Blog— Weddings — Massachusetts — 2019 —
Bittersweet Farm Wedding
Kim & David
The Acoaxet Chapel (Ceremony) & Bittersweet Farm (Reception)
February 16th, 2019
Few things scare me more as a wedding photographer than getting asked to shoot a wedding in the middle of winter. Living in New England, I've come to learn winter is by far the toughest season to predict and you're just as likely to have a beautiful sunny day as you are to have a foot or more of snow drop on you in a single afternoon.
Luckily, I knew the moment I met Kim and David and starting talking about their February wedding day in Westport, Massachusetts, that I was talking to a couple that would have been fine with either outcome.
But, thankfully, we never had to worry as not only did we manage to escape the snow but it was a beautiful, bright, sunny and warm day that looked more like April than February.
And it couldn't have happened to a nicer, friendlier or more relaxed couple.
Kim and David were my first wedding couple of 2019 and I don't think I could have started the year off on a better note. Not only were these two a pleasure to work with but they were having a small, intimate day without the vast majority of the bells and whistles you see at most weddings nowadays.
I knew from the moment Kim arrived to see David for their first look that this would be an incredibly personal afternoon that centered exclusively on two people in love saying "I do" and it was a really beautiful thing to see.
I loved getting to capture David's reaction to seeing Kim and I know he was as blown away by her as I was. Kim was incredibly smart to prepare for the cold weather of a winter afternoon in New England with a lovely throw and it really helped to make her dress stand out.
Following their first look, the bride and groom had a simple plan for the day: Some formal photos with their children, some photos together and then a trip down the aisle.
I love when weddings are as simple as this and at no point did any of us feel pressure or stress to stick to a timeline. We had plenty of time to get some beautiful photos of this small group and, boy, did we ever.
Kim and David were a lot of fun to work with during their bride and groom portraits and one of the biggest reasons why was where they chose to get married. I've shot a lot of weddings at Bittersweet Farm in Westport, Massachusetts and the venue never ceases to amaze in its beauty.
Even in the dead of winter, there was something oddly beautiful about the cold and rustic feeling of this location and it made for a wonderful backdrop for this bride and groom to showcase their love for one another.
Following their formal photos, Kim, David and I made our way to the Acoaxet Chapel, a lovely location that I had never seen before but hope to one day return to.
I adored this church for how small it was and how historic it all felt and I could practically see groups of parishioners gathered here in their Sunday best decades ago to worship. It felt homey. It felt cozy. It was the perfect location for this wedding and this couple.
Kim and David's ceremony was, by far, my favorite part of their wedding day. I loved watching the way the two kept their eyes on one another and the deeply personal nature of the readings they selected and traditions they participated in as part of their ceremony.
This bride and groom may have only had a small group of their friends and family members in attendance but you could tell just how much this moment meant to those who were there and to the two people tying the knot as well.
Following their ceremony, we made our way back to Bittersweet Farm and it was pretty clear right from the moment we walked into their reception that this was going to be a low-key evening where the bride and groom went out of their way to spend as much time with their guests as possible.
I really enjoyed Kim and David's reception. While it lacked many of the marquee moments and pomp/circumstance you expect from a wedding, it was almost more beautiful because of it.
And it doesn't hurt that Bittersweet Farm is one of my favorite venues to shoot at, especially when a bride and groom chose their decorations like Kim and David did. This was a rustic wedding done right and every little detail, whether it was the cake, table settings or guestbook, complimented the theme perfectly.
Kim and David chose not to participate in many of the elaborate traditions of a wedding reception. They had simple introductions and skipped a formal first dance entirely.
But they did leave room for a couple of speeches by Kim's son and David's mother and, really, that was all they needed to set the tone on this night.
I said earlier that Kim and David skipped a formal first dance and while that's true, that's not to say they didn't dance at all. Goaded on by their guests, the bride and groom did eventually relent and have a small moment on the dance floor together and, thankfully, I was ready when it happened.
Kim and David are clearly not fans of being the center of attention but I'm glad they ultimately embraced this tradition as it was a nice, spontaneous moment that led to my favorite photos of the evening.
Kim and David's reception felt more like a family cookout than a formal wedding event and I loved that for them. It fit what they told me they wanted right from the get-go and it was so laid back, they didn't even cut their cake until moments before I left.
I always love ending weddings on a high note and I'm glad they had that left to do as it was the perfect way to call it a night.
By the time I packed my gear up and left Kim and David's wedding reception, I couldn't help but think it was the perfect, most relaxed way I could have started my 2019 wedding season.
Kim and David are a really fun couple to be around and I love the way they don't take things too seriously.
Their wedding was exactly what they always told me it would be and, if it's a sign of things to come this year, I know 2019 is going to be my favorite year as a wedding photographer yet.
So congratulations Kim and David on a beautiful wedding day and thank you for allowing me to capture it. I hope it was everything you dreamed of and much, much more.
-PJS
Tags: The Acoaxet Chapel, Bittersweet Farm, Massachusetts Weddings, Indoor Weddings, Westport,
Paul J. Spetrini Photography
The Vendor List
Photographer: Paul J. Spetrini, Paul J. Spetrini Photography; Bride's Hair & Make-up: Glitz & Glam Hair & Makeup Company; Florist: Cady Arruda, Homegrown Blooms; Ceremony: The Acoaxet Chapel, Westport, Massachusetts; Pastor: Mark Gelinas; Harpist: Teresa Tafuri; Reception: Bittersweet Farm, Westport, Massachusetts; Cake: James Kennedy, Confections; Music: Christopher James Farias & Alicia Ruggiero.
Check out more of my most recent wedding blogs:
Gunnar & Aileen
McGoverns on the Water,
Fall River, Massachusetts
Date: December 16th, 2018
Stacey & Mack
St. Teresa's Church, Attleboro, Mass. &
Independence Harbor, Assonet, Mass.
Date: December 1st, 2018
Nicole & Kurt
The Public House Historic Inn,
Sturbridge, Massachusetts.
Date: November 16th, 2018
Got a thought? Leave a Reply
