Blog— Weddings — Massachusetts — 2022 —
The Red Lion Inn Wedding Photos
Nicole & Cameron
Red Lion Inn, Cohasset, Massachusetts (Ceremony & Reception)
October 31st, 2022
There are some dates on the calendar that truly make me wince when I get an inquiry for a potential wedding. After all, as much as I love my brides and grooms, I do also have friends and family members who I want to spend time with on holidays or special occasions.
Halloween has always been one of those dates for me. I actively try not to book any work on the annual holiday so when Nicole and Cameron reached out to me in regard to their October wedding at the Red Lion Inn in Cohasset, Massachusetts, I decided there and then they'd need to be a special couple planning a special wedding to get me to give up such a special day of fun for.
They were and not only was their Halloween wedding great, it was so much fun that I don't think any plans I could have made on that day would have been better. On a day known for Trick or Treating, well, this wedding was just a little extra sweet.
I could tell moments into my arrival at the Red Lion Inn that this was going to be a fairly relaxed wedding day. My first task was capturing the last bit of groom prep for Cameron and to say he was all about that no stress life on this day was an understatement.
Not only did we get right to work documenting his final getting ready moments but I also got to see him read a note from his soon-to-be wife. I wasn't sure what to expect from Cameron in terms of emotions on this wedding day but, in this moment, he was pretty comfortable and at ease.
Looking back, I guess he was just saving his emotions for later ...
The bride, meanwhile, was all smiles.
From the moment I arrived to Nicole's bridal prep, her smile was infectious and she and her girls were in great spirits. I wasn't sure how much of a Halloween theme this wedding would have but was pleasantly surprised to see the fun robes she and her bridesmaids had on and the general orange and black color scheme for everything.
I mean, if you're gonna get married on Halloween, the least you can do is embrace the holiday, am I right?
Nicole embraced every moment of her wedding day but I don't think the reality of the moment really hit her until she read her note from Cameron because, once things got REAL REAL, the tone and vibe changed instantly in the very best of ways.
Nicole and Cameron said "I do" at the Red Lion Inn and though I'd never been to this venue before, I knew when I walked through the door and saw the location for the ceremony (and later the reception) exactly why they chose it. It was, in a word, stunning.
I love the intimacy a barn wedding ceremony brings and that's the exact vibe Nicole and Cameron's ceremony had, especially with the bride's big moment down the aisle that led to one of the absolute best groom reactions I've ever seen.
Like, seriously. Even in the moment when I saw Cameron lose it, I thought "Wow, this is something really touching."
I can't say I blame Cameron for losing it when he saw Nicole. It really was a touching moment. In fact, their entire ceremony was beautiful and said so much about their relationship.
And even though it only lasted around 10 minutes, I knew these two made a lifetime of memories in those few moments.
With their ceremony in the books, Nicole and Cameron headed outdoors for their formal photos and was the only time all day where the reality of the time of year hit us because, boy, was it cold.
I think on the surface we kind of expected it to be a little bit chilly but there really is nothing like those first few late autumn chills in New England and, man, it hit hard on this particular afternoon as the sun began to set.
Still, Nicole and Cameron's friends and family didn't complain much and were real troopers as we sped through these photos to get them inside as quick as possible.
My one worry on Nicole and Cameron's wedding day was whether or not we'd have enough time to grab a variety of bride and groom portraits of the newlyweds and even though it was a race against the clock, I think we did a pretty good job getting a nice variety with some truly awesome colors and posing before the light went away for the evening.
And even then, we were able to wrap up their couples' portraits with some nice photos in front of the iconic barn on this property. To say I was relieved we got everything we could in the time we were allotted is an understatement. To saw we were ALL relieved to head inside and warm up after we were done is an even bigger understatement.
Following their formal photos, Nicole and Cameron got ready for their reception while I made sure to capture any remaining details of their decor around the Red Lion Inn and, let me tell you, there was a lot to love about this appropriately spooky-themed event.
Nicole and Cameron kicked off their wedding reception with a grand entrance down the huge staircase that they had just said "I do" in front of an hour earlier and right from the start of this night, you could tell this was going to be a fun time.
The pair moved right into their first dance and this might have been my favorite moment of their entire wedding as it was SO clear Nicole and Cameron were lost in this moment together as they danced to "I want to grow old with you."
It was the perfect way to start what looked like it would be a perfect night.
Part of what I loved about Nicole and Cameron's general attitude surrounding their wedding day was the casual way they were willing to roll with the punches, like, for example, when we had to pivot to an impromptu cake cutting because the barn was so warm inside that the four-level gorgeous cake was starting to melt a little bit.
Hey. It happens.
Following their cake cutting, the pair sat down for a few touching speeches by the people closest to them before heading into dinner. I had a feeling this would be their last chance to catch their breath and relax before the party jumped off and I was right.
Almost immediately following dinner, Nicole and Cameron's night took the wild turn I know they were looking most forward to. For a Monday evening wedding, Nicole and Cameron's reception was a wild affair. But, first, the pair had some lovely parent dances to attend to.
I guess looking back I should have known Nicole and Cameron's wedding reception was going to be so much fun. Everyone in attendance at their wedding looked like they were there to have a good night and if you're going to give up your Halloween to see your friends or family members tie the knot, well, you may as well make the most of it, right?
That's exactly what these folks did. From the very first song until the last dance, Nicole and Cameron's reception was one of the most fun I shot in all of 2022 and it was absolutely a night no one in that barn will soon forget.
As I made my way to my car following Nicole and Cameron's wedding reception, I couldn't help but smile at how much fun the day turned out. It's always a risk when you give up a special holiday or event to photograph a wedding instead but at no point in my hour and a half drive home did I have any regrets.
Nicole and Cameron's wedding was a beautiful reminder of why I love doing what I do and, more importantly, it was everything this bride and groom could have asked for and so much more. So thank you Nicole and Cameron for saying "I do" on that beautiful October night in Cohasset, Massachusetts and thanks even more for letting me be there when you did.
Best of luck on this next chapter of your life together as husband and wife.
-Paul J. Spetrini
Check out more of my most recent wedding blogs:
Trinity Church, Wrentham, Mass. &
Kirkbrae Country Club, Lincoln, RI
October 28th, 2022
Five Bridge Inn,
Rehoboth, Massachusetts
October 23rd, 2022
St. Paul Church &
Quonset 'O' Club
October 22nd, 2022
The Vendor List:
Photographer: Paul J. Spetrini, Paul J. Spetrini Photography; Bride's Hair and Make-up: Krystal Dent of KMD Beauty, Warwick, Rhode Island; Bride's Dress: David’s Bridal, Dartmouth, Massachusetts; Florist: Mama Luna Flowers; Reception Venue: Red Lion Inn, Cohasset, Massachusetts; DJ: Michael Kingsley of MixMatch Entertainment LLC; Cake: Montilio's Baking Company, Braintree, Massachusetts.