Stephen & Tanya
Five Bridge Inn, Rehoboth, Massachusetts (Ceremony & Reception)
October 12th, 2024
Whenever I meet a couple that has been together for more than a decade prior to getting married, one of the first things I like to do is address the elephant in the room right away by asking "Why now?"
It's a simple question but a critical one as, for most of these types of couples, the actual act of having a wedding is far less important than the long-term commitment they've already shown each other so why bother with the bells and whistles, right?
Weddings like Stephen and Tanya's back in October at Five Bridge Inn in Rehoboth, Massachusetts are why these kinds of couples get married because Stephen and Tanya, who have been together since 2004 and had to postpone their 2023 wedding due to the birth of their daughter, had every excuse NOT to have a wedding and still chose to do so.
And their reward? One of the best days of their lives and a day 20 years in the making that was well worth the wait in every way possible.
THAT is why you get married.
My time with Stephen and Tanya began, thankfully, with a true and proper bridal prep session.
Now, I know I've said this before but it is sadly becoming less and less common for couples to book me for a true bridal prep session. What I mean for that is a bride's hair and makeup appointments as well as all the little details and casual hangout moments before she gets into her dress.
Tanya, thankfully, wanted all of this captured and I'm glad she did as it really was the perfect start to telling the full story of her wedding day.
I loved being able to chart Tanya's journey into a bride and I think her prep may be one of my favorites this year if for nothing else than seeing the excitement grow on her face as the time ticked down to the start of her wedding ceremony.
Speaking of Tanya and Stephen's wedding ceremony, I knew as I walked over to the ceremony space at Five Bridge Inn that it was going to be one to remember.
For one thing, because I'm VERY familiar with Five Bridge Inn, I knew given the location of where they were saying “I do” that if we didn't get clouds, it was going to be a very, very sunny afternoon and an incredibly warm ceremony thanks to said sunshine.
Secondly, though, I knew just from the look on the bride and groom's faces that they wouldn't have cared how hot it was or how sunny it was because this is a moment they waited a lifetime for and they were savoring every single second.
Tanya and Stephen's wedding ceremony was a little over 10 minutes in length but what it lacked in longevity, it more than made up for in sweetness and emotion.
I absolutely loved watching these share their feelings and emotions with one another during their vows, saying all the things that many long-term couples often stop saying once the “honeymoon” phase of a relationship wears off.
My favorite moment, though, was the look of pure joy and excitement right before Stephen and Tanya were pronounced husband and wife and Tanya's legs buckled a little bit waiting for a kiss 20 years in the making.
This moment was special and I'm so glad I got to capture it for these two.
Following their wedding ceremony, Stephen and Tanya made their way over into the shade for their family and wedding party photos and I, for one, was thrilled. Not just because the thought of dealing with the bright summer-like sun for one more minute would have driven me crazy but also because the lighting in this particular area of Five Bridge Inn is always stunning.
And it certainly didn't disappoint for their group shots. Talk about perfect.
One of the things I was most curious about heading into Tanya and Stephen's wedding day was how much time we'd have for their bride and groom photos as the pair had a large chunk of family photos and plenty of bridesmaids and groomsmen in their parties, not to mention a toddler who was far too young to expect to be cooperative.
To me surprise, we did end up with a decent amount of time and, because we'd already done an engagement session together earlier this year, working with Stephen and Tanya for this portion of the day was a breeze.
Because of the nature of Tanya and Stephen's wedding day timeline, we had a TON of stuff planned throughout the day and not a lot of time to do it. As such, the one thing that I was worried would suffer the most from my perspective were detail shots.
Thankfully, there were enough little pockets of time for me to capture all the special touches Tanya and Stephen put into their day with some photos here, some photos there and some photos in between taking other photos but it worked out in the end and I'm glad there it did because, once I saw all the details put together, it really all clicked and looked great.
I had a feeling Stephen and Tanya's reception was going to be fun based on how wild their wedding party introductions were but it wasn't until the first dance that I got a real sense for the night ahead of us as the two shared a beautiful moment set to “Time After Time” by Sarah McLachlan and Cyndi Lauper.
That song, coupled with what is quickly becoming one of my favorite rooms to shoot a first dance in, set a fantastic tone for the evening ahead of us that was a mix of pure joy and pure love.
Following their first dance, Stephen and Tanya took a seat for four toasts from members of their wedding party and while I typically think anything more than two toasts is too many, these four were all great in their own ways and spoke to much love was in the room for the newlyweds.
After the toasts, Stephen and Tanya spoke to that love, thanking their friends and their family members for being there for their special day.
Following dinner, Tanya and Stephen kept the back half of their reception formalities nice and simple, with a low key cake cutting and two beautiful parent dances. I especially loved both of these dances as the folks at Five Bridge Inn brought the lights in the room down a bit, meaning the string lights above Tanya, Stephen and their parents shined even brighter.
To me, that just made a sweet moment even sweeter.
With formalities out of the way, it was time to party and party Tanya and Stephen did. I've seen a lot of wedding receptions this year but Tanya and Stephen's stood out for the pure silliness everyone seemed to be having and the joy it seemed to bring everyone around them.
I don't ask a lot from wedding receptions. I just want my brides and grooms to have a great time and make some longterm memories and I know Tanya and Steve did just that.
What I especially loved about Tanya and Stephen's reception was how much pure joy the bride and groom were having. Whether it was Tanya taking shots at the bar with friends or Stephen dancing with a shirtless groomsmen, I had no doubt this couple were right in the thick of it all on that dance floor on this beautiful fall night and I'd have it no other way.
As I packed my gear and headed out of Five Bridge Inn for the final time this year, I couldn't help but think about how lucky I've been to shoot some great weddings at that venue this season and I can think of no better one to close out my time there than Tanya and Stephen's big day.
For a wedding 20 years in the making, there were a lot of reasons Tanya and Stephen's day could have failed to live up to expectations but there was only one reason it wouldn't and that's the only reason that matters: The love these two have for one another.
So, thank you Stephen and Tanya for a beautiful wedding day I know was everything you could have ever dreamed of and more and I wish you all the best as you (finally) begin this next 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: Maria from Salon Karizzma; Bride's Make-up: Taylor T. Artisty; Bride's Dress: Ana's Bridal Boutique; Groom's Suit: Carl Anthony Tuxedo; Florist: Bayberry Farm & Flower Co.; Ceremony & Reception Venue: Five Bridge Inn, Rehoboth, Massachusetts; DJ: The Pros; Cake and Cupcakes: Wright's Dairy Farm and Bakery.