Gunnar & Aileen
Whenever I get an inquiry from a bride and groom about shooting a mid-December or later wedding, I'm always a bit hesitant to say yes. As much as I love wedding photography, by the end of the year I am usually burned out and in need of a break and adding another shoot so close to the holidays can be problematic, both because of that burn out and also because the weather can be miserable.
Thankfully, I've generally found clients getting married at this time of year to be the easiest to work with and Gunnar and Aileen were no exception.
Gunnar and Aileen were married on a chilly afternoon back in December and they couldn't have been a sweeter pair to work with. All they asked me to do was cover the basics of their day and though we were only together for two and a half hours, we still captured some truly beautiful moments as they become husband and wife.
And, sure, it was cold -- like, really cold -- as we shot their formal photos outside near the water but it was totally worth the slight discomfort when we saw how the photos came out.
My coverage of Gunnar and Aileen's wedding day literally started moments before they walked down the aisle and while that may have been jarring for some photographers, I've had it happen to me enough where I'm used to it, can say hello to the bride and groom and be ready to go right away.
And that was the theme for this day as Gunnar and Aileen wasted no time getting right down to business the moment I arrived.
Gunnar and Aileen's wedding ceremony lasted a little over five minutes but felt perfectly fitting to a couple that doesn't love being the center of attention. And, perhaps more importantly, this short ceremony felt super personal and intimate as their small group of friends and family members in attendance looked on.
I adored this ceremony and particularly loved the way the bride and groom looked at each other like there was no one else in the world at that moment.
Following Gunnar and Aileen's ceremony, the pair held a short receiving line to greet and thank their guests before we made our way outside and braved the windy and chilly temperatures for their formal photos.
Even though the weather wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been for mid-December, Gunnar and Aileen were troopers for committing to the photos and doing their best to not look cold.
I'd say they succeeded for the most part and though we didn't spend TOO MUCH time outside, I think we got a really good variety of bride and groom portraits that I know they'll cherish for a long time.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't eager to get inside after Gunnar and Aileen's formal photos but that was half because of the weather and half because I always love how McGovern's looks for receptions inside their restaurant.
And Gunnar and Aileen did a wonderful job with their decorations, which had a slight hint of the Harry Potter and Game of Thrones theme that I, of course, just loved.
Gunnar and Aileen had a super casual reception and I knew from the moment they shared their first dance to "The Only Exception" by Paramore that it would be a sweet one full of a ton of touching moments.
I especially loved the pair of toasts Aileen and Gunnar received, the first from the bride's maid of honor -- who was incredibly nervous through the entire thing in an adorable way -- and the second from the groom's sister who proved to be downright hilarious in her half speech/half lighthearted roast of her brother.
Following their toasts, Gunnar and Aileen went right into parent dances and their cake cutting as my time with them was quickly coming to a close. I'm glad I was still with them during this time as Aileen's dance with her father was a real tear-jerker and Gunnar's dance with his mother, which turned into a Pulp Fiction-inspired romp, made me chuckle as I saw how silly it was.
While I may not have had as much time with Gunnar and Aileen as I do most couples, honestly, the time I had was perfect. In the two and a half hours we were together, Aileen and Gunnar knocked out all the major moments of their wedding day and did so in a way that was true to their story and beautiful to boot.
And I can't think of a better way to have wrapped up my 2018 wedding schedule.
So congratulations on a beautiful wedding Gunnar and Aileen and best of luck as you head into married life together.
-PJS
Tags: McGoverns On the Water, Massachusetts Weddings, Indoor Weddings, Fall River, Paul J. Spetrini Photography
The Vendor List
Photographer: Paul J. Spetrini, Paul J. Spetrini Photography; Bride's Dress Alterations: Eunice Abreu, Abreu's Design and Alterations; Florist: Brittany Brown, Brittany's Floral Design; Ceremony & Reception: McGovern's On the Water; Officiant: Nancy Krause, Justice of the Peace; DJ: Lisa Gravette, Lisa the DJ.
Check out more of my most recent wedding blogs:
Stacey & Mack
St. Teresa's Church, Attleboro, Mass. &
Independence Harbor, Assonet, Mass.
Date: December 1st, 2018
Nicole & Kurt
The Public House Historic Inn,
Sturbridge, Massachusetts.
Date: November 16th, 2018
Cara & Brandon
First Baptist Church, Hope Valley, RI &
North Beach Clubhouse, Narragansett, RI.
Date: November 11th, 2018
Got a thought? Leave a Reply
