Blog— Weddings — Rhode Island — 2019 —
Warwick Country Club Wedding
Allison & Jason
Saints Rose & Clement Parish (Ceremony) & Warwick Country Club (Reception)
November 10th, 2019
I tend to ask a lot of my couples on their wedding day but I have a simple rule I never break: I won't ask a bride and groom to do anything I wouldn't do myself.
So when I asked Allison and Jason to stay outside near the water on a slightly chilly November night, it wasn't because I was thrilled to be out there with them freezing my butt off. It was because, deep down, I knew sunset was near and I figured if we stayed out there long enough, we'd capture something special. And I was right.
But it had nothing to do with me or my poses or anything I planned. Instead, it was the bride and groom at the center of the day and their genuine affection for each other that shined through.
And as the sunset gave way to the night sky, Jason and Allison held each other under the moonlight as husband and wife and, cold or no cold, I knew there was no place they'd rather be.
Jason and Allison were one of the most fun couples I worked with in 2019 and I knew exactly what kind of day to expect the moment I walked into Allison's bridal prep at the Nylo Hotel in Warwick.
Not only was the bride cracking jokes and laughing as her hair and makeup were finished but her bridesmaids were all playing music, talking about TV shows and generally having a great time.
If there was any stress on Allison's part, she did a masterful job hiding it and the prep session went great. I love the Nylo and adore taking detail photos there, especially once I positioned Allison's dress from a curtain rod over the bed.
As Allison finished up her prep and donned a beautiful tiara, I kept waiting for the moment where she would lose it but it never really came.
Sure, she wiped tears away at times but the only real emotion I read on her face as the minutes to her ceremony ticked closer were genuine excitement and an eagerness to get the party started.
That doesn't mean we didn't capture some emotional photos, of course. My personal favorites were the photos of her dad watching her put her earrings on and photos of Allison helping his with his boutonniere.
When I first met Allison and Jason, they told me they wanted their wedding to have a real "feel of New England" vibe and the church they chose to say "I do" in sure hit the nail on the head.
Getting married at Saints Rose & Clement Parish in Warwick gave this bride and groom a really unique venue in which to exchange vows and proved to be the perfect backdrop for this wedding full of guests who traveled from around the globe to attend.
I especially loved their ceremony for how uniquely personal it was while also staying true to the traditions of a religious celebration. Allison and Jason's pastor was a personal friend and it showed in this intimate and touching ceremony full of stolen glances, hand holding and (at least on the bride's part) a few tears as well.
As Jason, Allison and I left Saints Rose & Clement following a brief receiving line, you could feel the temperature quickly dropping as we arrived at their reception venue: the Warwick Country Club.
It didn't help that the bright sunshine we had for family photos quickly disappeared as we got ready for their bride and groom portraits but, thankfully, these two never complained and were happy to keep posing as I found more and more ways to show off their fun nature and loving relationship the longer we stood outside.
Without question, though, my favorite shots from Jason and Allison's entire wedding came as the sun started to set and we found a nice spot by the water that proved to be the perfect location as a full moon came in moments before we headed inside.
With their formal photos out of the way, Jason and Allison were finally able to let loose and I knew the moment their reception started that the night was about to take a different tone.
And even though the pair shared their first dance to Etta James' classic song "At Last," I didn't expect much about the rest of this night would feel too stuffy and I was right. Jason and Allison had a PARTY and it was so much fun to document.
Jason and Allison started their reception with a beautiful first dance and the formalities of the evening kept getting better. After two great, heartfelt toasts, the pair had a beautiful blessing from their pastor before settling in for a great meal surrounded by friends and family.
Once dinner was over, I could tell Jason and Allison were excited to spend time with those who traveled the world to see them and they did just that.
But, first, they needed to finish up with the formalities of the evening and whether it was their cake cutting, Allison's emotional dance with her father, her downright funny dance with her stepfather or Jason's touching mother-son dance, all the little pieces that went into making this bride and groom's night special turned out perfectly.
If there was any doubt what kind of reception Jason and Allison were going to have, it was gone the minute their DJ turned on the party lights and the dance floor started to fill.
I loved the candid photos I was able to get of Allison and Jason's wedding guests cutting loose and though it may have been November, this wedding reception felt like a summer night inside as EVERYONE came to dance the evening away.
To her credit, Allison was right in the middle of the dance floor all night long and I loved that about her.
I especially chuckled when she switched into another outfit to close the evening out as it showed me that this party was a major priority of hers and she wasn't going to waste the opportunity to have the night of her life.
As my time with Jason and Allison came to an end, I couldn't help but marvel that the pair somehow managed to have more and more fun as the night went on.
To me, those are the very best kind of wedding receptions, they're the nights you don't want to end.
Allison and Jason had the wedding of their dreams and all you had to do was look at their faces and the way they brought such pure joy to each other to know it was worth the wait.
And, really, if that doesn't speak volumes about how much fun they'll have now that they're husband and wife, I don't know what does.
-Paul J. Spetrini
Tags: Indoor Weddings, Saints Rose and Clement Parish, Warwick Country Club, Warwick,
Rhode Island Weddings, Catholic Church Weddings, Paul J. Spetrini Photography
Check out more of my most recent wedding blogs:
Rebecca & Chris
St Mary's Catholic Church,
Attleboro Elks Lodge
November 9th, 2019
Jillian & Christopher
Stonehurst Manor,
North Conway, New Hampshire
October 26th, 2019
Bethany & Thomas
Wyndham Newport Hotel,
Newport, Rhode Island
October 25th, 2019
The Vendor List:
Photographer: Paul J. Spetrini, Paul J. Spetrini Photography; Bride's Hair: Tammy of Vanity Hair Salon; Bride's Make-up: Jennifer Dupre Artistry; Bride's Dress: David’s Bridal; Groom's Suit: Men’s Wearhouse; Florist: Le Isle Rose; Ceremony Location: St. Rose & Clement Parish, Warwick, Rhode Island; Reception Location: Warwick Country Club, Warwick, Rhode Island; DJ: All Occasions DJ; Cake: Antonio's Bakery; Photo Booth: Extreme Photo Booth.