Blog— Weddings — Rhode Island — 2021 —
Newport Vineyards Wedding Photos
Luke & Ann*
There are few things more disheartening as a wedding photographer than booking a wedding at a venue you really want to check out and finding out it's going to rain the entire day you're there.
While I'm certainly a positive person who will always try to find the bright side to even the darkest of clouds, it's pretty disappointing for the couples I work with and I know, no matter how nicely they spin it, that they would almost all rather the rain, rain go away for the big and special day.
I think that's why I felt a sudden rush of joy moments before Luke and Ann said "I do" inside the indoor ceremony space at Newport Vineyards in Middletown, Rhode Island back in July. While I really, really wish this couple had been able to get married outdoors, the weather was pretty rough all day ... but showed signs of easing up right after their ceremony.
So, I did what any good photographer did the minute they finished walking down the aisle. I called an audible, stole the couple away and we captured the best photos of the entire day ... and some of my favorite portraits of the year so far.
* These photos were taken as part of my work as a second photographer for George Street Photography
and are presented here strictly for portfolio/display purposes.
My time with Luke and Ann began with an unexpected portion of bridal prep at the East Island Reserve Hotel a hop, skip and a jump away from the day's venue. I say unexpected because I photographed this wedding as a second photographer for George Street Photography and, most times, these types of weddings relegate me exclusively to groom prep.
I'm so glad Luke and Ann chose to include me for part of Ann's bridal prep, however, as she was delightful and her girls were so much fun right from the moment we walked in.
It didn't hurt that they were already finished with hair and makeup when I arrived and super excited to get the party rolling.
Luke and Ann planned their day meticulously well, particularly for a bride and groom who live out of the state they were getting married in. In fact, the weather was the only down note this entire day but even that was something we could work around, as we did for their first dance in the upstairs restaurant area of Newport Vineyards.
The fireplace backdrop was, surprisingly, a welcome sight even though we were at an early July wedding and while it was a bit toasty, it was the perfect spot for these soon-to-be newlyweds to see each other right before their ceremony began.
I love that we were able to knock out almost all of Luke and Ann's family and wedding party formals before their ceremony, despite being inside, as it took off a ton of the pressure heading into their nuptials and gave us flexibility for the rest of the afternoon.
And, speaking of the ceremony, while I almost always prefer an outdoor ceremony to an indoor one, the indoor location at Newport Vineyards is super cool and provided a really unique backdrop as Luke and Ann said "I do."
I especially loved the long walk way Ann traveled down to get down the aisle. It was such a cool and quirky look.
Luke and Ann's ceremony was short and sweet and fit their vibe perfectly. While the pair had two readings from bridesmaids, there weren't a lot of frills for these nuptials and I could tell the bride and groom wanted it that way, especially as their friends and family members looked on.
That's not to say it wasn't without its special moments, though. I loved the way these two looked at each other as though they were the only people in the large, industrial-themed room and when the pair sealed their love with a kiss, I couldn't wait to get them outside to take advantage of the suddenly-clearing weather.
From the moment I first put Luke and Ann's wedding on my schedule, all I wanted to do was capture photos of them in the vineyard and, thanks to a little luck and help from Mother Nature, I was able to do just that. And thank goodness.
Seriously. This bride and groom looked like models for a bridal magazine and the storm clouds above their heads added a really cool overcast element that I wish more of my weddings had.
I especially love how accommodating Luke and Ann were to the requests both I and the lead photographer for their day had. We put them through so many poses and positions and, honestly, can you blame us? This venue was fantastic.
I could have shot Luke and Ann in the vineyard for hours but, eventually, we all needed to go inside and I'm glad we did as it gave me an opportunity to check out some of the decor this bride and groom chose for their big day.
I loved Luke and Ann's choice of table settings and their cake as both worked so well with the theme of the vineyard's indoor reception area.
I did wonder, though, how their first dance would look with the wood beams above their head and funky lighting of the room. Turns out, that worked beautifully as well.
I loved Luke and Ann's first dance as they really opened up and controlled the dance floor and earned a well-deserved applause from their guests. And talk about stunning lighting to compliment the vibe. So cool!
I wasn't sure what to expect from Luke and Ann's wedding reception as their friends and family members were all super sweet but it didn't strike me as an overly produced type of crowd. My theory was confirmed as Luke and Ann kept their pre-dinner program short and sweet, with the groom's father delivering a blessing to welcome everyone to the event and the night proceeding right into the meal from there.
I'll be honest: the food at Newport Vineyards is fantastic and it was one of my favorite vendor meals of the year so far. But what I found even more enjoyable was, right before my time ended with Luke and Ann, the pair broke away from their reception for a couple of last-minute formal portraits in the barrel room of the vineyard.
Talk about a fantastic way to cap my coverage of Luke and Ann's big day!
As I headed toward my car and officially called it a night with Luke and Ann, I couldn't help but feel so fortunate we were able to get everything they could have wanted from their photography without having to compromise coverage because of bad weather.
There's an old wives' tale that rain is lucky on your wedding day but I'd argue the luck is better when you have a break from it and that little break in an otherwise wet and cold holiday weekend was just enough to make my day, and I'm sure this bride and groom's.
So, thank you Luke and Ann for including me in your special day and I hope you enjoyed it as much, if not more, than I enjoyed documenting it. Best of luck on your journey together as husband and wife.
