Jacob & Stephanie
Foster Country Club, Foster, Rhode Island (Ceremony & Reception)
June 16th, 2018
There's always a risk you take in planning a summer wedding in New England. If you gamble right, you could end up with one of the most beautiful days of the year full of sunshine and amazing sites in a region that can't be beat for pure beauty. If you gamble wrong, however, you could end up with an uncomfortably hot day where you sweat through your nice clothes and feel like you're slowly melting from the inside.
Then there are couples like Jacob and Stephanie, whose June 2018 wedding at Foster Country Club in Foster, Rhode Island was somewhere in the middle.
Jacob and Stephanie lucked out, so to speak, with one of the warmest days of the year and though it was at times nearly unbearably warm, the two put on a brave face and kept their cool and composure as they said "I do" in one of the most special days of their lives.
And by the time the night was over, the 80+ degree day they lived through for their nuptials seemed only fitting because this was one party that was hot from start to finish.
And I can't think of a better way to have started the summer wedding season.
My coverage of Stephanie and Jacob's wedding day began with one of the most fun bridal prep sessions I've had all year as Stephanie and her family were a blast to hang out with in her home in Chepachet.
Stephanie has a large and boisterous family and watching them run around trying to get ready for the wedding was at times hilarious and at times chaotic.
But in the middle of that chaos was the bride herself. Stephanie looked super relaxed throughout her hair and makeup session and appeared genuinely excited, with no nerves, at the prospect of having one of the biggest moments of her life in just a few hours.
And once she got the dress on, I knew we were in for a special day.
Following a couple last-minute adjustments and a group effort to get Stephanie in her shoes, we were off for Foster Country Club.
Going into Jacob and Stephanie's big day, one of the things I was looking most forward to was their first look before the ceremony and it didn't disappoint. Surrounded by their friends and family at the gazebo where they would later get married, Stephanie wowed her soon-to-be-husband and we were quickly on the path to some hot and humid formal photos before their ceremony began at 5 p.m.
I've got to be honest. I loved all the extra time we built into Jacob and Stephanie's wedding day as it gave us the ability to shoot half of their family and wedding party formal photos prior to the ceremony and still leave the bride and groom with about a half hour to relax before they walked down the aisle.
Oh, and the aisle they'd walk down? Talk about picture perfect on this early summer day.
Stephanie and Jacob were married outside the country club with their closest friends and family members looking on. I was worried about the start of this ceremony as it was still crazy hot and humid but, by the time the bride walked down the aisle, it cooled down just enough to be nice and comfortable.
If I had to pick a "favorite" part of Stephanie and Jacob's wedding ceremony, it would likely be when Stephanie put Jacob's ring on the wrong hand and cracked up laughing when she realized what she had done.
As for the "most romantic" part of it, that honor would go to their beautiful and quick unity candle ceremony, followed closely by the look of pure happiness as they made their way down the aisle following their "I dos."
After Stephanie and Jacob's ceremony, the weather cooled down considerably and that made the back half of their family and wedding party formal photos, of which there were plenty, much easier.
What I was looking forward to the most, though, was time alone with the bride and groom for their individual portraits and that did not disappoint.
Stephanie, Jacob and I took a golf cart over to a beautiful covered bridge at the country club and it made for a stunning backdrop to some of my favorite photos of the year thus far.
I could have shot photos of Stephanie and Jacob for another half hour easily but we still had a party to attend.
And what a party it was.
Stephanie and Jacob chose an interesting mix of brown and pink for their color scheme and it popped nicely against the lighter colors of the Foster Country Club banquet room for sure.
I loved the little details in Stephanie and Jacob's wedding reception but it was their first dance which really moved me as they chose "All of me" by John Legend as their song. Longtime readers of this blog will know that song holds a special place in my heart and always gets me teary eyed during a wedding.
This was no exception, even if Jacob and Stephanie weren't the over-the-top sentimental couple I'm used to seeing dance to this track.
Following their first dance, Jacob and Stephanie hit all the familiar beats of a wedding reception with a great toast by the best man, a lovely dance between Stephanie and her uncle Dwayne, the traditional mother-son dance and a cute cake cutting where Jacob got his wife good with some dessert to the face.
It was what was in the middle of all of this that I was looking forward to the most as I was able to pull the bride and groom outside for another few minutes for some nice sunset shots as well as a cool Mr. and Mrs. kiss shot under the gazebo where they said "I do" only hours earlier.
Following the formalities of their wedding reception, I knew moments into the DJ opening the dance floor that this was going to be a wild and crazy night.
And any doubt about that prediction went out the window when Stephanie and Jacob's DJ turned on SEVEN sets of party lights AND a smoke machine.
Add in some awesome photo booth props that "magically" found their way to the dance floor and it's easy to see how fast things can get out of control. In a good way, of course.
Stephanie and Jacob had a blast at their reception. I don't know how Stephanie managed to it but she somehow seemed all over the dance floor AND all around the room with guests at the same time.
Jacob, meanwhile, was a bit more reserved and only danced for a little while during my time there but he was having a great time spending moments with those closest to him.
The look of pure joy on both their faces was awesome and easily one of my favorite parts of this wedding day.
As I got ready to call it a night with Stephanie and Jacob, I knew that was a party I wouldn't soon forget and a wedding I would remember for some some time as well.
Stephanie and Jacob's wedding day was as perfect a day as you can ask for and the exact thing you hope for as a bride planning a summer wedding.
I have no doubt this bride and groom were thrilled with how their day turned out ... even if they did occasionally have to recompose themselves because of the heat.
But, looking back on the photos, I know it was worth it. For sure.
So congrats Stephanie and Jacob. Thanks for including me in a wedding day unlike any other and if that party is just how you and your people roll, count me in for the next one soon. :)
-PJS
Tags: Foster Country Club, Outdoor Weddings, Rhode Island Weddings, Foster,
Paul J. Spetrini Photography
The Vendor List
Photographer: Paul J. Spetrini, Paul J. Spetrini Photography; Cake: Bianca Christofaro, Queen B's Cakery, Johnston, RI; Hair: Amanda Amarol, Gazebo Hair Salon, Cranston, RI; Make-up: Meghan, Gazebo Hair Salon, Cranston, RI; Flowers: Erin, Touch of Vermont, Cranston, RI; Bride's dress: Alexandra's Boutique; Groom's suit: Men's Warehouse; Officiant: Robert M. Ferrieri; DJ: DJ Clashious Clay.
Check out more of my most recent wedding blogs:
Zach & Kelly
Location: Blissful Meadows Golf Club, Uxbridge, Massachusetts.
Date: June 2nd, 2018
The Schooner Aurora & Regatta Place,
Newport, Rhode Island.
Date: May 31st, 2018
Kendra & Joe
Location: Crystal Lake Golf Club,
Mapleville, Rhode Island.
Date: May 26th, 2018
Got a thought? Leave a Reply
