Blog— Weddings — Massachusetts — 2022 —
Our Lady of Light Band Wedding Photos
Nicole & Zachary
St. Joseph's Church, Fall River, Massachusetts (Ceremony) &
Our Lady of Light Band, Fall River, Massachusetts (Reception)
September 24th, 2022
Part of the fun of shooting a wedding is watching the many emotions at play on the day a bride and groom become husband and wife. If you're lucky enough to be there from start to finish, you get to see a wide range of feelings, from nervous excitement to anxious anticipation to pure love and maybe even a little rowdy celebration.
That's one of the reasons Nicole and Zachary's September wedding at St. Joseph's Church and Our Lady of Light Band in Fall River, Massachusetts stands out so much to me as I reflect on my 2022 season.
Nicole and Zachary didn't peg me as the emotional type when I first met them and it didn't seem like they'd be that way early on on their wedding day but then a funny thing happened: They said "I do" and started to let the moments sink in.
And that's why it was one of my favorite weddings to shoot in all of 2022. Because this was one wild and rocking wedding day that had to be seen to be believed.
My time with Nicole and Zachary started with one of the most low key bridal prep sessions I've had in some time. I can't say I'm surprised as Nicole never struck me as the overly sentimental type but she arrived for the end of her bridal prep all business, with her hair and makeup already done and just flat out ready to jump in her dress and head to the church.
Luckily, the importance of actually putting a wedding dress on hits differently when you're doing it for real and watching the nerves rush into Nicole when she never expected them to was a moment that brought a smile to my face because I knew, without a doubt, the reality of this day has just hit her.
The same was true after Nicole's bridal prep as I reached St. Joseph's Church with about 20 minutes to go before the start of Nicole and Zachary's wedding ceremony. I loved seeing how relaxed the groom was as he got his boutonniere pinned, particularly because I knew I'd see his real emotions when Nicole walked down the aisle.
And, true to form, when she did he couldn't contain his excitement.
Nicole and Zachary said "I do" at St. Joseph's Church in Fall River, a beautiful and well lit house of worship with tons of room that was easily one of the best churches I've photographed a ceremony in. I loved this location for many reasons, not the least of which was the great vantage points to capture nice angles everywhere I looked.
Nicole and Zachary's ceremony was traditional but not without its moments of fun and laughter. But it had all the elements and a classic and traditional church celebration, which fit this couple's day nicely.
Following their ceremony, Nicole, Zachary and I headed out for formal photos. Up first were some simple shots outside of the church itself and then, in what I'm sure was Nicole's favorite part of the day, we grabbed some shots of the newlyweds near the bride's father's vintage Chevy.
My favorite, though, were the photos we took at Battleship Cove. It took a little bit of time to find a nice area that wasn't in blinding sunlight but once we did, I couldn't help but make sure to place the iconic Braga Bridge in the background. Nicole and Zachary are Fall River kids through and through and this just felt right and made for some of my favorite shots of the entire day.
With their formal photos in the books, Nicole, Zachary and I made our way to their wedding reception and, I'll be honest, I had no idea what to expect pulling up to Our Lady of Light Band and seeing a venue that looked straight out of the 80s.
Once we made our way inside, though, I was pleasantly surprised at how cool this little location was and how Nicole and Zachary's race car themed decor fit the venue so well.
I didn't know it at the time but Nicole and Zachary's wedding reception defined the day they became husband and wife and it all started with their first dance, set to "From This Moment On" by Shania Twain. I can't say I'm the biggest fan of Shania but that song is fantastic and an underrated gem when it comes to first dance tracks.
I loved Nicole and Zachary's first dance, particularly the way the bride held onto her groom and tried to focus on nothing else but her feelings for him as they moved from side to side on the beautiful Our Lady of Light Band dance floor.
Following their first dance, Nicole and Zachary took a seat to listen to a slew of lovely toasts about their relationship. Even the groom felt compelled to take the mic to talk about how much this day meant to him and I can't think of a better, more fitting way to have started this reception off.
But as serious as Nicole and Zachary's wedding had been at times through the first half of their reception, I knew the real tone of the day would shift once dinner was over and I was right. First up was an adorable cake cutting followed by two lovely parent dances and even a rendition of the newlywed shoe game.
But, in what was my favorite moment of Nicole and Zachary's wedding, the entire vibe of the night shifted when it came time for the bride to toss her bouquet. In an homage to the groom's love of cars, Zachary surprised his wife by enlisting a pit crew to help grab the garter and the moment was a hit with the crowd.
It also set the tone for how things were going to go once the party started and I loved that so much.
And once this party officially kicked off? Whew boy. There was no stopping it.
I knew we were in for a special reception when I saw the groom rocking out with his friends in a makeshift conga line but that was just the start of the special silliness. I'm so glad I was there to capture all of this because, man, it was wild.
I don't know if I've seen a couple having more fun at their wedding reception than Nicole and Zachary and, as I packed up and headed to my car following my time with the couple, I can't say I blame them.
Nicole and Zachary's wedding day was a full and comprehensive one of many emotions but, at its heart, it was a day of pure joy and fun and I know deep down this bride and groom would have it no other way.
So thank you Nicole and Zachary for a one-of-a-kind wedding day that I sure won't forget anytime soon and best of luck on this new chapter of your life together as husband and wife.
-Paul J. Spetrini
Check out more of my most recent wedding blogs:
The Vendor List:
Photographer: Paul J. Spetrini, Paul J. Spetrini Photography; Bride's Hair: Lindsey Grotta of Twisted Roots Salon; Bride's Makeup: Crystal Pacheco of iLash Beauty Bar; Bride's Dress: Alexandra’s Bridal Boutique; Groom's Suit: Mens Wearhouse; Florist: Jack Iannotti Flowers; Ceremony Location: St. Joseph's Church, Fall River, Mass.; Reception Venue: Our Lady of Light Band, Fall River, Mass.; DJ: DJ Pete Productions; Other: Kayla’s Woodworks and More.