Kevin & Joanna
Cranston Country Club (Ceremony & Reception)
October 15th, 2017
While the goal of most wedding photographers is to grow their business as large as possible, my biggest hope no matter how much I improve and gain confidence in my abilities is that I'll never lose touch with where I came from and because of that I will always love clients like Kevin and Joanna, who were married back in October at Cranston Country Club.
Kevin and Joanna approached me a few months after I photographed Kevin's sister Kim's wedding back in August of 2016 and told me they were hesitant to book a wedding photographer because they wanted to keep their day a simple, no frills event where everything was as bare bones and basic as possible.
I've learned most times when clients speak like that, they're hoping to have a small wedding with just their closest friends and family members but just because you're not having a giant all-out bash doesn't mean you shouldn't have great photos to remember the day by.
And boy am I glad Kevin and Joanna decided to include me in their special day. Because not only was their wedding full of awesome moments, but it one of the most fun times I had with a couple all year long.
More importantly, we created photos that I know they'll cherish for the rest of their lives.
And, really, isn't that the entire point of shooting weddings?
My coverage of Kevin and Joanna's wedding day began much differently than it does for most couples as the bride-to-be decided not to have any of her bridal prep session photographed as she's not a fan of being the center of attention.
I didn't mind, to be honest, as it was refreshing to get right down to business the moment I arrived to a shoot and Joanna must have felt the same way as she practically sprinted down the aisle the moment her and Kevin's wedding ceremony began.
Not that I can blame her. Weddings are tough for those who don't want all eyes on them and I could tell by watching Joanna, who seemingly shook nervously for most of her ceremony, that while she waited years for this moment, she was definitely looking forward to getting this ceremony over as fast as possible.
Kevin, on the other hand, looked completely head-over-heels in love with his bride and, in a touching moment, leaned in for a kiss the moment Joanna arrived, not waiting for the traditional "You may now kiss the bride moment." That kiss seemed to work as Joanna calmed down slightly for the rest of the ceremony but I could see her tension disappear after the nuptials were complete.
I really liked the cozy feeling of Kevin and Joanna's wedding ceremony as the small lounge area of Cranston Country Club provided just enough space to accommodate their relatively intimate group of guests and the grounds to the location proved the perfect spot for formal photos afterward as there were plenty of areas to explore in the time we allotted for photos.
Kevin and Joanna were a laid back couple but, thankfully, they were down for any ideas I had for formal photos and we took some really nice shots on a slightly colder day than we were hoping for from mid-October.
Luckily, Cranston Country Club had plenty of foliage left on the trees of their course and it was the perfect backdrop as we explored the grounds a little bit more.
My favorite part of the venue, though, was definitely the ballroom as the space was beautifully done and laid out perfectly. In addition to a great paint job that provided a nice background for candid photos later in the night, the venue had a great staircase that gave me a nice shot of Kevin and Joanna walking into their reception as well as provided an awesome vantage point for a huge group photo of the two with all their guests following the best man's toast.
After the group shot, Kevin and Joanna took some time to relax and have dinner but were gracious enough to allow me to pull them outside for some shots as the sun was beginning to set.
From there, the rest of the night was all about partying and Kevin and Joanna sure knew how to bust a move on the dance floor as the two pared down a lot of the signature events you see in a wedding to a simple cake cutting and first dance but still managed to entertain all of their friends and family with a night of non-stop dancing thanks to the musical styling of their live band Rory and the Blues Hounds.
I've got to admit, for such a small group of wedding guests, Kevin and Joanna's wedding reception was a really fun time with a TON of dancing. It didn't hurt, of course, that the pair had a group of awesome kids busting a move on the dance floor but even the older adults found plenty of music to like as the band's set list was a mix of contemporary music and classic party tracks.
At the end of the night, I knew Kevin and Joanna's wedding was a huge hit and knew I would be leaving with a ton of great photos that I couldn't wait to edit.
What I didn't know was how appreciative the bride and groom would be.
On my way out the door, I was stopped by both of them separately and thanked profusely for my efforts in documenting their wedding day and it was then that it hit me that the pair must have expected me to show up, take a few photos and call it a night instead of treating their small wedding the way I would a wedding twice or three times its size.
But as I told them when I first met them, I don't care how large or small a wedding day is. I truly believe every couple deserves great photos from their wedding and thanks to this bride and groom, and a room full of awesome friends and family members, I believe we created just that while also staying true to the spirit of their day.
So congratulations Kevin and Joanna! I hope your wedding day was as special for you as it was for me and I wish you all the luck in married life.
-PJS
Tags: Cranston Country Club, Indoor Weddings, Rhode Island Weddings, Cranston, Paul J. Spetrini Photography
The Vendor List
Photographer: Paul J. Spetrini Paul J. Spetrini Photography; Flowers: Sara Pianka of Sahara's Secret Garden; Band: Rory and the Blues Hounds.
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