Blog— Weddings — Massachusetts — 2021 —
The Jones River Trading Post Wedding Photos
Kelly & Frank
The Jones River Trading Post, Kingston, Massachusetts
September 4th, 2021
Whenever I sit down with a couple for the first time, I always ask them if they envision their wedding day as more of a "family event" or a "party." This is my polite way of asking how rowdy they expect their big day to be so I can have an idea of what to expect when the dance floor opens up.
But nothing could have prepared me for Kelly and Frank's wedding reception the night of their September wedding at The Jones River Trading Post in Kingston, Massachusetts. Mostly because nothing could have prepared Frank and Kelly for it either.
With a family the bride initially said "doesn't dance much" and a super relaxed vibe throughout the early portion of the day, I expected a low-key, calm night when Frank and Kelly's reception began. Instead, it was a non-stop night of tons of dancing, laughing and love.
And I can think of no event that deserved it more. Simply put, this was one heck of a wedding and I loved documenting each and every moment of it. Almost as much as the bride and groom enjoyed experiencing it.
I knew from the moment I walked into Kelly's bridal prep session to start my coverage of her wedding day that we were in for a good one. Not only did I run into one of my 2022 brides who was attending the wedding as a guest but one of my favorite soon-to-be 2021 brides Elizabeth was one of Kelly's maids of honor.
This, plus how awesome and sweet Kelly herself is, made the start of Kelly's wedding coverage feel like I was hanging out with a bunch of old friends and it showed as the bride was super relaxed and comfortable as we counted down the minutes to her wedding ceremony.
Frank, meanwhile, was a bit more tense as her had his boutonnière pinned in another room but it would make sense given how emotional he turned out to be when the ceremony itself began.
Frank and Kelly's wedding ceremony was right outside on the back deck area of The Jones River Trading Post and, while that made for an awkwardly-shaped location to shoot photos in, it provided a super intimate space for guests attending the event and for the bride and groom to feel closely connected with those closest to them.
And, as I said above, Frank himself was one of my more emotional grooms.
I loved EVERY second of it.
There's no shame in being in touch with your feelings, especially on your wedding day, and seeing the way this groom lost it as his bride walked down the aisle to him was both touching and sweet.
And the ceremony itself? Talk about a picturesque, classic fall in New England feel.
Kelly and Frank were both full of emotions as they became husband and wife and it led to some of my favorite wedding ceremony candids in quite a while, especially the big, cheesy grin on Kelly's face once her aunt officially pronounced her a newlywed.
Moments after Frank and Kelly said "I do," I knew it was time for the hardest part of the day: Formal photos.
Kelly and Frank had a fairly long list of family photo requests as the bride has a somewhat large family but I have to give both of them credit as they powered through the various combinations like champs and never got tried of photos.
And I'm glad that's how it worked out because The Jones River Trading Post was a wonderful place for formal photos. The three of us began with a couple of super classic, fall bride and groom portraits, then took care of wedding and family photos.
But the time we got through the formal photo list, I could tell Frank and Kelly were fading a bit from having to smile so often but the two gave me a few minutes before we made our way inside to grab some additional bride and groom portraits from a slightly different vantage point on the property.
I loved this batch of photos as the temperature began to drop. The slightly muted blues and green tones really popped against the bright yellows and oranges in the background and made for a great collection of shots of the newlyweds, especially considering we did these all in just about 10 minutes flat.
As Frank and Kelly headed inside to get ready for their formal introductions, I couldn't help but remark how lovely their details looked inside the unique venue they chose for their wedding.
The Jones River Trading Post is unlike any place I've photographed a wedding before, in that it looks like an old fashioned mill/gift shop when you walk in but, once the sun starts to set, it looks like one of the most modern and uniquely cool spots you could choose for a big party.
Kelly and Frank's little details worked so well here and established, rather early on, that this would be a wedding unlike any I'd seen previously.
Frank and Kelly's wedding reception kicked off with a bang right from the very start as their wedding party had a slew of fun introductions. But it was the first dance, set to “Better Together” by Luke Combs, which really started the night right.
I adored this moment for the both of them as they danced in the center of the room and swayed from side to side. It was clear, immediately, that they were lost in this moment and lost in each other's embrace and that's exactly what you want to see from a bride and groom's first dance.
Frank and Kelly's first dance was just one of a number of great "signature moments" during their reception. Whether it was their three emotional toasts, a couple quick formal photos we took during sunset (which wasn't much of a sunset but still fun to get out for a bit) or their cake cutting and parent dances, every little part of this reception was perfectly sweet and beautifully understated.
As fun as the signature moments were, though, it was the open dance floor that stole the show in so, so many ways. From just about the first song until the final few moments, the Jones River Trading Post dance floor was lively, packed and full of happy people jamming out to the music.
And right in the middle? The bride and groom.
Honestly, I could have spent another two hours at this reception and still wanted more. That's how much fun it was to document.
By the time Frank and Kelly interlocked their arms with their family members and swung around to the final song of the night, I know they were both exhausted from an insanely fun party they weren't expecting and will never forget.
More importantly, however, I know the hug they shared moments before the lights came up and the night ended was the perfect summation of how they felt at the end of their wedding: Grateful.
Kelly and Frank's wedding day was as sweet as the bride and groom in the center of it and I know the folks lucky enough to attend left with huge smiles on their faces. It was the perfect day for the perfect couple and a wonderful reminder just how amazing weddings can truly be.
So, thank you Kelly and Frank for including me on your journey down the (admittedly short) aisle and best of luck as you begin this new chapter of your life together. I can only hope it's as fun as the day it all began.
-Paul J. Spetrini
Check out more of my most recent wedding blogs:
Matthew & Christine
St. Peter's Church &
Quidnessett Country Club
August 29th, 2021
The Vendor List:
Photographer: Paul J. Spetrini, Paul J. Spetrini Photography; Bride's Hair and Make-up: Pretty Bar by Danielle Keefe; Bride's Dress: Party Dress Express; Groom's Suit: Men's Wearhouse; Florist: Stop & Shop; Ceremony & Reception: The Jones River Trading Post, Kingston, Massachusetts; DJ: Pete & Tammy Rivet of Music on Wheels; Seamster: Michael of Boston/Bridal Gowns.