David & Whitney
Castle Hill Inn in Newport, Rhode Island
October 19th, 2018*
No matter how many weddings you shoot, sometimes there are things you just can't control that can make a day uncomfortable. And if you're shooting in New England, well, there's a good chance it's weather-related.
That's why I'm always just a little bit happier when I see a couple refuse to let Mother Nature dampen their plans and in the case of David and Whitney and their mid-October wedding at Castle Hill Inn in Newport, Rhode Island, that meant not only dealing with chilly temperatures and rough wind on their big day but smiling about it and having a good time regardless.
And what a time it was.
David and Whitney had a beautiful wedding despite the chill and all you have to do is see the smile on their face throughout the day to know there was nothing that was going to slow down the great memories they made on the afternoon they said "I do."
My coverage of David and Whitney's big day began with a bit of a rushed groom prep session as the groom-to-be patiently waited for me to arrive to open the gift his soon-to-be wife got him. When he finally did open it, I could why he was so eager as she got him a beautiful historic chess board and piece set but it was the way he reacted to the card that put a smile on my face.
Though David was fully dressed when I arrived and just about ready to go to his ceremony, there was still plenty of time for him to hang out with his groomsmen, drink a little and joke around. I'm glad there was as I could tell it calmed the groom-to-be and made our eventual walk over to the tented area of Castle Hill Inn that much more fun.
And speaking of Castle Hill Inn ... wow. It may have been unseasonably chilly on this October afternoon but Castle Hill Inn did their best to make everyone attending this wedding feel warm and cozy with a remarkably beautiful setup inside that I just couldn't wait to take photos of.
David and Whitney had a super sweet ceremony that was really emotional and featured three readings from their closest friends and family members and plenty of stolen glances between the bride and groom.
It doesn't hurt, of course, that it took place outside and that Castle Hill Inn's ceremony site is one of the most gorgeous I've had the pleasure to photograph.
I loved shooting this moment of Whitney and David's day and think it made for some really fun candid shots between the two, especially as they listened to their officiant and exchanged vows.
I'll be honest. Though David and Whitney made the most of their wedding day, it was incredibly difficult to take their formal photos at the lighthouse near Castle Hill Inn as the wind was impossible to work with. Thankfully, that didn't matter as this bride and groom had plenty of patience and I ended up liking the photos we took later by their ceremony site even better.
I adored Whitney and her positively radiant smile and loved the way she brought out David's personality as we took their formals. And I wasn't the only one to notice how happy she looked on this fall afternoon as it was mentioned in all three of the amazing speeches this bride and groom received from the mother of the bride, the maid of honor and the best man.
David and Whitney strayed from the typical order of your usual wedding reception and took care of their toasts and cake cutting first and I'm glad they did. Not only was the cake cutting a super sweet moment between the newlyweds but it built up an anticipation for the first dance and made me hopeful they'd do something special.
Luckily, this bride and groom delivered.
I absolutely LOVE the photos of David and Whitney dancing for the first time as husband and wife, in no small part because of how beautiful their reception venue looked as the night sky gave a great contrast with the beautiful uplighting they chose.
Seriously. Talk about some awesome candid moments.
And we were just getting started.
Following their parent dances, which were both great, David and Whitney rocked the night away with their awesome live band and had tons of fun on the dance floor ... whether it was with each other, with silly photo booth props or with an impromptu karaoke performance at the request of the band.
By the time I left David and Whitney's wedding, I could tell I witnessed a fun night this bride and groom would never forget. I adore Castle Hill Inn and love shooting weddings there and this venue truly brought out the best in this bride and groom and the day they had.
Was it a perfect day? No way. It was far too windy and chilly for that. But was it perfect for David and Whitney? Well, judging by their nonstop smiles and the laughs they shared, I'd say that was a resounding yes.
So congratulations David and Whitney and thanks for including me on your cold, but nevertheless super awesome, wedding day. :)
-PJS
* These photos were taken as part of my work for George Street Photography and are presented here strictly for portfolio/display purposes.
Tags: Castle Hill Inn, Outdoor Weddings, Rhode Island Weddings, Newport,
Paul J. Spetrini Photography
Check out more of my most recent wedding blogs:
Amanda & Josh (Reception)
Loon Pond Lodge,
Lakeville, Massachusetts
Date: October 14th, 2018
Katie & Steve
The Villa at Ridder Country Club
East Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Date: October 13th, 2018
Rob & Allie
South Ferry Church & The Towers
Narragansett, Rhode Island
Date: October 7th, 2018
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