Blog— Weddings — Massachusetts — 2022 —
Brookmeadow Country Club Wedding Photos
Hannah & Houston
Brookmeadow Country Club, Canton, Massachusetts (Ceremony & Reception)
November 5th, 2022
One of the things I found most fascinating when I became a wedding photographer was studying others in the field and noticing that a LOT of them never included wedding reception photos on their website. In the years since I started shooting weddings of my own, I've come to understand why some photographers prefer to showcase the other parts of a bride and groom's big day but, to me, there's nothing better than a rocking dance floor and a pair of newlyweds cutting loose and having the time of their lives.
Couples like Hannah and Houston are the prime example of why.
While I loved Hannah and Houston's entire wedding day — from their first look through a pair of sweet parent dances — I feel like the true moments they will never forget started when the DJ turned the music up and lights down because their reception was, in a word, EPIC.
I've rarely seen dance floors as swamped and as fun as Hannah and Houston's was the night of their November wedding and I can think of no better way this couple could have capped an otherwise perfect day. Seriously. This one was special.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Hannah and Houston's big day, mostly because upon arrival the bride was fairly quiet and low key. Now, I admit, I can be a bit of a big personality on a wedding day but the majority of my brides match or exceed my energy. Hannah was different. She was much more reserved than I'm used to.
I chalked that up to nerves and, honestly, I can't blame her. It was a big moment for her.
Thankfully, it didn't take long for Hannah to warm up as the day progressed. In fact, all she needed to feel like herself was her first look with her bridesmaids and her father. That, I think, helped get rid of a lot of the butterflies she may have had.
If Hannah was nervous after her first look with her dad, I know those nerves went away a short while later when she saw Houston for the first time.
The soon-to-be bride and groom shared a special first look and private vow reading and it was the perfect way for both of them to shake off any anxiety and just focus on the reason they were here on this unseasonably warm late fall afternoon: their love for one another.
I love a good first look, especially when it allows us to knock out bride and groom formals before a ceremony. In November, this is especially crucial as the sun doesn't stick around much past mid afternoon in New England this time of year.
Hannah and Houston's bride and groom portraits were a blast to shoot for many reasons. Not only were they a joy to work with and up for any poses I could come up with but the sun was surprisingly out and about during their session, which only helped make the fading foliage pop that little extra bit I was hoping for.
Part of the reason Hannah and Houston's formal photos were so fun is the people they had standing by their side. I loved working with Hannah and Houston's wedding party and being silly following their couple portraits. It was a great way to break the ice and keep everything loose and fun as the minutes to their wedding ceremony quickly ticked away.
I'll be honest. I was a bit worried about Hannah and Houston's ceremony plans in the days leading up to their wedding. But I'm always nervous for any outdoor wedding ceremonies after October.
Thankfully, these two lucked out massively with an absolutely beautiful day and their 4:30 ceremony was perfectly timed to take full advantage of some beautiful lighting that just made everything pop.
I could tell this was going to be a fun ceremony when I saw the looks on both Houston and Hannah's faces as they walked down the aisle and things only got better from there.
Hannah and Houston's ceremony wasn't long but it WAS impactful and full of special little touches, like including Hannah's uncle as the officiant for the event.
Hannah's uncle had a great time overseeing this beautiful ceremony and made sure to keep things light and fun while the bride and groom themselves were clearly soaking in every second of it. And the end? When the newlyweds raised their arms in victory? It summed up this afternoon so well.
Following Hannah and Houston's ceremony, the three of us made our way to a brief bit of family formals with folks who weren't able to attend the earlier session and were planning on going right inside to their cocktail hour but I just couldn't help myself. I needed a couple extra shots of these two by themselves to put a bow on their bride and groom portraits and I'm glad I did as I was able to get the last little bit of color left in the leaves at this venue.
They made for some of my favorite shots of the entire day.
Once inside, it was detail time and, man, did Hannah and Houston knock this aspect of their wedding out. I loved all of their decor but especially the classic late autumn colors on their centerpieces and table decorations.
As guests began to take their seats, I couldn't help but hope the reception lived up to the perfect day these two were having so far and any doubts I may have had went out the door the minute the wedding party was introduced.
Talk about setting a tone.
Hannah and Houston started their reception off with a beautiful first dance set to an incredibly fitting song: "Amazing Day" by Coldplay.
It's hard to think of a song that would have summed up this moment better. I loved Hannah and Houston's first dance, especially as their guests watched from their tables and the newlyweds took center stage by themselves. It was a sweet moment and one where they were truly alone with each other as they swayed from one side of the dance floor to the other.
Hannah and Houston kept the formalities of their reception pretty simple. The two had a pair of toasts and a blessing prior to dinner and a pair of parent dances following dinner. Each of these moments was different from the others and each highlighted a special relationship the bride and groom had with those closest to them.
Midway through Hannah's dance with her father, the bride and groom officially invited everyone in the room to the dance floor to get the party started and, let me tell you, this crowd didn't have to be told twice.
From the very first song of the open dance floor period until the lights came on and it was time to go home, this crowd ROCKED out.
I've rarely had a reception with this many people on the dance floor all night long but Hannah and Houston's reception was one I know they'll talk about for years to come. It was so much fun that having a guest dressed as Spider-Man vibing in the middle of the crowd is just ONE of the highlights of the night.
I shot a lot of wedding receptions in 2022 but few wore me out the way Hannah and Houston's did. It was a nonstop party from the jump and there was so much to see and so much to shoot that I could have spent another three hours there and still felt like I missed things.
And that, to me, is the sign of a legendary wedding day.
The craziest part is, even without the reception Hannah and Houston's wedding was amazing. But that party? Man. That will be I don't forget for quite some time.
So thank you Hannah and Houston for allowing me to document your journey down the aisle and for throwing a wild night I'm still looking back on fondly months into 2023. Your reception is a great illustration of why I will never get bored shooting weddings and I can only hope the rest of your lives together are this much fun.
Congratulations and best of luck!
-Paul J. Spetrini
Check out more of my most recent wedding blogs:
Lake Pearl,
Wrentham, Massachusetts
November 4th, 2022
The Red Lion Inn,
Cohasset, Massachusetts
October 31st, 2022
Trinity Church, Wrentham, Mass. &
Kirkbrae Country Club, Lincoln, RI
October 28th, 2022
The Vendor List:
Photographer: Paul J. Spetrini, Paul J. Spetrini Photography; Bride's Hair & Make-up: Balayaged & Bridal; Bride's Dress: Chryssie’s Bridal; Groom's Suit: The Groom Store by Franklin Rogers; Florist: Rose Hill Garden; Ceremony & Reception Venue: Brookmeadow Country Club; DJ: Do It All DJs; Donuts: Basic Batch Donuts; Mirror Signs & Decorations: By Laura.