Chris & Stephanni
Rachel's Lakeside in Dartmouth, Massachusetts
October 27th, 2018*
I'm always a little bit disappointed when I know a wedding day is going to have to be confined to the inside because of bad weather. I imagine a bride and groom spending months picking the perfect venue and dreaming of a bright, sunny day to say "I do" and, no matter how good their wedding proves to be regardless of the weather, you can't help but think there's still a sliver of sadness that not everything went perfect.
Thankfully, every cloud has a silver lining and, if you pick the right venue, you can have a beautiful wedding day regardless of what it looks like outside and that's exactly what Chris and Stephanni did for their late October nuptials at Rachel's Lakeside in Darmouth, Massachusetts.
Rachel's Lakeside is one of the most beautiful places I've ever had the pleasure of second shooting a wedding at and though I haven't booked any of my own clients here (and thus haven't FULLY explored the grounds), it's a visually stunning venue on the inside so I knew pulling up to Chris and Stephanni's wedding that we would still have plenty to smile about if and when their ceremony was moved indoors.
And I was right.
Chris and Stephanni were married in the basement of Rachel's Lakeside and while, on the surface, that sounds less than ideal, it made for a cozy but intimate setting to see these two pledge their love for one another.
I really enjoyed Chris and Stephanni's ceremony and the way they managed to keep a smile on their face as they looked at one another and I could tell from the look in their eyes that this moment meant a lot to them ... even if may have always pictured saying "I do" in a more open space.
Chris and Stephanni had taken care of their formal photos before I arrived for my portion of coverage of their big day as their second photographer and while I would have loved to work with them on some bride and groom portraits (they found a really cool spot right near Rachel's Lakeside that made for great photos), I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to their reception the most.
Rachel's Lakeside is a beautiful venue and the indoor ballroom areas are some of the nicest I've ever seen. That meant the moment this wedding day transitioned from ceremony to reception that we were in for a treat and, boy, did this bride and groom go all out on setting a beautiful scene inside this venue.
Chris and Stephanni kicked off their reception with a traditional first dance and it may well have been my favorite part of their entire wedding day. I love the way their decorations and uplighting complimented this ballroom perfectly and though there was a bit of a height difference between the bride and groom, I found their dance to be super sweet and touching as their friends and family members looked on.
Following their first dance, Chris and Stephanni had a fairly traditional slate of activities planned for their reception. First up came a beautiful, and emotional, speech by Stephanni's sister, the maid of honor. Afterward, the best man lighted the mood with a great speech talking all about Chris and his personality.
What I really loved seeing was later in the night, though, as the newlyweds danced with their parents under the amazing colors in this gorgeous room.
I knew the minute I met Chris and Stephanni and took one look at their guests that the biggest moments of the night would come once the dance floor opened up and that was definitely the case.
From the moment the DJ played the first party song, there was a different buzz in this room and the night became super fun, super fast.
I loved photographing Chris and Stephanni's friends and family members as they let loose and it made for one of the most nonstop receptions I've seen all year.
By the time I packed up and headed out of Rachel's Lakeside, I knew two things. First, I knew Chris and Stephanni's positive attitude about a rainy day really made their wedding something special. Second, more than ever I knew I needed to get back to this venue.
Chris and Stephanni made a wonderful choice in where to say "I do" and I thoroughly enjoyed watching them celebrate this special moment in their live in one of the most visually beautiful receptions I've ever seen.
So congratulations Chris and Stephanni on a wonderful wedding day and best of luck as husband and wife. :)
-PJS
* These photos were taken as part of my work for George Street Photography and are presented here strictly for portfolio/display purposes.
Tags: Rachel's Lakeside, Indoor Weddings, Massachusetts Weddings, Dartmouth,
Paul J. Spetrini Photography
Check out more of my most recent wedding blogs:
Sarah & Anthony
St. Augustine Church (Ceremony),
The Omni Hotel (Reception), Providence, RI.
Date: October 20th, 2018
Amanda & Josh (Reception)
Loon Pond Lodge,
Lakeville, Massachusetts
Date: October 14th, 2018
Katie & Steve
The Villa at Ridder Country Club
East Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Date: October 13th, 2018
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