Ken & Arta
Oceancliff Hotel in Newport, Rhode Island
October 30th, 2015*
Everybody wants an October wedding in Rhode Island but, perhaps more than any other time of the year, it's a massive risk weather-wise.
You never know what you're going to get in October. It could look like an August afternoon ... or you could see snow.
But when you guess right and plan a wedding on a day that turns out to be beautiful? There's really nothing like it.
For Ken and Arta, that proved to be the case at the end of October during their Newport wedding at the Oceancliff. I've gone on record as saying the Oceancliff is perhaps my favorite wedding venue in Rhode Island and it's with good reason. It's a beautiful spot.
Add in an incredible and unseasonably warm day and a gorgeous sunset? Well, that's practically unfair. And Ken and Arta did just that.
So allow me to show off some of my favorite photos from their wedding day, The word 'breathtaking' doesn't do it justice.
Ken and Arta were incredibly smart in the way they planned their day as the two knew they wanted an afternoon ceremony but decided to see each other before the wedding with a first look to maximize the sunlight in their formal photos.
This made bride and groom prep a little more hurried than usual but it went off without much of a hitch.
And, bonus, I finally got to explore the beautiful hotel rooms at the Oceancliff. They're just as nice as the reception area.
Like most grooms in his situation, Ken started feeling the pressure of the day as the time for the first look approached. Luckily, because the weather was nice, we went outside to get some air and wait for Arta and the beautiful sun and flowers did wonders to relax the groom-to-be.
It's hard to blame Ken for feeling any nerves, however. His bride was absolutely stunning and everyone in attendance knew it. By the time Ken finally got to turn around and see her in all her glory? Yeah, he couldn't contain his excitement.
I had a ton of fun with Ken and Arta but no more so than during their formal photo session as the two were down for any ideas we had.
And the one thing they asked for was the one thing that really made the session pop ... the addition of some leaves thrown by family members who were just off camera. Of course, if you're going to have a fall wedding, you can't forget the leaves.
OK, maybe we went a little bit too far with the leaves but the point remains the same. Finally finished with their formal session, Ken and Arta were able to relax before their ceremony. And what a ceremony it was.
This. This view. This view is what sets Oceancliff apart from everywhere else. Every single time.
My personal favorite memory from Ken and Arta's wedding will be the two of them hustling off to a large group photo before walking down the aisle as husband and wife. Once the group photo was over, I just had to insist the two get a proper recessional.
It was only right and, man, am I glad I did.
With their ceremony over, it was just about time to party.
Ken and Arta took some time to greet all their guests during an extended cocktail hour but, at the same time, we all kept our eyes open waiting for the moment when the sun would set in the hopes we'd get a great sunset. Boy, did we ever ...
Ken and Arta's decision to sneak away from their cocktail hour for sunset shots is something I'm so glad we did. These came out awesome and, while you wouldn't be able to tell, they only took a few minutes in all and we were back in the dance hall before anyone knew otherwise.
Speaking of the reception, this was one part of the day I knew would steal the show. Because anytime you start off your reception with a cultural dance involving the entirety of those in attendance, you're definitely off on the right foot.
All in all, Ken and Arta's day couldn't have gone much better if we tried.
The two picked one of my favorite wedding venues in the state, had a beautiful day during arguably the most beautiful time of year in one of the country's most beautiful cities and nailed every single detail perfectly from start to finish.
While October is an incredibly risky month to plan a wedding, Ken and Arta's big day shows why the risk is worth it.
Because, sometimes, things align perfectly and, when they do, there's just nothing like it.
Don't believe me? Start this blog over again because, honestly, things don't get much better than this.
A great day, a great couple and a wonderful wedding. Who could ask for more?
-PJS
* These photos were taken as part of my work for George Street Photography and are presented here strictly for portfolio/display purposes.