If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to have a December wedding, and then have your wedding day weather be 60 degrees, then these are the photos for you! As you can imagine, we were all pleasantly surprised when we could take so many photos outside without worrying about frostbite!
Nate and Kristen are one of the best couples ever, so photographing their wedding (and all the emotions that went with it) was easy! Nate is the kind of guy who asked Kristen’s dad for his blessing before he actually proposed. Kristen is the kind of woman who accidentally discovered Nate was planning to propose, but still let it happen naturally. These two genuinely enjoy spending time together, which is always awesome to see. The beach is one of their favorite places to hang out, so Ocean Cliff in Newport made for a perfect venue! With the unseasonably warm weather, everyone got to enjoy the stunning views of Narragansett Bay. Everything was truly perfect.
Kristen and Nate both got ready on-site, but in different areas of the resort. My partner-in-crime, Allana, was on hand to photograph the groom as he prepped and I got to hang out with the bride and her girls. And possibly the cutest ring bearer ever. I mean, he was just to die for. One of the {many} things I loved about this wedding was the genuine emotion it evoked. I don’t want to name any names (all you need to do is look through the photos), but we definitely had some emotional men at this wedding. Seeing them react to seeing Kristen as a bride for the first time, and to seeing her walk down the aisle, well, it just took my breath away. Moments like that are why I do what I do (and why I often tear up doing it). And to all the people out there contemplating a First Look, and wondering if it will detract from seeing each other at the ceremony, I think this set of photos prove it doesn’t have to. There’s something different about seeing each other just to do photos, and maybe relax a little, and then seeing each other at the ceremony when you’re about to make the biggest commitment of your lives. It’s pretty amazing. And then after that, it’s time to celebrate. Which, may I say, Kristen and Nate know how to do in style. They had a giant bottle of Veuve Clicquot that was opened with a saber (and maybe helped along with some hands). The ever-flowing champagne remained one of the couples’ favorite memories of their wedding day. Along with the unplanned moments that stem from being surrounded by your closest family and friends. For example, Kristen’s sister’s dress broke early on in the day. Zipper just wouldn’t work. Instead of freaking out, the dress was safety-pinned and everyone had a great time. No one wasted any worry on it. And at the very end of the wedding, as Kristen and Nate danced their last dance, the remaining guests all swept in and enveloped them in a giant hug. It was a moment they’ll remember forever. You could not ask for a more perfect day.
These are some of the team that helped make Kristen and Nate’s day perfect….
Venue (start to finish): OceanCliff, Newport
Hair & Make-Up: Wavelengths Salon
Wedding Dress: Estee Bridal Shop
Flowers: Toni Chandler Flowers & Events
Cake & Desserts: Amy’s Apples and Devilish Delights
DJ: Main Events Weddings, Bob Carpenter
