Stephany & Arten
Wannamoisett Country Club in East Providence, Rhode Island (Ceremony & Reception)
September 9th, 2017
One of the best parts about being a wedding photographer is getting to work with a couple on their vision for their big day from start to finish and creating an excitement that builds from that first consultation until the moment they say "I do."
In a way, by the time their wedding day actually comes, I'm just as (if not more) excited than many of my couples are and that was certainly the case for Stephany and Arten, who were married in September at Wannamoisett Country Club.
Stephany and Arten were one of the couples I went into 2017 looking most forward to working with as our engagement session last fall in Worcester was an absolute blast and I knew they would pull out all the stops for their fall wedding.
But even my most optimistic hopes for their wedding turned out to be conservative at best as this day was picture perfect in every way.
Not only did Steph and Arten a stunning ceremony in perfect lighting but they had one of the most fun dance floors i've seen in a long while.
It was a day that couldn't have gone better if they tried and a day I know they'll remember for the rest of their lives.
And I can't think of two people who deserve that more than this bride and groom.
Stephany and Arten's wedding day began for me with one of the most fun bridal prep sessions I've had in a long time.
Steph was an incredibly relaxed bride and it showed throughout her prep session as she never really got nervous, except for one brief moment where she held hands with her sister and let her anxiety fade away.
To make things even better, Steph had a seriously fun bridesmaid group that was an absolute joy to be around. While we were in prep for a few hours, it felt like no time at all and before we knew it, it was time for the bride to put on her dress. And what a dress it was!
Stephany was an absolute stunner in her beautiful dress and don't take it from me, just take a look at the way her bridesmaids all reacted when she walked out and saw them for the first time.
I knew this would be a key moment in the day because how Steph's bridesmaids reacted would tell me a lot about how her father was likely to react a few minutes later during her and her dad's first look.
And, believe me, that first look was everything we had hoped for and much more.
I love seeing a father getting emotional when he sees his daughter in her wedding dress for the first time and Steph's dad took the cake.
As hard to believe as it was given the number of memorable moments we had already had by this point, the day was only getting started for Steph and Arten as we headed over to Wannamoisett Country Club for the main event of the day: their wedding ceremony.
Steph and Arten's wedding ceremony was absolutely gorgeous. I'll admit, when I saw where their ceremony was going to take place -- on a corner of the property facing the street and parking lot -- I was a bit worried it wouldn't be great for photos. But, man, was I wrong about this one because this spot proved incredible with some great foliage and amazing light.
And, more importantly, it was the site to a sweet and emotional ceremony that even got me a little misty-eyed.
Steph and Arten are truly a pair of soulmates and watching them spell out their feelings for each other in front of all the people that matter to them was an honor to witness.
Following their ceremony, it was time for Steph and Arten's formal photos and while I could have (and have) spent hours with this bride and groom, we didn't have as much time on their wedding day but I think we absolutely crushed the time we did have with some beautiful photos by the club's gazebo and on a cool little bridge connecting golf holes on the course.
After their formal photo session, it was time to head into Wannamoisett for Steph and Arten's reception.
I had high hopes for this part of the night as Stephany and Arten have a great eye for details and put a lot of time in planning out exactly how they want things to go and that time paid off in a big way with the details of their reception, both big and small.
Getting to their reception also meant it was time to watch their first dance and, for some reason, I had a pretty good idea Stephany and Arten were going to crush this moment.
And, boy, did they.
The two danced to "Todo Cambio" by Camila. As someone who doesn't speak any Spanish whatsoever, I had no idea what the song is actually about but it was a beautiful track and the two got super into it on the dance floor.
I loved this moment so much I added to the song to my Spotify playlist and have been singing it for weeks. I still have no idea what is being said but it's being said beautiful and I think that counts for something. :)
Following their first dance, Steph and Arten has a pair of beautiful toasts, a lovely blessing by Arten's grandmother, two touching parent dances, a nice cake cutting and a fun bouquet toss.
With all of the big moments of their reception over, Arten and Stephany could finally let loose and enjoy the night. And enjoy they did.
From the minute the dance floor opened until the final song, there was hardly a moment where the dance floor wasn't packed as Steph and Arten's DJ played a wide-ranging mix of English and Spanish language pop music.
The songs, coupled with the incredible uplighting, created an awesome environment to party and the party STILL somehow exceeded my expectations.
At the end of the night, I could tell Steph and Arten had accomplished everything they set out to with their wedding and it is always an incredible feeling for me when I know that that's the case.
There's a lot of planning that goes into putting together a great wedding day and Steph and Arten did all the work required and executed their vision perfectly. To see it come to life in such a satisfying way was really a treat.
More importantly, though, this was just a really fun night.
It was nice to see a bride and groom caught in the moment the way Steph and Arten were and I can't blame them. This is a moment they, and I, will cherish for a very, very long time.
So congratulations Steph and Arten! I have no doubt your wedding day will be just the start of a beautiful journey together as husband and wife.
-PJS
Tags: Wannamoisett Country Club, Rhode Island Weddings, Outdoor Weddings, Rumford, Paul J. Spetrini Photography
The Vendor List
Photographer: Paul J. Spetrini Paul J. Spetrini Photography; Hair: Heidi from Alpha Beauty Salon in Warwick, Rhode Island; Stephany's Dress: David's Bridal; Stephany's Shoes: Call it Spring; Arten's Suit: Men's Warehouse; Ceremony/Reception Location: Wannamoisett Country Club in Rumford, Rhode Island; DJ: DJ Kyd and Company; Cake: Awsome Sweets in Pawtucket, Rhode Island; Flowers: Cherryhill Flowers in Johnston, Rhode Island.
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