Adam & Ashley
Stepping Stone Ranch, West Greenwich, Rhode Island (Ceremony & Reception)
September 15th, 2018
Weddings are one of those moments that mark a milestone in life where everything changes.
For most couples, there's your life BEFORE you get married and your life AFTER you get married but the periods are rarely ever the same. For some couples, though, weddings are simply a celebration of a life change that's already taken place.
Adam and Ashley were the latter and though their wedding day back in September at Stepping Stone Ranch was a beautiful example of how two people come together and find love, the wedding itself was a mere formality.
Why? Because Ashley and her two kids had already accepted and embraced Adam as a member of their family long before that beautiful fall afternoon and all you had to do to see it was watch the genuine love and emotion on their faces all day long as this bride and groom said "I do" to see this day was about so much more than just a wedding.
And that's why it was, without question, one of the sweetest wedding days I've had the honor of documenting.
My coverage of Adam and Ashley's wedding day began with a brief, but fun, bridal prep session at the Springhill Suites in West Warwick.
Though Ashley was largely ready to go the moment I walked into her hotel suite, I could tell we'd still have plenty of fun candid moments to capture as her two daughters were full of energy and excitement for the day ahead.
They didn't disappoint.
I adored watching Ashley interact with her kids but what I loved the most was how relaxed she was as she got ready to put her dress on and head to her first look with Adam.
In fact, were it not for me imploring her to take a moment for herself to soak in what this day means to her, she may not have looked even a little nervous the entire afternoon.
With bridal prep coming to an end, Ashley, her bridesmaids and I made our way over to Stepping Stone Ranch in West Greenwich.
I had never been to this venue before but, I've got to say, it was incredibly beautiful and full of cool little spots to shoot photos in, all within walking distance of one another.
You can see it for yourself in the location we chose for Ashley and Adam's first look. Talk about a scenic backdrop.
Adam and Ashley were so easygoing and fun to work with, especially during their formal photo session, and the incredible amount of time we had before AND after their ceremony definitely paid off as we were able to really take our time posing them.
Oh, and their ceremony? Talk about a picture perfect day and a picture perfect way to say "I do."
As I said earlier, Adam and Ashley built in a TON of time for formal portraits in their timeline and I loved them for it.
Not only did we get to have a little fun with their wedding party but, because we weren't being rushed, we could really try a lot of different poses with the newlyweds to see what worked best for their personalities.
Spoiler alert: I think I loved the dip shots in the woods the best.
Now, I know I already mentioned how beautiful Stepping Stone Ranch was for Adam and Ashley's wedding day but I think it's worth repeating as the interior where they held their reception was a rustic wedding lover's dream.
I adored the decorations this bride and groom had and not just because they had a ton of donuts out for their guests either.
Mostly, though, I loved the way the venue looked for the big moments of the night as the string lights and decorations on the ceiling really enhanced Adam and Ashley's first dance, which was set to a YouTube mash-up of "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran and "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis Presley.
This was the second time I heard this mix as a first dance song in three weeks and, I'll be honest, it's awesome.
Speaking of big moments, I loved the way Ashley and Adam incorporated their big moments of the reception beautifully into the theme of friends and family that their whole day was centered on.
In particular, I love that this bride and groom had a special dance with their kids. It put a perfect bow on how important that moment was for this new, now officially-official family.
But as much fun as everything leading up to Adam and Ashley's open dance floor was, nothing could compare to how overjoyed the guests at this wedding were once the music dropped and it was time to party.
And it didn't matter it the guests were kids or adults, there were plenty of awesome candid photos to be had regardless of age.
By the time Adam and Ashley got a big group hug from everyone on the dance floor and the final song played, I could tell it was a night this bride and groom would never forget.
More importantly, I knew that this was a day that would always serve as a milestone for this family, even if deep down Ashley and Adam saw themselves as married long before rings were exchanged.
I love weddings but I adore the way they make people feel and react more and this wedding day was one where feelings were the first priority.
So congratulations on a beautiful wedding day Adam and Ashley. I know it was everything you dreamed of and more and a perfect way to start whatever's next for you and your beautiful family.
-PJS
Tags: Rhode Island Weddings, Outdoor Weddings, Stepping Stone Ranch, West Greenwich,
Paul J. Spetrini Photography.
The Vendor List
Photographer: Paul J. Spetrini, Paul J. Spetrini Photography; Ceremony & Reception Location: Stepping Stone Ranch, West Greenwich, Rhode Island; Bride's Hair: Jessica Lagranduer from Blue Sky Spaworks; Bride's Make-up: Kelly Hyde Ottney from Blue Sky Spaworks; Bride's Dress: Party Dress Express; Florist and Decor: Blushing Blooms by Ashley; Transportation: All Star Limousine; Officiant: Alan Mailhot; DJ: AnamCara Music;
Check out more of my most recent wedding blogs:
Josh & Kim
Private Residence,
Coventry, Rhode Island
Date: September 8th, 2018
Lizzy & Gabe
Crystal Lake Golf Club,
Mapleville, Rhode Island
Date: September 2nd, 2018
Patrick & Courtney
St. Paul Church, Cranston, Rhode Island & Valley Country Club, Warwick, Rhode Island
Date: September 1st, 2018
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