November wedding at Oceancliff....

November weddings seem to be a bit less popular over the last few years and I am not sure why. The weather is cool and comfortable, people are ready to practice celebrating for the holidays, the fall light is beautiful in pictures, and I hear the discounts are quite nice.
This wedding took place at Oceancliff in Newport and was stacked with perfection. The weather, the timing, the champagne, the sky... really, we couldn't go wrong. It was a late day Ketubah and wedding ceremony with cocktails and reception to immediately follow. It all took place at the venue and after dark, so we planned to get everything photographic done beforehand to capture the amazing light. With a little help from a little champagne and beer, everyone was quite relaxed for pictures.
We used every inch of Oceancliff and every view-there are so many! We planned it so everyone would have a break, and only be around if necessary-including the bride and groom. Bored and tired people look horrible in photographs and that goes double for the couple!!!

Thanks L and M!

A best kept secret???

The thing about Country Clubs...is you have to be a member...or so I hear. But if you are so fortunate to be a member, you can definitely host your wedding (or your child's wedding),BUT sometimes that is not the case. If that is true for the Fall River Country Club it might be one of those "best kept secrets" for holding intimate weddings- and with no sound rules!

It is located off the beaten path. That equals no sound ordinance to follow, a little more flexibility with your planning, water and nature for pictures AND a great big bar to have your cocktail hour in.

Check it out... it just might be perfect for you!

Thanks R and A

Blithewold Bliss.

Blithewold Mansion is Bristol seems to be the place I am the most this year. I understand why... and I have said it before... a place you get everything- water view, mansion, tent, trees, gardens, stone patios, rolling green, is there anything else we would need?

This couple combined traditions of two cultures and created a colorful and unique day. The colors of the wedding were strong bold oranges and deep reds (perfect for fall) against clean crisp white. The contrast dressed up the tent, and made the flowers pop in pictures. The Saree's many women wore added a bright and bold color palette to some of the guest images too.

For pictures, we waited to do everything between the ceremony and the cocktail hour at Blithewold and we planned for just enough time to do it all. We used every inch of the grounds, we focused mostly on the Japanese garden, and the water view the wedding party, and the house for the family. We wanted the images to have variety even though at the same location.

The evening progressed at a comfortable pace and the couple and everyone there were having a great time.

Thanks K and G!

Venue: Blithewold Mansion in Bristol RI
Ceremony: St Anthony's Church in Portsmouth
Hotel: Hotel Viking in Newport RI
Caterer: Fine Catering by Russell Morin

It's Fall and I'm still on the beach!

It was a little chilly on the beach in mid-October, but the wedding party made it look like it was 90 degrees and even took their shoes off! To have a fall day with this kind of sun and not take advantage of the spectacular view of Narraganset beach would have been just plain wrong. So we did. The bride chose fall colors and they were very dramatic against the bright blue sky and the light color of the sand. If you love the beach, don't hesitate to go there no matter what time of year. It is always worth it.

Thanks A and S

Venue- Amalfi at the Village Inn

Color can be your friend!

Surprise! The Fuller Craft Museum the couple chose as the wedding venue had a new exhibit in the reception room, and the walls were yellow and full of bright colorful artisan rugs. It was a stunning exhibit, but not what the couple had expected as a backdrop for the wedding. Luckily the color scheme for the wedding was complimented by the art and the images came to life and look amazing.

The venue itself, offered unbelievable options for the day to move through. A view of a lake, beautiful fountains, out door woodsy area, a tented stone patio for the cocktail hour, and run of the whole museum for the guests to peruse during cocktail hour. It was a unique way to celebrate a marriage and create artful images. The combination of the museum, stunning fall colors, the stunning bride and dress!, and a very happy groom worked to everyone's advantage.

I loved this fresh perspective!

Thank you so much E and D, it was a perfect night.

It can be in the details too!

Here is a day that took the importance of friends, family, food, decor, and imported it from all over the world to celebrate, did it in style and all the while totally relaxed. Is that even possible? Yes! of course!

This couple went at it from a different perspective. Pictures were important, but they wanted to spend only 15 minutes on family shots total, a little more on themselves, and then party. Luckily they have tiny families and no wedding party! We spent time the before the day really getting down the "feel" they were going for and the things they really wanted depicted in pictures. The idea of documentary sounds lovely, until you realize things could be missed if the photographer is not clued in on the small stuff. Weddings who like that casual feel still need to prepare the vendors so we can all be on board and help out if need be.

Here are a few pictures of the bride and groom, and the atmostphere.

Thanks L and S, and your parents too.

Venue- Astors Beechwood Mansion
Food- Fine Catering by Russel Morin
Flowers- Sayles Livingston

It's like going home.

I grew up in and near Norwich Ct, right where this wedding took place! Photographing this wedding was like photographing a bit of my history-and then come to find out a few of the guests knew my brother. Small world. The couple and their family were so warm and fun... and willing it actually was like photographing my family!

We photographed on Dad's parked boat (his prized posession), at St Patrick's Cathdral in Norwich, and the all over and everywhere at Lake of the Isle's in Stonington Ct and so much more. The couple were up for it all and of course the wedding party followed (and sometimes lead) in the fun.

This wedding was in late August (sorry I am behind on posting all the weddings) and since that time I have continued working with the family the post wedding stuff... I must say it still feels a bit like home just hanging out with them.

Thanks A and T!