When Priscilla and Eli told me that they were going to have their wedding in Rhode Island, I was 100% on board. Having the opportunity to see more of the country while also doing what I love? Yes please. So July 4th weekend rolled around, and we made our way up to Newport, the sweetest city in New England. It had all the charms of a port city, the small town feel, and the incredible ocean-side views complete with the freshest seafood a girl could eat (If you have see the movie Splash with Tom Hanks, just picture the lobster scene and that’s me).

We arrived in town a day before the wedding; I wanted to get a feel for the layout and budget time to do some location scouting. I cannot overemphasize the importance of this. Whether you are a bride, groom, or photographer, making time to dig for the local spots is paramount, especially when it’s in a place you have never shot before. I had done research on Priscilla and Eli’s wedding venue, and the photos were beautiful, but had we just stayed on site we would not have gotten to see and experience the incredible cliffs and rocks of the Rhode Island’s coast. After googling, scouring maps and possibly trespassing, we by chance stumbled onto a very tiny—locals only—foot path to the water. It was no more than twelve inches wide with tall weeds and grass alongside it down a steep grade. Although the trek wasn’t easy, when I saw the view and with it only being five minutes from the venue, I knew I had to see if Priscilla and Eli would be game.

And this is a testament to how AWESOME my clients are. I popped into Priscilla’s hotel room to give her a heads about the location I found, and she did not hesitate to grab some shoes she could hike in down the slope in lieu of her heals. Both she and Eli were such a pleasure to work with. Their easygoing attitude, genuine care and love for everyone around them, and trust in me made capturing their wedding day one of my favorites. Truly, their intentional gratitude for their loved ones was evident. Eli had his sister officiate, which was honestly the most heartfelt things I have every seen, they passed around the wedding rings so that each guest could speak or pray a blessing over the couple, and they made sure to get every single person out on that dance floor. Their wedding felt a little like a family reunion — guests coming from all over the world to be there with them (Not to mention that I felt a little like paparazzi, shooting a one of Durham’s celebrities —a Duke football coach’s wedding!)

I have so much love and joy for these guys!

Vendors:

Wedding Planner - Sarah Castro at Sweet Deets Events
Venue - Atlantic Resort at Wyndham Newport
Bride’s Hair & Makeup - Bianca Fiocco
Dress - Ana’s Bridal
Caterer - The Atlantic Resort
DJ - Chris Saraiva
Florist - Flowerthyme
Cake - Sugar Mama’s Sweets and Treats
Photo Booth - Switch Photo Booth