Stephen & Timothy

Wedding Date October 12, 2024

When Timothy Russell Fitzgerald Jr. met Stephen-Andre Surjue through mutual friends, he wasn’t looking for a relationship. But Stephen’s persistence, enthusiasm, and charm quickly changed Tim’s plans of keeping things casual. So it came as no surprise when Stephen proposed first to Tim, an investigative analyst, or that he planned the theme for everyone’s outfits and curated the entire day. (There was also a chef and personalized cocktails, which symbolized milestones in their relationship, natch.) 

They brought that same creative enthusiasm to their wedding inspiration—a Met Gala-themed celebration at the Baltimore Museum of Art. The couple’s website encouraged maximalism: Being overdressed is a good thing, it read, and encouraged by the grooms. No lights will be dimmed. “It is important for us to live our lives as loud and unapologetic as possible and for us to always encourage that in the spaces we occupy,” says Stephen, a program manager. 

That included Stephen and Tim’s garments, of course. “We made three trips to Los Angeles to have customs suits designed,” says Stephen. “It also provided us a time to bond as we created our looks.”

The wedding day was full of other personalized moments, including a circular stage for the ceremony, embroidered napkins, and signature cocktails. Says Stephen, “Everything represented who we were and there was no detail we didn’t tweak.”

BEAUTY Makeup Machine (makeup); Encore By Corey (hair) CAKE Sweet Elevations CATERER Zeffert and Gold FLORAL DESIGN Wanton Poppies GROOMS Walter Mendez Atelier (ceremony); Dej and Kola (reception) GROOMSMEN Gentlemen Guru HOTEL The Ivy Hotel LOCATION Baltimore Museum of Art MUSIC DJ Lexis Lane OFFICIANT Ceremony by Rachael Photographer Phylicia Willis VIDEOGRAPHER Sok Vision WEDDING PLANNER Joli Events