Meghan & Brian
Immaculate Conception Church in Cranston, Rhode Island (Ceremony) and
Squantum Association in Riverside, Rhode Island (Reception)
September 21st, 2018
Wedding days are full of big moments and sometimes as a photographer, it's easy to get so lost in the big moments of the day that you don't see the overall picture you're painting.
I don't think this has ever been clearer for me than working with Meghan and Brian for their September wedding at Immaculate Conception Church and Squantum Association.
Meghan and Brian's wedding day was jam-packed of big, fun moments that it wasn't until I finished editing their photos fully that I saw just how impactful the little moments were as well.
Whether it was watching Brian break down in tears on the way out of the church, seeing the smile on Meghan's face during their formal portraits or laughing as both the bride and groom rocked out on the dance floor, this was one wedding day were you really need to see ALL of the photos to get an idea of the full story.
And what a story it was.
Meghan and Brian's wedding coverage began in an unusual way for me as, for the first time ever, I was lucky enough to photograph ACTUAL groom prep. As in, a groom actually getting ready to get married.
Normally, groom prep is little more than the groom and his friends in a crowded hotel room tossing on a shirt and pants but Brian was much different than most.
Instead of going the traditional route, Brian brought his groomsmen with him to Gents Barbershop and Spa in Cranston for a haircut and a hot shave. I'll be honest, I didn't get why he insisted on having this documented until I got there and saw how awesome this was for myself.
Talk about a great idea! And what a truly unique way to start a wedding day.
After about an hour with Brian and his guys, it was time for me to head to Meghan and her girls and their bridal prep session at the Biltmore. I love the Biltmore. It's one of my favorite marquee spots in Providence and it definitely did not disappoint for Meghan's wedding day.
One of the first things I noticed about this bride on her big day was how calm she really seemed. With her hair and makeup largely on point by the time I arrived, I was able to sit back and focus on being a bit more creative with my shots. That meant taking more time than usual to get dress and detail shots as I waited for Meghan to get ready for her first look with her father.
And what a first look it was. I loved how emotional Meghan's dad got when he saw her (he even tried to look up to the sky to avoid crying.)
With the formalities of the prep period out of the way, Meghan and I headed downstairs into the Biltmore's lobby to take full advantage of that amazing chandelier and glass elevator that just made her bridal portraits pop. And then, if that wasn't enough, we had full access to a beautiful balcony area outside of Meghan's suite that proved the perfect spot for some nice photos with her and her bridesmaids before the ceremony.
If you're noticing a theme thus far in Meghan and Brian's day, trust me, you're not alone.
It took me a while to really appreciate it but every place these two chose to play a role in their wedding day was visually stunning.
Their church was no different.
Meghan and Brian were married at Immaculate Conception Church in Cranston. It took me a few minutes to place how I knew this church when I walked in (I shot a few masses for a local high school there) but it didn't take me long to sit in awe at how cool this place looks and smile as I thought about all the cool angles I've be able to capture of this gigantic life moment for Meghan and Brian.
Following Meghan and Brian's wedding ceremony, it was time for the most nerve-racking part of my day shooting for them: making sure I got to their reception venue before they did.
Now, that might not seem like a big deal but, in this case, it was make or break as Meghan and Brian had a surprise planned for their guests: They were going to arrive to their venue by boat.
I can tell you this: I don't know if there's a more worrisome moment as a wedding photographer than hoping you can spot a tiny boat in the water before it sneaks up on you.
Luckily, I found Meghan and Brian in plenty of time to capture the moment they waved to their guests from the water. Yes, this is one of my favorite photos of their wedding day.
Following their return to land, Meghan and Brian went straight into their family and wedding party formal photos.
Afterward, despite the weather dropping a bit and it being unseasonably cold, the pair put their best faces forward and entertained my nonstop ideas for bride and groom portraits.
I thank goodness that they did because their venue, the Squantum Association in Riverside, was stunning and gave us PLENTY of places to work with for some of the most beautiful bride and groom photos I've taken all year.
I absolutely LOVED Brian and Meghan's formal photos and I could have walked away from their wedding at that point feeling pretty good about what we captured ... but we were just getting started.
Brian and Meghan's reception was every bit as amazing as I expected it to be and then some. Of course, it's hard not to have an amazing night when you literally start it off by lighting a cannon.
Talk about setting the tone.
Meghan and Brian chose the Squantum Association for their reception and while I've already spoken about the beautiful grounds the venue had for formal photos, it's worth repeating how amazing this venue was once we got inside. For a fall wedding, I don't think Meghan and Brian could have picked a better and more picturesque location once the sun set and the orange uplighting kicked in.
It just made the big moments of the night, like their first dance to the Ed Sheeran/Beyonce version of Perfect, that much more beautiful.
Meghan and Brian's reception started with a beautiful first dance, featured three beautiful speeches and saw two lovely parent dances between Meghan and her father as well as Brian and his mom ...
But as much as this night followed the traditional paths of your everyday wedding reception, what made it so different and special was just how much dancing everyone did in between all of the major moments of the night.
Seriously. If there was a break in the events of the evening, there were at least five to ten people on the dance floor.
I always take this as a sign that we're in for a rowdy night and, boy, did this reception live up to that billing.
Seriously, though. What a party. What a night.
There is absolutely NO CHANCE the photo above, which I think captures the spirit of the night perfectly, doesn't end up in my portfolio when I update everything at the end of this wedding season.
That shot, and all the reception photos really, says so much about how this bride and groom and the night they experienced.
By the time I packed up my bags and made my way out of Meghan and Brian's wedding reception, I felt a bit overwhelmed. We had shot so many photos and captured so many memories, it was hard to think about what my favorite part of the day was.
Even now, a full six weeks after they said "I do," I have trouble choosing. And that's a good problem to have.
Meghan and Brian had a beautiful wedding day that perfectly fit their personalities and was everything they had hoped it would be. I'm just glad I got to tag along because, honestly, it was an amazingly fun day.
So congratulations Meghan and Brian! Here's hoping your wedding day was just the start of a perfect life together for a truly special bride and groom.
-PJS
Tags: Rhode Island Weddings, Church Weddings, Immaculate Conception Church, Cranston,
Squantum Association, Riverside, Paul J. Spetrini Photography.
The Vendor List
Photographer: Paul J. Spetrini, Paul J. Spetrini Photography; Groom Prep: Gents Barbershop & Spa, Cranston, Rhode Island; Bridal Prep: The Providence Biltmore, Providence, Rhode Island; Bride's Hair: Rebecca from Salon Sapphire by Sabrina Marie; Bride's Make-up: Sabrina from Salon Sapphire by Sabrina Marie; Florist: Michael from Small Pleasures LTD. Florist & Design Center; Ceremony: Immaculate Conception Church, Cranston, RI; Reception: Squantum Association, Riverside, RI; Transportation: Arrow Prestige Limousine & Coach;
DJ: Jay R. from Elite Entertainment RI.
Check out more of my most recent wedding blogs:
Adam & Ashley
Stepping Stone Ranch,
West Greenwich, Rhode Island
Date: September 15th, 2018
Josh & Kim
Private Residence,
Coventry, Rhode Island
Date: September 8th, 2018
Lizzy & Gabe
Crystal Lake Golf Club,
Mapleville, Rhode Island
Date: September 2nd, 2018
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