Lauren & Kevin
Carolyn's Sakonnet Vineyard, Little Compton, Rhode Island
July 3rd, 2015*
As intense as wedding planning is, with the time spent going over each and every minute detail of the day, the one thing you can never predict is the weather and, try as you may, that gigantic part of your day is completely out of your hands and a mystery right up until you get out of the car and head to aisle.
For Lauren and Kevin and their wedding on the weekend of the Fourth of July, that mystery turned out to be a great surprise as the two got, perhaps, the most beautiful day of 2015. That it also happened to be the biggest day of their lives was a nice bonus.
So join me as I look back on one of my most breathtaking weddings of the 2015 season. Seriously. This one was just about perfect.
My day began with Kevin and his groomsmen and right from the beginning, I could tell it was going to be a fun afternoon and evening as the group was incredibly laid back and there wasn't a nerve to be seen in the house. After a rowdy groomsmen formal shoot, I turned my attention to Lauren and Kevin's rings and, boy, were these rings amazing.
Seriously. I could have spent the whole day taking the rings around the site of the wedding and just photographed them. But, alas, we needed to turn our attention to the ceremony itself and some point and, amazingly, that proved just as beautiful a site to see as the rings themselves.
Lauren and Kevin chose Carolyn's Sakonnet Vineyard in Little Compton for their ceremony and reception site and while I'd never been there before, seeing the way the sun fell perfectly on their 5:30 p.m. ceremony made me add this site to my list of places I'd love to photograph a wedding at again. And then again. And then 10 more times.
Lauren and Kevin's ceremony was quick and to the point and that said a lot about this relaxed and carefree couple. The two weren't big on the formalities of a wedding, though you'd never know it by looking at their incredibly detailed details.
From the flowers to the food and even an oddly-shaped Octopus that has special meaning to the couple, just about every little piece of this wedding popped off the camera and made for some of the nicest details I've shot at a wedding in quite some time.
What I loved the most about Lauren and Kevin was how easy-going they were. It may have been a wedding, and in that comes a certain amount of stress and pressure, but these two were so lost in each other that nothing was going to stop them from enjoying every second of this day.
Lauren and Kevin also had a ton of awesome guests, highlighted by two nice and thoughtful speeches by the maid of honor and best man. And their choice of uplighting just gave the entire room a movie-quality look that shows why lighting is a vital touch to any reception.
After the toasts, we made our way outside for some awesome sunset photos but, honestly, you can scroll to the bottom to see my favorite from that batch. For now, let's focus on Lauren and Kevin's cake because, as you'll see, I couldn't take my eyes off of it. Not with that lighting behind it. Oh, no. I could have shot this thing all night as well.
One of the coolest things about Lauren and Kevin's reception was the elevated stage that just gave the room a concert vibe and by hiring a live band, the proceedings just came to life like few receptions I've seen before. It seemed like EVERYONE on the dance floor was soaking the moment up. And I think capturing the spirit of the night was much easier because of it.
Whether it was a Michael Jackson-inspired pose off with the lead singer of the band or posing with selfie sticks, there was something for everyone at this reception and by the time it was time for me to go, I was almost bummed as I wondered what I'd miss out on.
Thankfully, when my time to leave did come, I knew I had plenty of great photos to remember this day. Like the aforementioned sunset shot. I mean, seriously, this is just gorgeous ...
And there you have it. All in all, Lauren and Kevin's wedding was, quite possibly, the most beautiful all-around day I've had as a professional wedding photographer. With beautiful sunlight, amazing details and an awesome couple – not to mention a great sunset itself – I really couldn't have asked for more. Now, the question is ... anyone planning a wedding at this venue?
Because I need to go back. Soon. And often.
-PJS
* These photos were taken as part of my work for George Street Photography and are presented here strictly for portfolio/display purposes.