Rhode Island Weddings
Marisa & Larry
Private Residence, Pascoaq, Rhode Island
August 14th, 2020
It's so easy this year to get wrapped up in negativity and the moments and memories we've all lost due to the coronavirus pandemic. This is especially true for brides and grooms, particularly those who have had to cancel or postpone their wedding plans to next year and beyond.
I think that's why I'm so appreciative this season for the moments that manage to snap me out of that mindset and few have done a better job of that than Marisa and Larry's August elopement at their home in Pascoaq, Rhode Island.
Marisa and Larry were originally scheduled to get married this October, but with limited social gathering rules and uncertainty over whether this pandemic will end, the pair made a tough decision back in June to delay their grand wedding day to 2021 and, instead, move up their wedding ceremony two months and get married in their backyard. At the time I spoke to the couple, they weren't planning to have a photographer on site to document it but I just HAD to convince them to let me do so and, boy, am I glad I did.
Marisa and Larry's wedding day was a short, two-hour affair but in that two hours I got to see why this couple is so special and so amazing for each other and, honestly, that's such a special gift in a year where positivity is hard to come by. It doesn't hurt that it was also one of the most beautiful days I've seen all year of course ...
My time with Larry and Marisa started quickly and never let up. From the moment I arrived, the bride and groom were practically ready to go and I knew this wasn't going to be a difficult day as the two chose to keep things fairly straight and to the point.
That's not to say there weren't still special moments during the lead-up to their wedding. In particular, I loved watching Marisa help her mother with her earrings as the two laughed at how silly photographing something that casual was. Not to be outdone, Larry and his father kept their prep lighthearted and fun as they attempted to properly measure their ties.
It might not have been a long bride and groom prep session but it sure was a special one.
Marisa and Larry chose to get married on a beautiful and warm summer day and their lakefront property was a stunning place to do so as the water provided a great backdrop for what I knew would be an emotional ceremony.
It's amazing how fast even the most relaxed wedding days can turn on a dime once a groom is waiting at the end of an aisle and his bride makes her way toward him.
Marisa and Larry certainly nailed the emotions of this moment. I'm just glad I was there to catch it for them.
Marisa and Larry's wedding ceremony was roughly 10 minutes but in that short time span, the two shared so many sweet looks at one another and made sure to really dive deep into what their relationship meant to them.
As an outsider unfamiliar with their full story, it was a joy hearing all about their love story and watching the pinnacle of that story in person as they exchanged their vows and rings.
By the time Marisa and Larry were officially pronounced husband and wife, I don't think there was a person in attendance who didn't have a smile on their face.
The bride and groom chose to keep their nuptials to just their closest friends and family members and as we photographed their family photos in the spot they just said "I do," it was clear to me that this wasn't just a special moment for Larry and Marisa but for everyone in their lives.
That sense of appreciation for the moment carried over for bride and groom portraits later in the afternoon and though I didn't get a ton of time with Larry and Marisa for these photos, and we didn't switch locations, we managed to get a great set that I'm pretty proud of that I think capture their spirit wonderfully.
By far my favorite part of Marisa and Larry's wedding elopement was they chose to hold a small little reception so the day still had the traditions they always envisioned for the day they became husband and wife.
One of these was the first dance. While I was surprised the two were going to casually dance outside, it actually turned out to be one of the sweetest first dances I've ever got to photograph and the freshly-mulched makeshift dance floor was super cute and just a perfect representation of what this day was all about.
It might not have been the big, giant bash they were expecting but they had each other and that's all that mattered.
The same was true as both Marisa and Larry chose to hold their traditional parent dances with their father and mother, respectively.
The backyard dance floor and lack of an audience to watch their every move was certainly an odd scene to get used to but, honestly, I know these dances will be moments neither the bride, the groom nor either of their parents will ever forget. Talk about special.
Although my time with Marisa and Larry felt like it absolutely flew by and was over in a flash, as I sat at my computer that night putting together sneak peek photos for the newlyweds, I couldn't help but feel grateful that I got to document such a special event.
I have no doubt, whatsoever, that Marisa and Larry's March wedding reception will be just as meaningful to the couple but there was just something a little extra personal about the August day they held hands and professed their love for one another in front of 10 people.
To me, that's what weddings are all about and in a year where almost nothing feels normal, it's nice to know some things never really change.
So congratulations Marisa and Larry and I can't wait to talk all about this day and what it meant to you in six months when we do it all again!
-Paul J. Spetrini
Check out more of my most recent wedding blogs:
Elizabeth & Steve
Private Residence,
Fall River, Massachusetts
May 16th, 2020