Blog— Weddings — Rhode Island — 2022 —
Quidnessett Country Club Wedding Photos
Victoria & Daniel
Quidnessett Country Club, North Kingstown, Rhode Island
September 22nd, 2022
There are a lot of roles photographers play on a wedding day but one role I never expected I'd have to become versed in when I started shooting these events in 2010 was weatherman.
Alas, living and working in New England means sometimes you have to know how to roll with whatever Mother Nature throws your way and that's when on the day Victoria and Daniel got married back in September, I was quietly optimistic we'd find a way to take outdoor formal photos despite a forecast that looked like it would rain all day.
It took nearly the entire day but, I knew when the sun started to break during their family photo session on the backdoor patio of Quidnessett Country Club that our prayers were answered and thank goodness they were because Victoria and Daniel were one of my favorite couples of 2022 and deserved the best photos we could possibly take for one of the best weddings I had the entire season.
My time with Victoria and Daniel started on a dark, gloomy and wet afternoon but you'd never know that from the bride's attitude as she walked into Quidnessett Country Club. While I wasn't there for her hair or makeup prep, I could tell Victoria was having a fantastic day when she walked into the venue with a pep in her step and a smile on her face and who could blame her? She waited a long time for this day and she knew it was going to be awesome.
And as she finished getting ready, I knew the same.
Victoria and Daniel chose to have a first look and private vow ceremony before their full wedding ceremony and I'm so glad they did as it was such a beautiful moment of love between two people who clearly bring out the best in one another.
I always love private wedding vow moments. It feels so raw and intimate and, while I adore the beautiful of a public wedding ceremony, these personal moments just feel more authentic to a couple as they get ready to publicly profess their love for one another.
I'm typically not a big fan of indoor wedding ceremonies but, i've got to say, I loved the way the photos for Victoria and Daniel's ceremony came out. Quidnessett Country Club has a beautiful indoor area for ceremonies and it was the perfect location for this celebration of Victoria and Daniel's love and their blending of their families into one.
What I especially loved was that despite seeing her moments earlier during their first look, Daniel couldn't hide the cheesy grin plastered all over his face as she walked down the aisle. It was just the first of many sweet moments for these two in this moment.
Victoria and Daniel's ceremony itself was chock full of loveliness. It also had one of my favorite moments at any ceremony I've ever seen when Daniel and Victoria exchanged vows to one another ... and then Daniel exchanged another set of vows to love and take care of Victoria's daughter.
I mean, what a sweet moment and what a sweet couple.
By the time Victoria and Daniel kissed and said "I do," there wasn't a person in the crowd without a huge smile on their face.
I have to admit, I was a bit concerned about Victoria and Daniel's formal photos as it had rained ALL DAY prior to their wedding ceremony but at some point between their private vows and their first kiss, the weather finally broke perfectly and gave us the beautiful early fall afternoon of their dreams.
I loved working with their family and wedding party but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't eagerly awaiting the chance to take just the bride and groom through the grounds of Quidnessett.
The moment we headed out onto the golf course, I knew we were in for something special as the clouds that loomed over us all day had just broken up and it suddenly looked like a completely different world.
Victoria and Daniel noticed this change too and their excitement during their bride and groom formals mirrored my own. These two had some of the quirkiest and silliest photos I took of newlyweds ever but, man, I loved every minute of these and I think they were a great representation of both their love and true personalities.
With their formal photos out of the way, it was time for Victoria and Daniel to head inside Quidnessett Country Club and I was all about it. These two had their reception in a recently-renovated hall of the country club and it's quickly become one of my favorite places to shoot a reception as the lighting possibilities are just gorgeous.
I loved Victoria and Daniel's wedding decor, as well. It was simple, understated and fit the vibe in the room perfectly.
I'll be honest though: I was looking forward to this party more than most.
Unfortunately for me, I had to be a bit patient as Victoria and Daniel chose to hold off on their first dance until after dinner but, looking back, it was the perfect choice as these two had a slew of beautiful toasts that kicked the night off just right.
The delay of having their big dances after dinner also made perfect sense for this couple as Victoria and Daniel wanted to do something a little different for their first dance. The pair started their first dance to "I Get To Love You" by Ruelle and then broke into a very offbeat but very on-brand fun dance to "Best Friend" by Saweetie featuring Doja Cat.
It was a lighthearted and insanely hilarious moment that I think summed up their relationship perfectly and made for great photos.
In keeping with the theme of sweet, sentimental and sometimes silly, Victoria and Daniel had a slew of beautiful moments peppered in between really fun ones. There was the dance between Daniel and his new stepdaughter, a fun cake cutting and the traditional father-daughter and mother-son dances.
And, of course, the classic bouquet toss to signify that the night was about to take a turn ...
And what a turn it was.
Victoria and Daniel's reception was everything I could have asked for and more as these two and their guests tore up the dance floor and made for great candid moments from the minute the dance floor opened until the moment I headed out the door.
I knew the moment I first photographed Victoria and Daniel's engagement session that their wedding was going to be one that really stood out at the end of the season and, boy, did it ever. I don't think I could have asked for a better day for these two. I certainly couldn't have expected a more fun one.
And I'm so glad it turned out the day it did because these two are truly special and deserved a lighthearted and carefree wedding to really celebrate their love in a way that felt authentic and true.
So congratulations Victoria and Daniel on a fantastic wedding day and best of luck on this new chapter of your lives together.
-Paul J. Spetrini
