Valerie & Dan
Blithewold Mansion, Bristol, Rhode Island.
May 23rd, 2015*
One of the nicest things about living in the internet era is that, in a moment's notice, you can look up information on just about any topic and come back with thousands of results. This has proven incredibly true in the area of wedding planning as brides and grooms have endless information on ways to make their days special and ideas to create little details that really speak to who they are as a couple.
For Valerie and Dan, all it took was roughly five minutes to see that this couple had a ton of fun doing research for their wedding as every little detail seemed to be pain-sakingly planned and no stone was left unturned in the timeline for the day. The bride herself even had five pages of shots she wanted the photographers to take.
But you know what? That's when you know the day matters to someone. While many photographers might balk at the idea of such a rigidly planned day, others (like myself) like the challenge and even though Valerie and Dan seemed to plan everything out, as is true in almost every wedding, sometimes the best pictures are the ones you never even thought about in the first place.
Dan was a simple groom. With a laid back group of groomsmen behind him, who were both colorful and clever in their sense of humor, it was pretty clear the man of the hour was a fun-loving guy. But that's not to say he wasn't nervous. No, the nerves were strong with this one.
And who can blame him? With an absolutely breathtaking Valerie waiting to walk down the aisle to him, the tension was incredible as the two planned out their "sneak peak first look" and shared a special moment that they'll never forget on the stairs of the Blithewold Mansion. In a moment that even got me a little emotional, Valerie quietly asked Dan "Dan ... (insert dramatic pause) ... will you marry me?" There wasn't a dry eye in the room when Dan said "Yes."
Probably my favorite part of Valerie and Dan's big day, their ceremony was truly special. A religious ceremony attended by a ton of Valerie's military coworkers, the site had plenty of access points for me to wonder around and get awesome angles of the bride and groom.
Remember when I said Valerie and Dan definitely did their research online to find ideas for wedding items? Nowhere was that clearer than in the reception details.
One of the coolest things to see, however, was the military saber arch. I'd never been to a military wedding before Valerie and Dan's event and, honestly, this is one tradition I can't wait to photograph again. Such a cool concept.
Valerie and Dan were also blessed to have one of the best sunsets of the year and it happened right as their reception began, leaving a lot of cool light in the room as they took their first dance. I really like the effect it had here in lighting the room.
Valerie and Dan also had some truly fun guests, like this group of camera hogs that were all too happy to pose whenever I pointed my camera their way. Normally, this annoys me but these guys were a ton of fun and I enjoyed every second of it.
By the end of the night, the colors inside the tent were spectacular. A pale blue set of uplights made this reception really stand out and once the party started, it was clear Valerie and Dan were having a ball.
In the end, Valerie and Dan had a great day and it made for a ton of fun photos. I truly enjoyed all the planning that obviously went into this event and I think it all came off pleasantly well from a visual standpoint.
And, really, what more can you ask for?
-PJS
* These photos were taken as part of my work for George Street Photography and are presented here strictly for portfolio/display purposes.