An apparatus may include a photonic device with at least a first waveguide having a light-conducting core bounded by at least one cladding layer, at least a second waveguide having a light-conducting core bounded by at least one cladding layer, wherein the first waveguide is aligned to couple with the second waveguide, wherein alignment of the first waveguide with the second waveguide with respect to at least one axis C coincides with at least one stop area of the photonic device resting on a stop surface of a corresponding support structure on a substrate, wherein the stop area is a stop in a recess from a surface of the photonic device. A method to fabricate the apparatus may include the recess is formed by etching of the photonic device, and/or the support structure is formed by etching of the substrate.