Mike & Kate
Galilee Beach Club, Narragansett, Rhode Island
September 20th, 2014*
Sometimes being a photographer is a strange, strange job. Take, for instance, the wedding of Mike and Kate that I shot back in September. Normally when I'm hired as a second photographer, I am asked to capture the groom's preparation, assist the lead in shooting the wedding and shoot during the reception. But for Mike and Kate, I was only asked to be there for the reception. While it seemed strange at first, by the end of the night it made perfect sense. Because, this, was one heck of a party.
Mike and Kate got married on a beautiful fall evening down in Narragansett and the theme of their wedding, like most in Rhode Island, was a beach-first affair. But unlike your standard oceanfront wedding, these guys went all out on the fun in the sun idea. Outside they had beach games and flip flops for their guests to hang loose and, later in the evening, an incredible firepit with smores at the ready. If this wasn't living in RI, I don't know what is.
Perhaps even more impressive than what was outside was what was inside. Mike and Kate spared no expense to craft a beautiful reception with perhaps the best wedding cake I saw/tasted all season. The little intricate layering in the cake only added to the elegance of the affair and made this reception stand out more than most I was lucky enough to see in 2014.
But even better than that were the bride and groom themselves. Despite never having met them, or even shooting their actual wedding ceremony, I felt right at home with Mike and Kate as they were two of the happiest people I was fortunate enough to photograph this year and whether it was in the toasts in their honor or their smiles on the dance floor, their feelings for each other were clear all night long.
It also didn't hurt that they surrounded themselves with, easily, one of the wildest groups of guests I got to see all year. From the moment the DJ started the first track until it was time to shut the place down, the dance floor was packed all night long. That, if nothing else, is a surefire sign that you've got something special on your hands.
By the end of the night, I may not have had a ton of time with Mike and Kate but they, and their wedding, left a great impression on me and I think it shows in the photos, which were some of my favorite of the season. In all, I guess the lesson learned here is sometimes the party IS the most important part of the wedding.
At least, when you've got an awesome bride, an awesome groom and a room full of great guests.
-PJS
* These photos were taken as part of my work for George Street Photography and are presented here strictly for portfolio/display purposes.