Blog— Weddings — Rhode Island — 2022 —
Rhode Island Wedding Photos
Kristen & Gerard
Private Residence, North Providence, Rhode Island
September 3rd, 2022
I like to think I connect well with couples from all kinds of backgrounds who are having all kinds of weddings. But I think, deep down, there will always be a part of me that connects just a little bit more with people who are having "simple" weddings.
What is a simple wedding? It's one where the pomp and circumstance of the day is thrown to the side and the focus is, exclusively, on having a good time. Or, in Kristen and Gerard's case, it's a backyard wedding ceremony that lasts 15 minutes, formal photos in a nearby park and a night of laughs under a tent.
Kristen and Gerard said "I do" on a beautiful fall afternoon in the best way they could have and the genuine, authentic feeling of their wedding is why it was not only right for them but the most perfect day they could have ever dreamed of.
I knew long before Kristen and Gerard walked down the aisle on the sunny afternoon of their September wedding day that this would be one of the most casual events I shot all year. In fact, I knew that before I even arrived to the location as it was the first thing we spoke about the first time we met.
Even so, I don't think I was fully prepared for just HOW casual it would be as Kristen was in an upstairs master bedroom and mostly finished getting dressed when I arrive and Gerard was down in the basement doing the same.
I love being on time as much as the next photographer but I was oddly impressed at how smooth everything was running the moment I arrived and it just got better from there.
Even with how low key Kristen and Gerard were treating their wedding day, it wasn't without its emotions. I loved how happy Kristen looked as she got into her dress and Gerard even shed a tear or two as he read a surprise note from his soon-to-be wife right before their ceremony began.
Talk about setting the stage.
Kristen and Gerard chose to say "I do" in a backyard and it took me a moment at our first meeting together to really envision what they were planning to set up as they spoke a lot about a long set of stairs leading to a tent.
Once I saw the site in person, though, it made perfect sense and provided a nice, long aisle to build up the suspense of the bride's grand reveal.
But don't take it from me. You can read it all on Gerard's face for yourself.
Kristen and Gerard's ceremony only lasted around 15 minutes but it was full of love and laughter. As an older couple who met later in life, Kristen and Gerard's love story is all about finding the perfect timing for the right person and you could see how much this day was the one they always knew they wanted as they held hands with their closest friends and family members looking on.
I loved watching these two interact during their ceremony. While the spoken words weren't over the top or too cheesy, what they said with their eyes told the true story of the day and that story was one of love and appreciation for finally being with the person who makes their lives better.
With their wedding ceremony in the books, it was SHOW TIME for me, Kristen and Gerard as we had to hustle to a nearby park and get all of their family, wedding party and bride and groom formal photos in before the sunset.
The challenge? We had just about 45 minutes, which is 25 percent less than what I recommend as the bare minimum amount of time for a bride and groom on their wedding day.
Luckily, that was a challenge these two were up for and thanks to a no-nonsense family and wedding party, Kristen, Gerard and I FLEW through their formal photos and had *just enough* time left for some of my favorite sunset shots of the year for their bride and groom portraits.
For having less than 20 minutes for bride and groom portraits – and needing to hustle over to the bride you see above — I thought Kristen, Gerard and I did a great job capturing their spirit and personality in the photos above.
I won't lie, though. The moment we finished their bride and groom portraits, I felt a huge weight lift off my shoulder as I knew the rest of the night would be easy peasy.
And, boy, was I right.
Kristen and Gerard's reception took place in the very same tent they were married in less than 90 minutes earlier and I don't think I've had a more casual reception this year.
In fact, one of the few "serious" moments of the evening was Kristen and Gerard's first dance, set to Calum Scott's "You Are The Reason."
In true Kristen and Gerard fashion, though, they spent less than 90 seconds doing said dance. Still, I was happy with what we got in the time we had. Sometimes, less is more.
Kristen and Gerard also wasted no time going right into their respective parents dances right after their first dance. I was a little surprised at first until, after said dances, we had a wardrobe change.
Like I said, this reception was going to be casual. And it fit perfectly.
Kristen and Gerard only had one other formality to speak of during their reception and that was the toasts. I knew just how these would go when the best man brought over a giant bucket of Fireball before his and both he and the newlyweds chugged a quick nip.
Clearly, this crew was itching to get the party started and I can't blame them.
Once the party DID start, man, it never let up. Kristen and Gerard's friends and family members may have just been hanging out in a backyard but you'd never know it from the way they got down.
This reception's dance floor was a TON of fun and yielded some really fun candids.
As I headed back to my car, completely spent, from Kristen and Gerard's wedding reception, I had so many great memories from what I just witnessed that it was tough to sum them up in my standard post-wedding sneak peek for the bride and groom.
Luckily, the images kind of speak for themselves.
There's a reason the photos above all feature tons of people with giant grins from ear to ear: It was that kind of wedding and that kind of couple.
So thank you Kristen and Gerard for including me on your journey down the aisle and best of luck as you start this new chapter of your lives 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 & Make-up: Brittney from Calma Salon Beauty Boutique; Bride's Dress: David's Bridal; Groom's Suit: Our Place Tuxedos & Uniforms ; DJ: Troy Pipkin; Cake: Sweet Deliveries Bakery; Officiant: Pamela from Love-n-Promises.