Blog— Weddings — Rhode Island — 2021 —
Kinney Bungalow Wedding Photos
Katelyn & Lauren
Kinney Bungalow at Sunset Farm, Narragansett, Rhode Island
September 10th, 2021
If there's one thing I want all of my couples to be when they're working with me on their wedding day, it's comfortable. As such, I take great pride in my ability to work with all brides and grooms to help them put together the wedding photos of their dreams.
But when it comes to same sex couples, I double my efforts.
The reason is two fold: First, there's so many standard and rigid traditions when it comes to weddings that any couple that doesn't fit the "typical mold" might not feel comfortable conforming to any pre-planned posing or style of photography. Second, I know there's a better than average chance these couples are going to have the most fun and easygoing days I get to photograph.
And in the case of Katelyn and Lauren, who were married in September at Kinney Bungalow at Sunset Farm in Narragansett, Rhode Island, that's an understatement. Not only was their day beautiful but their reception was the very definition of a giant party.
More importantly, their day was THEM. From start to finish, Lauren and Katelyn had the wedding of their dreams and I'm just glad I was along for the ride to document it all because it. was. awesome.
My coverage of Katelyn and Lauren's wedding day began with bridal prep. Obviously. But, more specifically, it began with Lauren's bridal prep, which featured some last minute preparations for the day, including hanging up a photo backdrop and finishing the table decorations.
Once she was finished with the last items of her to-do list, Lauren and her side of the wedding party got dressed in absolutely beautiful maroon-colored suits which really stood out. And though Lauren wasn't a 'girly girl' when it came to getting ready, it was pretty clear these final few moments before she and Katelyn shared their first look were quite special as she put her shirt, tie and jacket on with those closest to her.
Katelyn, who arrived a few minutes after Lauren was fully dressed, leaned more toward the traditional bridal prep and it was great to see such balance between these two brides. I especially loved Katelyn's gorgeous dress and the little moments she had with her grandmother, mother and bridesmaids as they all played small roles in getting her ready to head out to see her soon-to-be wife.
Katelyn and Lauren chose to share a first look prior to walking down the aisle and I'm so glad they did. Not only was it a super sweet moment between the two brides but it made it possible for them to have a private moment before they exchanged their vows and allowed us time to grab a couple of formal photos of the two brides before the day got too crazy.
And Lauren's reaction to seeing her soulmate in her dress? Priceless.
Following their first look, Lauren and Katelyn got ready to make things official with a short but sweet ceremony that was intimate and personal yet lighthearted and fun at the same time. I especially loved how they each entered with their parents by their side but Lauren still went first, allowing her chance to soak in the moment where she watched her bride walk down the aisle the way a traditional groom would. It was sweet and you could tell how much that little moment meant to her.
The ceremony as a whole featured an abundance of those little moments and by the time Lauren and Katelyn said "I do" and sealed it with a kiss, it was clear these girls were ready to kick back and party.
But first, of course, we needed to grab their remaining parents and formal photos, as well as snap a couple of bride and bride portraits.
Truth be told, this might have been the most stressful part of Lauren and Katelyn's wedding day as a lot of their closest people really wanted to start the reception then and there but, thankfully, when it came time to get serious for moment, this awesome wedding party obliged and made for some really sweet photos together with the two brides.
And though we only spent a few more minutes on bride and bride portraits after these formal photos, we managed to capture my favorite shots of Lauren and Katelyn in this span as the sun was shining beautifully on the aptly-named Sunset Farm.
Heading into Lauren and Katelyn's reception, I truly had no idea what to expect as Lauren herself didn't strike me as a big dancer ... at least not in front of 100 or so people. But, to her credit, Lauren played her part beautifully and her first dance with Katelyn, set to “I'm With You” by Vance Joy, was one of the absolute highlights of this amazing wedding day.
Following their first dance, Lauren and Katelyn's wedding reception took a more casual turn for the rest of the night.
Sure, there were still a handful of traditional moments — like speeches from the maid of honor and best man, sunset formals, a cake cutting and a father-daughter dance between Katelyn and her dad — but, for the most part, the remainder of the night was about sharing moments and making memories and less about formalities and I loved that so much for these two brides.
Perhaps the most anticipated part of the night, though, was the open dance floor and in this regard, Katelyn and Lauren's friends and family members did not disappoint.
Whether it was Katelyn tearing up the dance floor, or Lauren playfully getting dragged onto it by her friends when all she wanted to do was sip a Bud Light and relax, there were few moments where these two brides weren't right in the thick of the party once the music kicked into high gear.
I especially love the giant Pride flag that made its debut early on in the reception as it was a HUGE hit with this crowd, for obvious reasons. The entire vibe of this reception was just low and acceptance and, honestly, I can think of no better representation that that flag which no less than a dozen people decided to use to limbo under or dance with. What fun and what a great item to see when you're a wedding photographer looking to capture moments.
As the night came to a close, Katelyn disappeared for a bit and reappeared in a nice, white floral dress and she and Lauren celebrated the end of their wedding reception in the best way possible ... a giant conga line.
All in all, I honestly can't enough about Lauren and Katelyn's awesome wedding day. For these two brides, saying "I do" was about so much more than traditions or the same cookie-cutter style wedding day you might see in bridal magazines or TV shows.
Katelyn and Lauren had a vision for how THEY wanted to get married and they stuck to it and it was an absolute, total and complete smashing success.
So thank you Lauren and Katelyn for including me on your journey down the aisle and I'm honored you allowed me to be the one to document the day you became "Mrs. and Mrs." Good luck on this next journey of your life and may the rest of your life be as fun as the day you became wife and wife. :)
-Paul J. Spetrini
Check out more of my most recent wedding blogs:
Matthew & Christine
St. Peter's Church &
Quidnessett Country Club
August 29th, 2021
The Vendor List:
Photographer: Paul J. Spetrini, Paul J. Spetrini Photography; Bride's Make-up: Alexis Seng; Bride's Dress: David's Bridal; Ceremony & Reception: Kinney Bungalow at Sunset Farm, Narragansett, Rhode Island; DJ: John from Select Sound DJ; Cake: Michael of Boston/Bridal Gowns.