Blog— Weddings — Rhode Island — 2023 —
Kinney Bungalow Wedding Photos
Hanna & Christian
St. Pius X Westerly Parish, Westerly, Rhode Island (Ceremony) &
Kinney Bungalow, Narragansett, Rhode Island (Reception)
September 15th, 2023
Life is rarely like the movies. No matter how much you plan a special event like a wedding, it's rare that things line up in a way that truly feels like a fairy tale. But when it does? Oh, boy, does it feel special.
That's how I felt on the afternoon of Hanna and Christian's beautiful Southern Rhode Island wedding back in September.
Standing outside of Kinney Bungalow in Narragansett, Hanna and Christian decided to brave a slight chill in the air for an outdoor first dance surrounded by their closest friends and family members. They made the decision because Kinney Bungalow, while beautiful, is slightly awkwardly shaped and they wanted all of their guests to be able to watch their first dance but, in truth, it just felt like fate.
Why? Because as they swayed from side to side to “Bloom” by The Paper Kites, the absolute most beautiful sunset of the year came out of nowhere, almost on cue. And if that's not the most magical cap to the most magical wedding day, I simply don't know what is.
Talk about a fairy tale.
My coverage of Hanna and Christian's big day started action-packed and never really let us as I arrived shortly before their ceremony began and managed to capture the last few minutes of Christian greeting guests and getting his boutonniere pinned.
It's always a bit awkward for me when couples choose to forgo photos of their prep process but, thankfully, Hanna and Christian were easy to work with and things felt natural from the very moment I said hello to them. And, to be honest, it's hard for me to complain about getting right into the best parts of the day as one of the first things I got to see was Christian's big smile as Hanna walked down the aisle.
Talk about setting a great tone for a wedding day!
Hanna and Christian said "I do" at St. Pius X Westerly Parish in Westerly, Rhode Island and I loved this little touch for their special day as their priest was Hanna's priest in high school and the ceremony felt personal in a way that you can only have with that kind of special connection.
But that was Hanna and Christian's entire wedding day in a nut shell: Little, well-thought out moments that felt true and authentic to this couple and their love story.
One of the first things Hanna and Christian told me about their wedding day was that they wanted to be outside as much as possible and that they were hoping for the day to be very "go with the flow."
Nowhere was this more true than in their formal photos as we didn't decide until literally moments before leaving their church whether or not we were going to proceed with our original plan of photographing them on the sand at Scarborough Beach.
Heck, it wasn't even until we got TO the beach that we decided this is where their family and wedding party formal photos would be and I'm so glad we stuck with our gut as these photos were just about perfect ... minus a little bit of wind here and there of course.
My favorite photos during this part of Hanna and Christian's day were, obviously, of the bride and groom themselves. Hanna and Christian did a great job looking warmer than the cool ocean breeze made us all feel and at no point did they complain about my many ideas for poses or the occasionally confusing way I asked these two so-called 'non photo people' to embrace each other.
I think the part of this portion of the day that made me laugh the most is when all three of us collectively decided we didn't want to walk the 700 or so feet to the classic Scarborough Beach ruins that is one of the most iconic structures in Southern Rhode Island and decided, instead, to just put it in the background for some photos.
Like I said, this was a VERY 'go with the flow wedding."
I'm so glad Hanna and Christian's beach photos turned out the way they did because, as mentioned above, their day came together with just absolutely perfect timing.
Had we overstayed our time at the beach, we might have missed that beautiful sunset and had this bride and groom not taken my advice when I not so subtly hinted we needed to get introductions going before the light was gone, we might have regretted it forever.
Luckily, it all worked out and I even managed to get 15 seconds — literally — after Hanna and Christian's first dance for a couple of quick bride and groom formal photos before we moved the party inside. I didn't know it would be one of my favorite shots of the year so far but with the way this day turned out, I wasn't exactly surprised.
As we made our way inside of Kinney Bungalow for Hanna and Christian's reception, I loved looking around and seeing just how much their decorations and details matched the laidback vibe they envisioned for their wedding day.
Whether it was a donut wall in lieu of a traditional cake or their beer koozie favors, not to mention the lawn games they had outside, Hanna and Christian wanted to create a relaxed vibe for their big night and they didn't disappoint.
One of the nice things about the pair having had their first dance outside to start their reception was by the time we made our way INTO the venue, all Hanna and Christian really had planned prior to dinner were a few toasts. This meant maximum time celebrating with friends and family and I can think of nothing these two wanted more as they made their way table to table.
After dinner, it was more of the same as the pair only had a pair of parent dances planned before opening their dance floor. But what a pair it was.
I loved watching the fun Hanna and her dad had during their special moment and the way Christian and his mom laughed during theirs. The two dances set a fun vibe in Kinney Bungalow and it was one I hope lasted the entire night.
I got my answer almost immediately.
From just about the minute the DJs opened the dance floor until the final song played, Hanna and Christian's friends and family members were allllll over the place rocking out to a great party playlist and savoring every moment of this awesome late summer/early fall evening.
I'm not sure I could pick out a favorite part of the dancing portion of Hanna and Christian's wedding reception as everywhere I turned, there were countless people feeling the beat and shaking it to the groove. I know that sounds pretty cliche but you would've had to be there to truly appreciate how fun this party was.
What I liked the most about this part of the night for the bride and groom was they were right in the thick of it all and made sure they didn't miss a beat. And whether it was the classic bouquet toss that led to quite the reaction or some wild times with the newlyweds dropping it low, both Hanna and Christian walked away from this reception with plenty of reasons to smile and memories to cherish.
As Hanna and Christian's wedding reception came to end with a giant group hug on the middle of the dance floor, I couldn't help thinking that was the way their wedding was always meant to end.
For a couple that made their day about everyone in their life as much as possible, Hanna and Christian's wedding was special not only for the pair saying "I do" but all who got to witness it.
I count myself among that group as this was truly a wedding to remember for me as well as the bride and groom and I'm so glad I got to help document this day for a truly special couple whose best days I have no doubt are still ahead of them.
So, thank you Hanna and Christian for including me on your journey down the aisle and best of luck on this new and exciting chapter of your lives together.
-Paul J. Spetrini
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The Vendor List:
Photographer: Paul J. Spetrini, Paul J. Spetrini Photography; Bride's Hair and Make-up: Spa Mosaic; Bride's Dress: Tulle Bridal; Florist: AB Flowers & More; Ceremony Venue: St. Pius X Westerly Parish, Westerly, Rhode Island; Reception Venue: Kinney Bungalow at Sunset Farm, Narragansett, Rhode Island; DJ: Music Express; Donut Wall: Allie's Donuts.