Dallas & Kerry
The Adam's Pub, Quincy, Massachusetts (Ceremony & Reception)
September 15th, 2024
I love New England for many reasons but one of the biggest is it really is one of the most colorful places in the world … and I'm not just talking about the fall foliage.
Every wedding season, I get a handful of brides and grooms whose wedding day personifies “New England” and I don't think there has been one this year that fits that bill better than Dallas and Kerry.
The absolutely adorable pair, who had been engaged since 2010, proved their wedding was well worth the wait with one of the wildest and most fun days I've had this year and whether it was the groom and groomsmen slamming beers and watching football or the bride and bridesmaids tearing up the dance floor all night long, this Quincy, Massachusetts wedding was as New England as it gets and I mean that in the very, very best way possible.
I knew from the moment I walked into Dallas and Kerry's wedding day that we were in for a party vibe as the bride was in the makeup chair and laughing up a storm with her girls.
I love couples that really take the time to savor their wedding day in their own unique ways and both Dallas and Kerry did this on this beautiful and sunny Sunday afternoon.
For Kerry, enjoying her wedding day meant lots of little celebratory moments with her girls as everyone rushed to look their best.
For Dallas? Well, that meant packing a bunch of big guys in a small hotel suite and cracking lots and lots of wild jokes while the Patriots struggled to put anything resembling offense on the football field.
Two different approaches, sure, but it all added up to a genuine buzz in the air as the time for Dallas and Kerry's ceremony approached.
Dallas and Kerry said “I do” at The Adams Pub in Quincy, Massachusetts and when I first arrived, I was very confused as to why they would choose to get married on a Best Western property. But then I saw the gazebo used for the ceremony space and I understood immediately.
This little tucked away piece of property is one of the coolest places I've shot a wedding at visually this season and Dallas and Kerry's ceremony couldn't have happened at a nicer spot.
Speaking of the ceremony, Dallas and Kerry had a really beautiful one worthy of the time it took to get these two down the aisle. Not only were this bride and groom beaming with smiles on their faces as they exchanged rings and vows but I think they summed up their feelings perfectly moments after their first kiss when Dallas gave Kerry a big bear hug and the two looked absolutely, totally over the moon happy.
Following Dallas and Kerry's wedding ceremony, the pair headed outside for their formal photos and, I'll be honest, I've had a lot of weddings this year but few have counted down the minutes to the bar opening and the party starting like everyone at Dallas and Kerry's did.
While I may have had to compete with the fun times, Dallas and Kerry's friends and family members did thankfully do everything I asked of them in the beaming sun and, in exchange, I made sure they all got to cocktail hour with plenty of time to spare knowing I had bigger plans for the bride and groom once the sun set later on.
And, hey, weddings are supposed to be fun so why not party a little, right?
Dallas and Kerry kept a lot of their wedding super simple and low key but one of the things they spent a lot of time working on were the details for their décor and I think it showed beautifully.
I liked the little touches these two brought to their special day, from the beautiful memory table and lovely centerpieces to the personalized cigar station that you don't see at every wedding and even the hilariously perfect cake topper.
As an example of how low key Dallas and Kerry made their day, the pair decided not to have any of their formalities take place until after dinner, with the one exception being the speeches by their respective best man and maid of honor.
It was a great call because I could tell these guests were getting hungry and the beautiful, funny and surprisingly emotional speeches really set a great one for the evening.
Following dinner, it was my time to shine. Well, by me I mean the sun.
After waiting practically all night for the sun to set so I could take Dallas and Kerry back outside to finish their formal photos, I finally found the perfect window of time right before the pair were set to officially kick off their reception.
Thankfully, Dallas and Kerry gave me all the time I needed to capture what I think are the best photos of their wedding and to say I was excited about these shots is an understatement.
With formal photos officially out of the way, I could finally take a breath and relax knowing that I no longer had to deal with a setting sun and the worry that I wouldn't get enough shots of Dallas and Kerry together.
Well, relax might be an understatement as I knew this wedding was about to take a big turn as all of Dallas, Kerry's friends and family members were EAGERLY looking forward to the party portion of this get together and the bride and groom were surely not going to disappoint.
Up first? One of the most intense cake smashes … err, I mean cake cuttings I've seen this season. Suffice to say, the photo of Dallas and Kerry wrestling for the plate to smash each other again might make it's way into my portfolio at the end of the year. Talk about a fun moment ...
Talk about setting a tone for a reception. Dallas and Kerry transitioned from the tent at The Adam's Pub right back to the gazebo for their remaining formalities and that meant a first dance and two parent dances in a gorgeous setting with string lights all over the place … aka my favorite.
Following Dallas and Kerry's dance with their children, it was officially time to get the party started and boy did they ever.
While I was only at the open dance floor portion of Kerry and Dallas' wedding for an hour or so, trust me, it was plenty of time to see and shoot all of the wild madness going on because this crew did not waste a single moment celebrating a day 14 years in the making.
As I packed up my gear and headed home from Dallas and Kerry's reception, I couldn't help but spend most of my ride back listening to party music taken directly from the playlist I got to listen to that night and I can think of no greater complement to a wedding reception to remember than that.
Even now, weeks later, I have no doubts Dallas and Kerry's wedding was everything they waited a lifetime for and then some so congrats Dallas and Kerry and thank you for allowing me to document your journey down the aisle.
Best of luck as you start this new chapter of your lives together as husband and wife. May it be as much as, if not a bigger, party than the night your made it official. :)
-Paul J. Spetrini
