Blog— Weddings — Massachusetts — 2023 —
Massachusetts Wedding Photos
Christie & Brian
Private Residence, Bedford, Massachusetts
May 20th, 2023
I have a theory that at every wedding I shoot, there's a word, comment or expression that sums the day up better than I ever could. For Christie and Brian's May nuptials, that comment came courtesy of the bride's vows midway through her wedding ceremony as Christie promised that she would be by Brian's side to "weather any storm."
One look outside was all the proof you needed to know she was already off to a great start. Why? Well, because it was POURING and our plan for a nice outdoor ceremony in Christie's parent's backyard turned into an impromptu indoor ceremony on their reception dance floor instead.
But it didn't matter where these two said "I do." In fact, if nothing else Christie and Brian had already proven that no amount of rain or rocky weather would prevent this bride and her groom from having the day of their dreams and anyone paying attention knew that, cloudy skies or no cloudy skies, there was no place these two would rather have become husband and wife.
I could tell within moments of arriving to Christie and Brian's wedding that this was going to be a day of watching the clouds and hoping for a break in the weather. For me anyway. I don't think the bride and groom cared.
Or at least that was the vibe I found the minute I walked into Christie's bridal prep session and saw her already finished with hair and makeup and halfway through getting her dress zipped up.
Christie was in great spirits despite the unplanned inclement weather and I can't say I blame her. There was a fun buzz in the air as the moments to her ceremony ticked away, one we made sure to take full advantage of as she shared first looks with both her father and brother before knocking out some formal photos prior to the ceremony.
And the groom? He was also in great spirits as his turn for pre-ceremony formal photos with friends and family members came up. I could tell just looking at Brian's face that even if this wasn't the day he and Christie planned, they were making the best of it and, honestly, that's all you can ask sometimes.
The nice thing about Christie and Brian moving their ceremony inside their reception tent was I knew it would make for beautiful photos and it sure did.
Of course, it's hard to complain when you're photographing a couple as photogenic as these two.
Right from the start of Christie and Brian's ceremony, you could see the love on both of their faces and it only grew from there.
Christie and Brian's ceremony was one of the sweetest I've seen in some time. Both the bride and groom were incredibly honest and earnest in their vows together and as their friend who served as their officiant recounted their love story, it was hard not to feel the love these two had for one another.
I especially adored watching Christie get choked up during her vows. I always love seeing a bride or groom get lost in the words they're saying because it adds depth to how much those words mean and, for Christie, it was clear that she meant everything she said and then some.
Following Christie and Brian's ceremony, all I could think was "Please lord, give me a window of time with no rain." it didn't seem likely but sometimes you've just got to hope for the best.
Christie and Brian didn't seem bothered either way, though, as we captured their group photos back in the bride's parent's living room.
Just as we were finished with those photos, I asked Christie and Brian if they wanted to take a chance outside with some clear umbrellas I had on me. The goal, honestly, was just to get a few photos with some greenery in the background.
To my, and Christie and Brian's delight, our timing was perfect as the rain let up just enough where we could ditch the umbrellas for about 15 minutes and sneak in a nearly full bride and groom portrait session in the spot these two had originally envisioned getting married.
Talk about luck!
I'll be honest. The minute Christie, Brian and I completed their bride and groom portraits, I could have gone home a happy man. This day had officially turned out better than I expected and we still had an entire wedding reception to go.
If you've followed my work for a while, though, you know there are few places I'd rather photograph a bride and groom's big day than under a tent and Christie and Brian rented a great one that did a wonderful job highlighting the little details and decor they put together.
Even if I had wanted to pat myself on the back and call it a good day prior to Christie and Brian's wedding reception, that would have been impossible as the best moment of the night was still to come.
As they explained during their ceremony, Christie and Brian met through a ballroom dance club in college and, in a fitting tribute to that life-changing chance encounter, the two made sure to deliver a first dance their friends and family members would never forget, set to “Libertango” by Yo-Yo Ma.
I've seen a lot of first dances in my time but few had the coordination and skill of Christie and Brian's. It was perfectly paced, elegant and looked amazing to photograph. So much so that I can't even decide which of the photos I like the most. Heck, I had to ask a friend which of my three favorite shots of this moment to lead this blog off with. It was that good and it was the perfect way to start this reception off for these two newlyweds.
Christie and Brian had one of the most casual and laid back receptions I've photographed in a while. Not only did they allocate a full hour and a half to their dinner period, ensuring they had plenty of time to go table to table and say hello to their closest friends and family members, but they also kept the formalities of their event super sweet and casual.
Following their first dance, the pair opened their reception with a toast to everyone that showed up and had a handful of speeches in their honor that really spoke of the love everyone under that tent felt for them and their relationship.
After dinner, they kept the schedule light and casual, with a sweet cake cutting and two lovely parent dances being the only events prior to the dance floor opening.
And once the dance floor did open, true to form these two were right in the middle of the party.
Throughout Christie and Brian's reception, if one of them wasn't in the middle of the crowd partying, the other sure was and these two made sure to savor every moment of a night I know they'll never forget.
Christie and Brian's wedding reception felt like the best possible way to end a wedding day that went far better than I thought it would when I was driving to it. I'm not sure what I was expecting from these two but seeing such a gloomy day definitely had me expecting the worst and, luckily, that never materialized.
Looking back on it, I think it's clear nothing would have stopped these two from having the day of their dreams and a party worth celebrating and I love that for them. It's also a fantastic lesson for me to take home that, sometimes, you just have to roll with the punches (or in this case roll with the rolling showers in the sky.)
So thank you Christie and Brian for such a wonderful and meaningful wedding day. It was an honor for me to photograph it and I wish you the best on this new and exciting chapter of your lives together as husband and wife.
-Paul J. Spetrini
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The Vendor List:
Photographer: Paul J. Spetrini, Paul J. Spetrini Photography; Bride's Hair and Make-up: Salon Reyna, Bedford, Massachusetts; Bride's Dress: Rina di Montella; Groom's Suit: Carl Anthony Tuxedo, Cranston, Rhode Island; Ceremony & Reception Venue: Private Residence, Bedford, Massachusetts; DJ: DJ Mike, Fine Tune Entertainment; Cake: Flour Bakery + Cafe; Musicians: Intermezzo Players; Rentals: Bay State Tent.