Blog— Weddings — Massachusetts — 2023 —
Renaissance Golf Club Wedding Photos
Jacquelyn & Keshauna
Renaissance Golf Club, Haverhill, Massachusetts
April 23rd, 2023
One of the reasons I love weddings so much is it really is an amazing chance to see exactly who two people are — and what their relationship together is like — at the very core.
For Jacquelyn and Keshauna, who said "I do" back in April at Renaissance Golf Club in Haverhill, Massachusetts, this was obvious in a lot of subtle ways individually ... from the suit and the dress they respectively wore to the way they behaved on the dance floor. But it was the way they acted when they were together that told the real story of this wedding day. And the only way to describe that was absolute, pure, 100 percent love and affection.
Jackie and Kesh became Mrs. and Mrs. on a cold and rainy spring afternoon but nothing could dampen the vibes for these two brides as their day was fun from start to finish and one of the most "real" weddings I've seen in quite some time.
It was real fun. It was real touching. And it was a real good time.
I knew moments into Kesh and Jackie's bridal prep sessions exactly how this day was going to go. Right away, I could tell they were both excited for what their wedding day would bring and the different way they approached the final hour or so before they walked down the aisle said a lot.
For Kesh, that meant getting her look LOCKED down. I've had a lot of brides over the course of my career but Kesh was easily one of the most stylish I've ever worked with and whether it was her bright red lip stick that just POPPED or the awesome crown she had on top of her veil, she was (as the kids say) slaying it.
Jackie, meanwhile, could not have had a more different vibe as she chose to go the traditional groom route of a super chill and relaxed prep session.
I loved the choices Jackie made for her wedding day look, though, as the vest she wore was one of the coolest I've ever seen and matched the purple theme of this wedding perfectly.
Part of the reason I love shooting same sex weddings is I'm always fascinated to see which traditions the brides keep and which traditions the bride adjust from traditional wedding days. For Jackie and Kesh, this meant Jackie choosing to wear groom attire but still coming down the aisle with her father.
I also loved watching the different emotions on each bride's face. Jackie was all smiles and got a rush of nervous energy right before Kesh walked down the aisle whereas Kesh herself had a hard time keeping her emotions in check and had to wipe away tears several times.
It said so much about how much these two ladies love each other and was the perfect way to start their ceremony.
Jackie and Kesh's wedding ceremony was full of little touches like this. I loved how much it felt like a uniquely "them" moment and how each of them alternated between tearful moments of love and pure laughter.
My favorite example of this was right after they officially became wife and wife by sealing their love with a kiss. Literally seconds later, Kesh had to wipe lipstick off Jackie's lips and the two walked down the aisle cracking up at a silly moment I'm sure they'll never forget.
I thoroughly enjoyed working with Jackie and Kesh. No more so than during their formal photos as the two were incredibly patient while we waited for passing rain storms to give us a break in the bad weather for a few outdoor portraits.
It took a while and we only had a small window of time to get it done but I felt like Jackie and Kesh's portraits right in front of their venue captured each of their personalities perfectly.
With their formal photos out of the way, Jackie and Kesh made their way back inside for the start of their wedding reception. Thankfully, I was able to grab photos of most of their details beforehand because, man, these ladies crushed the personal look they were going for and everything just fit so well together.
Jackie and Kesh's reception walked that line between sweet, sentimental and hilarious all night long and it all started with their first dance as newlyweds, which was set to the always classic "All by Life" by K-Ci & Jojo.
I adored this moment for the two of them, especially because their closest friends and family members were standing in a circle around them before joining in toward the end of the song. It was a beautiful moment and one that kicked the night off right.
Jackie and Kesh kept their reception pretty laid back and simple. After their first dance, the two went right into a pair of speeches by Jackie's sister and Kesh's friend.
During dinner, meanwhile, the newlyweds made sure to spend as much time as possible with their guests, even going on the back deck to just casually hang out for a bit. I won't lie, having a chance to sneak a couple extra "outdoor" shots of these two was too tempting to resist.
As soon as dinner was over, meanwhile, Jackie and Kesh rolled through the traditional signature moments of their reception perfectly. The pair had a laugh while cutting their wedding cake and both brides danced with Jackie's father in the traditional father-daughter dance moment.
One of the things I knew was most important to Jackie and Kesh was that their reception reflect who they are as a couple and that it be fun and I could tell by looking at their dance floor once the party started that both of those things were true.
At the heart of all the best moments on the dance floor were these newlyweds and I was so glad to see it. More importantly, watching Jackie and Kesh cut loose and party made for great photos. I had a blast capturing these shots and I know they enjoyed living those moments even more.
As my time with Jackie and Kesh came to an end, I couldn't help but think how different their wedding was from any I've ever shot. And I mean that in the best way possible.
From start to finish, Jackie and Kesh stood true to themselves, their vision for a wedding day and they walked out of that ballroom with giant smiles on their faces, knowing they not only survived but thrived during one of the biggest moments of their lives.
So thank you Jackie and Kesh for including me on such a special trip down the aisle and I wish you all the best as you start this new and beautiful chapter of your life together as wife and wife. :)
-Paul J. Spetrini
Check out more of my most recent wedding blogs:
Rhodes on the Pawtuxet,
Cranston, Rhode Island
December 9th, 2022
The Vendor List:
Photographer: Paul J. Spetrini, Paul J. Spetrini Photography; Kesh's Hair: Haidas Beauty Parlor; Kesh's Make-up: Glambyag; Kesh's Lashes: Myrnas Lashxbrow Bar; Kesh's Nails: Grimm Nailsz; Jackies's Hair: Danielle Leroux of Boho Beauty; Jackie's Make-up: Tamra Maldonado of Boho Beauty; Florist: Designs By Don Florist; Cake: Cakes by Erin; Catering and Events Coordinator: Jessica Kulevich.