Amanda & Chris
Wyndham Newport Hotel, Middletown, Rhode Island (Ceremony & Reception)
November 15th, 2025
I've long said what you see on social media isn't real life and this is two, or maybe more, times true about weddings. People LOVE showing the glitz and glamour of a wedding but, often, you don't see the real photos that define a wedding day.
That's why I try pretty hard to show my couples as they actually are because, in real life, they're adorable and the moments that really show how they felt on their wedding day are so much sweeter and more emotional than I could ever choose to describe ... but not ones you usually see people share.
Take Amanda and Chris, for instance. When I think back on their November wedding at the Wyndham Newport Hotel in Middletown, Rhode Island, I think about two specific photos. Amanda getting her earrings placed on her ear with a nervous look on her face and Chris taking the deepest of deep breaths right before he saw his bride walk down the aisle.
These photos show a bride and groom at their peak most anxious and worried about how the day would go but, more importantly, it showed how much they wanted things to be perfect and how much these moments meant to them and that, to me, is the whole reason you get married. Because it matters. And because it's special.
And I can think of no better way to describe this wedding because it was, in every way, the most special day these two could have asked for.
There aren't a lot of wedding venues that I work that I go into knowing the day is going to be a breeze but the Wyndham Newport Hotel is absolutely one of them. Perhaps moreso than almost all other venues, this property makes weddings an absolute breeze as you can have everything from the start of the end of the day on site and I love that so, so very much.
I especially love photographing bridal prep in this location as the rooms are nice and spacious and knowing we only have to go down the elevator and out a door to get to the ceremony space means we have no worries about being late for anything.
Not that Amanda would have been. Immediately upon my arrival, I could sense we was itching to get this day started and see the people closest to her. Sure, she was nervous but I understood that. As I said above, she wanted this day to go well and she did everything she could to set the right tone right off the bat.
The first big moment of Amanda and Chris' wedding day was also one of the most adorable as Amanda shared a first look with her father. It was a simple moment but once I know she needed to set her nerves at ease. Moments later, I went downstairs to see how the groom was holding up and he was just as nervous as his officiant helped him pin his boutonnière.
In many ways, I loved how Amanda and Chris' last few moments of prep paralleled one another and knew this was a couple that couldn't wait to see one another and get this wedding day going.
Amanda and Chris chose to get married on site at the Wyndham Newport Hotel and while I initially questioned why they felt they needed to get married inside, instead of outdoors, when I arrived to their venue and felt the cold chill of the November weather in the air, I totally got it and was thrilled we were indoors.
What I didn't factor was just how crazy bright that room would be with the crazy afternoon sun coming through the windows but, honestly, I low key loved the golden hue it was giving this room.
Amanda and Chris' wedding also produced one of my favorite moments of the 2025 wedding season as Chris nervously stood waiting to see his bride and let out the biggest breath I've seen from a groom. You could tell he was letting all his nerves go in one motion and I loved how much that moment clearly meant to him.
Amanda and Chris' wedding ceremony was just seven minutes long but I could tell this bride and groom would have loved to cut that in half as they're not big center-of-attention people. Still, when the actual moment came, it was clear both this couple was soaking every second in as they looked deep in one another's eyes and waited from that moment when they were officially married.
As challenging as shooting around the massive mirrors in this room were, I don't think there was a better place for Amanda and Chris to say "I do" and I could feel their excitement as they shared their first kiss and walked down the aisle, ready to get the party portion of their day started ...
... but first, we had formal photos to attend to.
I have a love/hate relationship with the end of the year and Amanda and Chris' wedding showed why. As much as I love the prospective of finishing a tough wedding season and finally having some time off, inevitably I have a couple of late-season weddings where we have to deal with the first hints of winter and, man, it sucks so hard to have to be outside when the temperature starts dropping for the first time.
Amanda and Chris' wedding day was a COLD COLD one. I mean, it was the first time I broke out my hoodie for actual wedding day coverage last year and for good reason. With their wedding taking place in Middletown, we caught those East Bay island breezes and it was clear we'd be shivering if we spent literally any time outside.
We kept their family and wedding party formals inside but, when it came time for their bride/groom portraits, Amanda and Chris couldn't have cared less what the temperatures were. They were down for some nice outdoor photos at sunset and I'm glad they did as our reward were some really pretty, really sweet shots of them together.
It's not easy to look warm when the temperature is hovering in the 30s and every bit of your body is screaming at you to go inside but Amanda and Chris were troopers and the longer we stood outside, the cooler the light looked.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't absolutely THRILLED when Amanda, Chris and I finished their bride and groom portraits. It was so nice to finally warm up but, perhaps even more importantly, I was thrilled to finally have a chance to photograph the awesome details and decor this couple put together for their special day.
And there was a LOT of it.
Amanda and Chris got to enjoy a bit of cocktail hour and I think that was a nice reset for them but I could tell their excitement level really hit its peak as their reception started.
I especially loved the cute little way they excitedly were introduced as husband and wife for the first time as they entered the Wyndham Newport Hotel ballroom and prepared for their first dance.
Speaking of their first dance, what a beautiful moment it was. Amanda and Chris danced to the song of the 2025 wedding season, “Ordinary” by Alex Warren, and I couldn't help but smile watching this bride try her hardest to keep her arms wrapped around her substantially taller groom.
Amanda and Chris' first dance was an adorable one and set the tone for their reception quite nicely.
Amanda and Chris kept their reception super low key. In fact, following their first dance, they only had one formality prior to dinner ... a joint toast from their maid of honor and best man.
During dinner itself, Amanda had a beautiful father-daughter dance with her dad and, honestly, it was one of my favorite moments of the entire wedding.
You could see the playful relationship they had and the way her dad was essentially saying "You may be a grown woman but you're still my little girl." I thought that was super sweet.
With the formalities out of the way, it was time for Amanda and Chris' dance floor to open up and, honestly, I had no clue how this was going to go. On the one hand, I didn't really get the vibe that this would be a party crowd — and early on, it certainly wasn't.
But I also knew Amanda and Chris booked my all-time favorite DJ Ramu to work with and if anyone was gonna get this party started, it was him.
It took a little doing but once Ramu tossed on a little generational dance — playing one song from each decade over the last 60 years — he got people to the floor and the party was ON.
What I loved the most about Amanda and Chris' dance floor was just how carefree and relaxed the bride looked.
Amanda was in the zone for the rest of the night and really made sure to be all over that dance floor with her friends and family and I loved that for her.
As I packed up my gear and got ready to leave Amanda and Chris' wedding, I won't lie: I was wiped. The 2025 wedding season was, without question, the hardest one I have ever had both in terms of intensity and overall work and I felt every bit of it on the night of Amanda and Chris' wedding, no doubt in large part because it was the first time we really felt winter's approach.
And, yet, there was still an excitement about getting to capture moments like Amanda and Chris'. I'm always thankful when my late-season clients are awesome to work with and they don't get much better than these two were.
Amanda and Chris' wedding was an absolute delight to shoot and I'm so glad it was everything they wanted and more. So, congrats Amanda and Chris and thank you for allowing me to play a small part in how you remember this amazing day for the rest of your lives. I wish you all the best in this next chapter of your lives together as husband and wife. :)
