Blog— Weddings — Massachusetts— 2023 —
The Villa at Ridder Country Club Wedding Photos
Kayla & Patrick
The Villa at Ridder Country Club, East Bridgewater, Massachusetts
October 15th, 2023
One of the few things that annoys me the most about weddings is when I hear folks dismiss the idea of getting married as “just a piece of paper.” Now, while it's true that marriage doesn't change a lot of things for a couple that's been together for a long time, there's still a reason millions of people do it every year. Because weddings are special and there is no stronger bond between a couple than the one forged after walking down the aisle.
This is why whenever I work with couples that have been together for a long time, I know that even if they won't say it outright, the wedding DOES matter to them. Case in point: Kayla and Patrick.
After sharing a life together for 17 years, Kayla and Patrick did just about all the things two people can do together to show they're soul mates. But on the afternoon of their wedding day back in October, standing in the hallway of the Villa at East Bridgewater, Massachusetts, there were still plenty of tears shared as they held each other's hands and got ready to say “I do.”
Because weddings are special. And marriage is special. And a special love like Kayla and Patrick's deserves the special wedding they got and will never forget.
My coverage of Kayla and Patrick's wedding day began like a lot of my weddings this year, with the bride getting ready off site and wanting my time to start when she arrived at the venue.
Normally, this bums me out a little bit as I love shooting hair and makeup photos before a bride gets in the dress and the day really gets away from us but I knew heading into Kayla and Patrick's wedding that I would want as much time covering their reception as possible.
And when Kayla did arrive? Oh, we wasted no time getting her ready and getting this show on the road.
The first of several marquee moments took place after Kayla was dressed and ready to roll as she and Patrick chose to share a first touch prior to their ceremony.
If you're a long-time reader of this blog, you know I love a first touch. If you're new to the concept, well, it's a simple one. Rather than committing to a full-on first look where the bride and groom see each other and knock out formal photos before their wedding, a first touch allows a couple a chance to have a private moment by themselves without ruining the big reveal of the bride walking down the aisle.
Kayla and Patrick chose to share this special moment separated by a small wall and read their private vows to one another before their wedding guests began to arrive to the venue. I loved this moment so much simply because I don't even need to tell you anything about it. All you have to do is look at the emotion on both Kayla and
Patrick's face to see how much this moment, 17 years in the making, truly meant to this bride and groom.
It was one of my favorite highlights of their special day for sure and I know they feel the same way.
The best part of Kayla and Patrick's first touch? It was super easy and left us plenty of time to shoot some of their formal photos prior to the ceremony, saving us a ton of time that we would absolutely need later in the afternoon.
I also love that we were able to knock out so many of Kayla and Patrick's individual sides of wedding party and family photos as it kept the spirit of the day nice and loose and let them work off a lot of the emotions of the first look … just in time for the emotions to return once the ceremony started.
And what a ceremony it was. Right from the moment Kayla walked down the aisle, it was clear that even though it took Kayla and Patrick 17 years to get to this moment, there was nowhere in the world they would rather be.
Kayla and Patrick's wedding ceremony was timed perfectly with one of the most beautiful afternoons of the fall season and I'm so glad it was because these two deserved it.
I loved how happy both this bride and groom looked as they exchanged rings and vows and though their ceremony was a short one, it wasn't without its special moments.
I don't know what it's like to wait 17 years for one moment – unless you count the Patriots winning their first Super Bowl – but I will say I could see 17 years of happy memories scrolling through the eyes of both Kayla and Patrick as they held hands and listened to their officiant. And that kiss that sealed this new marriage? It was well worth the wait.
Following Kayla and Patrick's wedding ceremony, we made our way quickly back to some nice, level ground for the last remaining wedding party and combined family photos. I say quickly because, man, we were losing light fast and I still had to shoot bride and groom couple portraits.
Luckily, Kayla and Patrick's people were all great and we not only breezed through this portion of the day but had fun doing it.
I'm so glad we were able to speed through the remaining family and wedding party photos because I needed every second I could get with the newlyweds before the sun was gone. Literally.
After getting out basic poses and shots out of the way right by where they got married, Kayla, Patrick and I took a little journey to the other side of the Villa's property … just in time for one of the best sunsets I've ever been fortunate enough to capture on a wedding day.
Let's just say there's a reason I led this blog off with the one I did. It might very well be my favorite photo of the entire year and that's saying something as 2023 as been something special.
But take a look at those clouds and that sky above them at the end of this bride and groom portrait session. Can you blame me for being more excited than maybe anybody else but them for how cool these came out?
One of the nice things about the way Kayla and Patrick's wedding day timeline was structured was I had a decent amount of time before the major parts of the day started to grab detail shots and I'm so glad I did as Kayla and Patrick spent a LOT of time making sure the little touches of their wedding day stood out, especially with the Harry Potter theme they low key had intertwined with some of the decorations.
My favorite detail, by far, however was their ring shots. I don't often brag about the photos I take but I knew IN THE MOMENT that the ring shots I got from Kayla and Patrick's wedding were the best I've taken this year. Maybe even ever. It just looked so cool with Kayla's bouquet and that's only fitting since the rest of the details of the day were top notch as well.
As much fun as the first half of Kayla and Patrick's wedding day was, I knew the real highlight for this night would be the reception. For one thing, their friends and family members were all having a blast throughout the day and I expected that to continue once the dance floor opened. And, for another, the Villa is not a venue you book if you're not expecting a party.
Of all the places I've shot wedding receptions, the Madera Ballroom at the Villa is at the top of my list of places to shoot a reception and Kayla and Patrick's wedding showed why.
Starting off with a first dance set to "You and Me" by Lifehouse, Kayla and Patrick's wedding reception was a ton of fun but, more importantly, beautiful in every way possible.
Following their first dance, Kayla and Patrick had a very low key, casual reception in terms of formalities. Before dinner, the pair sat down to two short and sweet toasts (which I loved.) After dinner, Kayla and Patrick cut their cake and each shared a dance with one of their parents.
It was a super chill way to get us to the party portion of the evening and I'm glad because once the dance floor opened, it was time to go, go, go.
And this party did. not. let. up. So neither did I.
Without a doubt, my favorite part of Kayla and Patrick's wedding reception was just how much the bride and groom themselves were all over the dance floor, literally.
Whether it was Patrick shocking me with some deceptively-good breakdance moves or Kayla literally dropping it like it was hot, this bride and groom had no trouble dancing their special night away.
As Kayla and Patrick got together for one final dance, I couldn't help but take a look around at the room to see just many of their friends hung out until the very end of their reception. It was a lot more than I was expecting for a Sunday night wedding with well over two hours of dancing but I shouldn't have been surprised as this party was awesome.
And I know the only way it could have ended was for Kayla and Patrick to stand in the center of that dance floor for one last song, swaying from side to side in each other's arms.
Within a few moments of the lights coming up at the Villa, I started slowly packing my gear. It wasn't by design … I was just legitimately wiped.
Not only was Kayla and Patrick's wedding the third of a triple-wedding weekend (my only one of 2023) but it was one that took all of my energy in the best way possible.
And I'd have it no other way.
Kayla and Patrick's reception was one of the most fun ones I got to photograph this year and it was the perfect cap to a beautiful day and night 17 years in the making.
So thank you Kayla and Patrick for an amazing evening at one of my favorite venues and I wish you all the best in this new and exciting 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: Charlene's Hair Xscape, Brockton, Massachusetts; Bride's Dress: Vows Bridal, Watertown, Massachusetts; Groom's Suit: Men's Wearhouse; Ceremony & Reception Venue: The Villa at Ridder Country Club, East Bridgewater, Massachusetts; DJ, Photobooth and Uplighting: Cape Tunes Disc Jockeys Uplighting & PhotoBooths, Cape Cod, Massachusetts; Cake: BJ's Wholesales Club.