Samantha & Kyle
One of the few things that bums me out on a wedding day is when a couple feel pressured to act like somebody else, as if there's some sort of definition of what a bride and groom are supposed to be. You can almost always tell when this is the case as the couple looks tense and appear to be trying to be something that they're not.
That's why I absolutely adore when a bride and groom stay true to themselves and present exactly who they are.
And that's one of the biggest reasons I had so much fun shooting Samantha and Kyle's wedding at Chelo's Waterfront Bar & Grille back in June.
Samantha and Kyle were an awesome couple but, more importantly, they were incredibly "what you see is what you get" and had an absolute blast being themselves on a day when so many others simply don't.
They made inappropriate jokes. They kept their ceremony short and sweet. They wore clothes (and shoes) that made them comfortable. In essence, they planned the perfect wedding for who they are and stuck to what they wanted to do. And perfect is a great way to describe what took place on this summer afternoon.
My coverage of Samantha and Kyle's wedding day began with a rare treat: Even though I was playing the role of second shooter, I got to spend time with the bride during bridal prep instead of the groom.
I'm glad I did because Samantha and her family were an absolute riot during one of the most carefree and casual prep sessions I've ever seen.
In fact, not only was the bride dressed and ready to go two hours early, the only thing stopping us from getting her formal photos out of the way was a light mist that hovered over her parent's home.
Thankfully, the weather held off long enough for us to knock some really sweet shots of Samantha and her family members. And, best of all, it provided the absolute perfect light for her and Kyle's first look at Goddard Park a little while later.
I always find it a tad odd when I photograph a first look or wedding ceremony without having met either the bride or groom but all it took was a few moments with Samantha and Kyle to feel like I'd known them for years.
And that easy nature paid off nicely as we breezed through family photos.
I especially loved watching this bride and groom interact with their daughter, who was one of the two flower girls. As the family and wedding party photos were being taken care of, I made sure to keep a special eye on her as she was adorable and having a great time watching her parents say "I do."
After a round of really easy and relaxed family portraits, Samantha, Kyle and I made our way to the beach area of Goddard Park for a few more bride and groom portraits.
It's crazy how much time we all had for these photos but I'm glad I did because watching the bride and groom interact when no one else was around was a treat and possibly my favorite part of the entire day.
By the time it came time to actually photograph Samantha and Kyle's wedding, it felt like we had spent an entire weekend together.
Thankfully, the ceremony itself was as laid back as the people exchanging vows. Samantha and Kyle weren't ones for long, drawn out nuptials. Instead, they got together in front of their closest family members and friends, said a few words and called it a day.
I wish all wedding ceremonies were this easy.
Speaking of laid back, I don't think Samantha and Kyle could have picked a more appropriate location for their wedding reception as Chelo's Waterfront Bar & Grille is a great spot to have a delicious dinner and an intimate reception.
What it lacks in room to dance, it more than makes up for in character as the reception was on the smaller side and everyone felt like they were an arm's length away.
And when you have a family as fun and rowdy as Samantha's, that intimate feeling of a classic family function is certainly welcome.
The only downside to this being a wedding that I was second shooting is I didn't get to stay for as long as I normally do. Thankfully, I was there long enough to watch Samantha and Kyle's first dance.
Set to "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran, with an assist from Beyonce, the two started the party off right with a super sweet and touching dance where both had huge smiles on their faces from the first to final note.
By the time it was time for me to call it a night, I knew Samantha and Kyle had had a wedding they wouldn't soon forget.
Not only did this bride and groom deal with cloudy skies all day long and somehow avoid the rain but they never had that stereotypical "stressed out" moment most couples face on their wedding day.
It was actually refreshing to see such an easy-going couple have such an easy-going day.
Nevertheless, I know this was exactly the wedding these two had hoped for when they started planning their big event and getting to see it in person, and capture it via my camera, was a gift I don't take for granted and won't soon forget.
-PJS
* These photos were taken as part of my work for George Street Photography and are presented here strictly for portfolio/display purposes.
Tags: Chelo's Waterfront Bar & Grille, Outdoor Weddings, Rhode Island Weddings, Warwick,
Paul J. Spetrini Photography
Check out more of my most recent wedding blogs:
Zach & Kelly
Blissful Meadows,
Uxbridge, Massachusetts.
Date: June 2nd, 2018
Mike & Kate
The Schooner Aurora & Regatta Place,
Newport, Rhode Island.
Date: May 31st, 2018
Kendra & Joe
Crystal Lake Golf Club,
Mapleville, Rhode Island.
Date: May 26th, 2018
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