (and now her last name), appeared in hydrangea centerpieces, textiles, and layered details. Butterflies, which Valerie considers “God winks” from her late grandmother, fluttered throughout the design scheme, adding a sweet, sentimental touch throughout the celebration.

Dinner was a seated affair, with heartfelt toasts and plenty of laughter. The couple cut into a three-flavor wedding cake – Funfetti, strawberry, and Mexican hot chocolate – frosted in buttercream, inspired by Valerie’s parents’ own wedding cake. The dance floor revealed a custom design, a surprise even to Campbell, and quickly became the centerpiece of the evening festivities.

The sunset that followed the brief shower painted the sky in brilliant hues, creating a backdrop almost too perfect to believe. Guests snapped photos as Valerie and Campbell twirled through their first dance, candlelight flickering around them. “The time goes by faster than ever,” Campbell reflects. “You blink and the greatest day of your life is now filled with incredible memories.” For Valerie, the wedding was everything she had dreamed. “Walking to the tent with the sunset felt truly ethereal, and I think our guests felt the same,” she says.

Looking back, neither would change a thing. Their best advice to future couples? “Stay by each other’s side,” Valerie and Campbell agree. “The day goes by so quickly, and the most important thing is sharing it together.” With blue tones, colorful butterflies, and a Chesapeake sunset blessing the day, Valerie and Campbell’s wedding wasn’t just beautifully designed – it was deeply felt and representative of their love.


This real wedding was originally published in the Fall 2025 expanded-digital issue of Inside Weddings magazine. 

To order a copy of the Fall 2025 expanded digital edition, visit our library of Inside Weddings digital back issues available for purchase.

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