of the
A supplement to the East Bay newspapers
From brides to brides Wedding, interrupted
Forget traditional — Recent brides share some of their best tips about planning a wedding today
Celebrating the new normal
Making the big day more personal (and more fun!)
6 20 10 24 14 30
It’s a matter of trust
The best wedding-day photos are born from a great relationship between couple and photographer
Insights and advice from a pandemic bride
The Bristol scene
Good vibes are good for business
It’s never too early to plan ahead
Post-pandemic, pre-engagement wedding tips (you can work on even before he pops the question)
ALLAN MILLORA PHOTOGRAPHY
Forget traditional — Recent brides share some of their best tips about planning a wedding today
BY JEN CAMPISI
While bridal trends come and go, some ideas have gained traction in recent years, possibly due to the impact of social media. Following the coronavirus pandemic, wedding planners and vendors have seen an increase in non-traditional wedding ideas making waves in the past two years. If you’re newly engaged or in the process of wedding planning, here are some ideas that many recent, local brides are incorporating into their weddings.
Once the news of your engagement spreads, you’re bound to be bombarded with questions from all of your family and friends. “When’s the wedding?” “What’s the dress code?” “Where’s it being held?” “What hotel should we stay at?” “Will
there be an open bar?”
To avoid the deluge of texts, emails and social media messages, (and also to avoid dumping the Q&A duty on your mother, sister, or maid of honor), it’s super quick and easy to create your own wedding website. Your website can highlight pictures, discuss the timeline of your events, and inform your loved ones all about the wedding planning process as it happens. Adding a FAQ section will alleviate additional stress from having to continuously divulge the details of your big day. This is a great way to communicate with your guests without having to do so individually.
“There’s companies out there that will help you build it, like The Knot or Wedding Wire, but we took an even more custom route and just built a trusty old Wordpress blog,” said Aimee Garrity, 29, an August 2022 bride from Quincy, Mass. “It
answered all of the questions for people before they even asked, and we got to write little stories of how we met to make it super personable. We also added a gallery of photos from our honeymoon for the people who don’t use social media to see.”
If you’re crafty and want to curate your dream wedding with a personal touch, you might fall into the increasingly popular DIY Bride category. From customized place cards, floral arrangements, homemade favors, and much more, we’ve seen a lot of brides taking matters into their own hands, especially brides on a budget.
Graphic design websites like Canva are a lifesaver, even if you’re not inherently artistic. Canva is a free online design tool that allows you to personalize and create
your save-the-dates, wedding invitations, thank you cards, and much more.
“I did as much DIY as I could, from the welcome sign, to centerpieces, to designing my invitations,” said Sarah Curry, 24, a May 2023 bride from North Reading, Mass. “I’m pretty lucky my mom is a very crafty gal, and I personally found that it gave me a huge sense of accomplishment afterwards. The reason I did it is mostly due to price, but also there was some stuff that I did DIY because I couldn’t find exactly what I wanted. It started with an idea about a year and a half prior to the wedding, and we started creating it all about a year before.”
While fancy stationary and calligraphic cards look aesthetically pleasing, it’s only a matter of time before a few RSVPs fall through the cracks. Whether guests forget to mail them, they get returned through the mail, or somehow they get lost altogether, the easiest way to ensure you’ve got the most accurate head count is through an online RSVP. Not only will it be super easy to keep track (without the stress of having to track everyone down), but you can also input that data directly into a spreadsheet for your venue and caterers.
For added efficiency, you can work an
online RSVP option directly into your custom wedding website. (As an added bonus, you’ll save a bunch on postage and materials as well!)
“When we were putting together a guest list, I realized just how many people we would have to send invite cards out to, and it really worried me about the cost but also about how much of this material would or would not get recycled, because I’m super eco-conscious,” said Bailey Santos, 25, an October 2023 bride from New Bedford, Mass. “The online RSVP was a no-brainer because it was super simple to set up and we don’t have to worry about people mailing their responses. They’re all right there for us to see as people send them, and that makes the process so much easier without chasing everyone around.”
Long gone is the traditional “one dress fits all.” Many brides have changed the game with alternating and coordinating bridesmaids dresses, rather than a group in which everyone matches. Some brides have chosen one color from a specific designer, but different style dresses for each individual bridesmaid (maybe one-shoulder for Marissa, and strapless for Samantha). Others have selected two or three alternating dress colors from the
same designer.
But now, you’ll see an increase in variety when it comes to bridal dresses, with some bridal parties coordinating colors and patterns, without repetition. This allows the bride to choose the dress design and color for each bridesmaid’s individual taste, style, personality, and body type.
“I was torn between a few different dresses that I really liked for the girls, so I decided to go with multiple options to switch it up a bit,” said Cara Moran, 25, a September 2022 bride from Cranston, R.I. “Two of the girls wore a dark green, two had a medium green, and the other two had a light green, and I had them staggered like a gradient. They were all super comfortable with it, and it definitely fit how I’d pictured it and I didn’t have to compromise.”
It’s more common these days to see adults-only weddings, with guests limited to age 14 and over, age 18 and over, or even age 21 and over. This has become a simple way to cut down the guest list, save extra money, or just to ensure that the parents are not held responsible for looking after their children all night instead of
enjoying themselves. Let a babysitter take care of it!
Many moms and dads will be glad to have the night off and relax. Obviously, this is preferential and varies by the family, but it’s picking up speed throughout the wedding world.
Recent bride Katrina Leasy, 24, of Pawtucket, RI, went with an adults-only guest list for both her ceremony and reception.
“We only had a few guests that have children, some extended family, none of whom we’re super close to, so having a childfree wedding was definitely a must for us,” said Leasy, who said ‘I do’ in September 2022. “It helped take the extra chaos out of our day, because the last thing that anyone wants as we’re processing up the aisle is a screaming baby or a teething toddler who can’t sit still. Definitely recommend, and wouldn’t have had it any other way.”
In the digital age, it can seem as if everyone’s glued to their phone. At the grocery store, at restaurants, and even on walks through the park. But to some couples, the line is drawn when it comes to their wedding. On your special day, you may want to choose the “unplugged” route, to ensure that your guests aren’t in the way of hired photographers by hoisting up their tablet to take pictures in the middle of your vows, or using their phone flashlight during your first dance. By having an announcement made and creating a sign to indicate an “unplugged” ceremony, reception – or both! – this eliminates (or perhaps, reduces) additional distractions during those special moments.
Katie Miller, 26, an October 2024 bride from Lowell, Mass., is having an unplugged ceremony, after being in a wedding last June that did the same. She got some of her inspiration from social media posts about other unplugged ceremonies.
“I saw something about it on TikTok, but have always wanted to do it! I’m not a fan of phones potentially being in the professional photos,” said Miller. “I will have a sign and have my officiant announce it, but I’m also thinking about doing a ‘social media moment’ where my officiant would announce to the guests that they have 30 seconds or so to take some pictures, and then phones would go away.”
Many couples have ditched the traditional wedding reception. The restrictions
of structured wedding dinners and rigid sit-down meal schedules often hinder the ability to maximize your time of mingling with your attendees or hitting the dance floor for your favorite line dance. Buffet-style spreads have been making a comeback, thus giving guests the flexibility of utilizing their time to their own liking, a variety of menu choices to satisfy any individual appetite, and doing away with awkward assigned seating at tables with guests you’ve never met before.
“Our guest list is on the smaller side, and we really want to keep things casual,” said Haley Levy, 30, an April 2024 bride from Westerly, R.I. “We knew we didn’t want the formal three-course meal with a set menu and waiters coming around, and us being confined to the sweetheart table for an extended period of time. I want to make sure I can talk to everyone who comes, and float around in it all.”
One thing that has stayed consistent since COVID times is smaller bridal parties. Pre-pandemic weddings saw an average of 7 to 8 bridesmaids and their respective groomsmen escorts, for a bridal party of 14 to 16 people total (not including the bride and groom). Recently, many brides have chosen to downsize, by keeping their friends list close and shrinking their bridal parties, as we now see an average of 4 t o 6 bridesmaids, with their respective groomsmen as escorts. An influx of brides have opted for smaller bridal parties to hone in those who are closest to them, whether that be longtime friends or family members.
“I was super worried about having a small bridal party at first because I thought people would be offended that I didn’t choose them, or that it wouldn’t photograph well, or that it would look like I didn’t have that many friends,” said Addy Brawn, 22, an October 2022 bride from North Providence. “I ended up choosing my twin sister Logan as my maid of honor, and had three bridesmaids, which were my college roommate, my childhood best friend and next-door neighbor, and one cousin who I’m the closest with. It helped a lot keeping it small because it was less planning, less coordinating, and easier to track everyone down.”
seats, with others resorting to standing-room-only when all the chapel pews have been claimed. Pandemic restrictions limited couples in their guest capacity, but the trend of private ceremonies has continued on well after those guidelines were lifted.
Lately, many people have opted for small, personal ceremonies with select family and close friends in beautiful or memorable locations that are unique to their relationship. For the minimalist couple, these smaller ceremonies eliminate distractions and focus on the details. 2023 will likely see an increase in destination wedding ceremonies, and non-traditional ceremonies in unique locations (think cliffs, beaches, rooftops, bridges, mountains, gardens, lighthouses, and other attractions).
Rebecca Violette, 40, a November 2022 bride from Newport, R.I., married her husband on the boardwalk of Gray’s Beach in Yarmouth, surrounded by their close family and friends at golden hour. “We went there for our first date about a year and a half prior, and it was pure magic. I fell in love with the boardwalk, and even more in love with him,” said Violette. “As we were driving home that day, he turned to me and said ‘You know you’re going to marry me, right?’ and I said ‘I do.’ From that day on, it was just common knowledge between the two of us that we would get married, and obviously it had to be at Gray’s Beach.”
Favors with meaning, or no favors at all!
Let’s be honest, nobody really remembers your wedding favors anyway. At least, not most bridal favors. Modern brides have found that in order for a favor to be memorable, it would have to be useful or thoughtful, and some have chosen to forget the favors altogether. See you later, monogrammed Christmas ornaments and tacky liquor nips in dollar-store cellophane!
Recent brides have instead packaged desserts to go, such as decorated cookies or chocolate covered pretzels, or had a “late night snack” table for guests to grab on their way out.
In years past, vow ceremonies and marriage services were large and extravagant. Some families filled every row of
“I’ve been to a lot of weddings where people left favors on the table and that money just went to waste,” said Ava Druschell, 27, a June 2022 bride from Taunton, Mass. “We were really budget-conscious and figured that an edible favor would be a good treat for someone to take with them that wouldn’t go to waste, even if we had leftovers.”
Couples are ditching some traditions for a better experience – See how today’s weddings might be more personal (and more fun!)
BY LUCY PROBERT
From mid-week weddings with a favorite uncle officiating, to offering guests during cocktail hour the groom’s favorite drink off of a rolling gin cart, wedding trends have changed in the post-covid years, and the common theme is one of celebration. While the pandemic put a complete halt to big gatherings, delaying some for a year at least, during the reshuffle couples have been putting their own stamp on their big day with both new traditions and keeping up with old ones.
Picking a date
“Because of the rescheduling after 2020, couples who didn’t want to wait in a long line to find a venue started booking non-weekend weddings, like on a Monday or Thursday,” says Kristen West Ciejka, marketing director for The Newport Experience, whose venues include the 10-acre Ocean Cliff on Ocean Drive and Regatta Place on Goat Island.
“Extending past the weekend gives them flexibility on dates and is more affordable,” she says.
Sometimes a couple’s connection to a particular day also determines their date choice. “There might be an attachment to a date because it’s the anniversary of when they met or has another special meaning, like 2/2/22, and that might hap-
“Many of the ‘rules’ have gone out the window. Couples are doing what they want and what feels right, versus what they are expected to do. And that’s been really fun to see and be part of.”
pen to fall on a Wednesday,” she says.
While the pandemic required smaller guest lists for a time, when restrictions were lifted it didn’t take long for the uptick in numbers to reach pre-covid levels. “We thought the more intimate ‘micro’ wed-
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JENNIFER NEVES
dings might become a trend and continue, but it has been just the opposite,” says Ciejka. “We’re getting many requests for weddings of 150 plus. It feels like people are just ready to go back to a sense of normalcy, to get dressed up and have big celebrations again.”
Linden Place, a Federal style mansion and event space in Bristol set on two acres, provides gardens for wedding ceremonies and an historic indoor ballroom and additional space for up to 120 guests. “Although we are adding features like outside lighting and tents to expand our space, receptions are primarily set up inside,” says Susan Battle, Linden Place executive director. A smaller venue, they have seen a slight decrease in weddings this year, but one of their advantages, Battle says, is year-round availability.
“In this area, tents are a wedding staple, but we’re hoping couples will find their way back to us for a smaller more intimate wedding experience, where off-season we can provide a roaring fire in the ballroom and lovely adjacent space for dinner and dancing.”
Linden Place hosted five weddings in December and a few more in January. “It’s a beautiful, charming place for a wedding,” she says.
Even before covid, holding ceremonies at the wedding venue was becoming the norm, as well as choosing a special friend or family member to officiate. “I would say at this point over 80% of our couples are being married by a friend or family member,” says Battle. “They have a personal connection to the couple, and that makes the moment very special.”
The wedding party
Jennifer Neves, a Bristol wedding photographer for more than 20 years, has seen a change in wedding party makeups in the past few years. The numbers of bridesmaids and groomsmen on each side no longer have to match, she says, and instead of a maid of honor a bride might choose a man of honor. Family has also become part of the bridal party, in a nontraditional way: “We recently shot a wedding where the bride’s mother was a bridesmaid.”
While some traditions remain (first dance, rehearsal dinners) for many cou-
ples some have fallen away. “Along with many times no more throwing of the garter, we are seeing fewer large wedding cakes,” says Neves. “Now it’s a ‘private cut’ of a small round cake by the bride and groom with a separate dessert-filled table nearby for guests.”
Ditch the gift bags, add the cocktail Brides and grooms are veering away from traditional custom wedding favors towards more personalized experiences, says Kristen West Ciejka from The Newport Experience. “Maybe the groom or bride has a favorite drink they can serve during cocktail hour,” she says. Or a popular wedding reception feature has also
become the 360-photo booth, a camera that rotates around a platform so guests can pose in small groups. Adding a boat tour around Newport the day before or after the wedding or sending a food truck to where people are staying also adds to the experience.
“The two-day wedding weekend has been expanded to three or four days,” says Neves.
“I would say the biggest change in the past few years is that many of the ‘rules’ have gone out the window,” she adds. “Couples are doing what they want and what feels right, versus what they are expected to do. And that’s been really fun to see and be part of.”
500 HOPE STREET BRISTOL, RI
www.lindenplace.org
Recite your vows in our sculpture gardens. Celebrate in the gracious ballroom. This is where Gatsby swept Daisy off her feet!
The best wedding-day photos are born from a strong relationship between couple and photographer
PHOTO BY DEVON MCWILLIAMS
It’s critical to know each couple’s style, interests and personality.
BY JULIA STEARLY
As a seasoned wedding photographer, Devon McWilliams believes a strong relationship between the couple and their photographer is vital. The best photos come from a relationship built on trust, familiarity and communication.
“My motto is that you’re telling the story of the whole day by capturing the moments, big and small. It’s really special,” McWilliams said.
Having taken the responsibility of immortalizing such a monumental event in so many people’s lives, she’s learned to anticipate moments before they happen.
“When the bride comes out in her dress for the first time, while she’s getting ready, she’ll probably go give her mom a hug. That’s such a beautiful moment, so I’m always ready for things like that.”
To help build that relationship, McWilliams highly suggests an engagement shoot. “It makes it that much more comfortable on the wedding day. You aren’t meeting the person in charge of capturing your memories for the first time that day. An engagement shoot can take any sense of awkwardness out of the equation.”
She uses that time to get a sense of the couple’s style and preference, but as in every strong relationship, there should be give and take, and she recommends that couples keep an open mind.
“It’s so important for clients to trust their photographer. Every background is so different, so getting dead set on an inspiration picture can make things complicated. You hire your photographer because you like what they’ve done. Trust that they can do it for you.”
McWilliams truly values the relationships she develops with her clients. “You get really personal. You’re with them all day, and some moments can get pretty intense. It tends to be a high-stress day, and when you go through all of that with
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someone, of course you bond with them. You get to know each other really well, I love that.”
This connection doesn’t necessarily end
when the day is done. McWilliams said some of those relationships last a lot longer than the big day. “I love that so often I get to keep a relationship with my couples
that goes on for years. Maybe they have a baby down the line and I do their newborn shoot, and then one year the holiday card. It’s so special to see them evolve.”
Nestled in the scenic charm of Rehoboth, Massachusetts, you’ll find Hillside Country Club. Treat your guests to the classic elegance of this premier event venue for once-in-a-lifetime events. Just 20 minutes from Providence and less than an hour from Boston, Hillside Country Club is convenient for all your guests, yet seemingly worlds away.
We pride ourselves on providing our guests with the highest standard of service and cuisine to make your wedding unforgettable. Our menus are customizable and offer something for everyone. From the cocktail reception hors d’oeuvres to the three-course dinner selections, all made with the freshest ingredients.
Wedding packages can be tailored to make your wedding truly unique. It’s the details that set your day apart and we offer all the enhancements needed to do so, including specialty linen rentals, and a breathtaking fireworks display!
The author planned the perfect 2020 wedding, shut it down and moved it to 2021, then decided to get married in 2020 after all — this is her story
BY REBECCA BERNARDO-HARTLEY“Maybe we’ll give out hand sanitizer as a wedding favor,” I joked with my coworkers as we gathered in the front office to talk about this new virus that just had its first confirmed case in Rhode Island. It was March 2020 and the only thing on my mind was my impending nuptials.
After almost 8 years together, lots of long distance, and an almost 2-year engagement - I was ready to tie the knot and be done with wedding planning. I had
planned every finite detail down to the tablecloths, and had, in my mind, picked the most perfect wedding date.
That last one felt the most serendipitous to me. After getting engaged in July 2018, I knew I wanted to be done with graduate school (and those pesky tuition bills) before our big day. So that brought us to January 2020. I had always wanted a Spring wedding and wouldn’t you know itour 8-year anniversary fell on a Saturday that year - May 16th. I couldn’t have planned it any better if I tried. After picking the date, the rest just fell into place.
…or so I thought.
Flashforward to March 2020 - the day I made, what would soon be, a poorly timed hand sanitizer joke, was also the day that
we were informed that the 2-week spring break we were about to embark on at the school I worked at was now a mandated 2-week “pause” for all schools in the state of Rhode Island. As my coworkers filed past me, confused and a little nervous, one paused and asked me - “what about your wedding!?”
My heart sank and my eyes filled with tears I didn’t even know had been waiting to come to the surface. What about my wedding? This wouldn’t mean anything, right? It was only March, we still had MONTHS before the day. It’ll be cleared up by then, right?
As much as I tried to delude myself, I couldn’t shake this sinking feeling and with each passing week and extension of the
“pause,” I was finally forced to face reality as I canceled my bridal shower, bachelorette party, and then, our wedding.
As I shared the news with others, I got the standard sympathy replies and attempts at encouragement. “It’ll be a story to tell your grandkids,” more than one person told me. But this wasn’t a story, even if it felt like a poorly scripted Hallmark movie. This was my life. I didn’t want a funny story to share at a future first day of work getting-to-know-you activity, I wanted a wedding. I wanted the wedding I had dreamed of and planned for years.
To say these weeks weren’t wracked with a LOT of feelings would be a lie. There was regret over having such a long engagement, resentment and sadness over a canceled wedding, guilt over focusing on something like a wedding when so many others faced unemployment or worse yet, losing a loved one. Add the general anxiety and stress that came from living during COVID. To put it plainly, I was a bit of a mess.
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As newly trapped office mates, my fiancé would often play music throughout the day as we enjoyed our morning coffee or prepared meals. And there was one song in particular that I felt like he played every day. Truth be told, at the time I couldn’t tell you a single line from the song. I recognized the beat and it always sounded vaguely familiar but I never actually listened to it. That is until one particularly stressful day when I ventured to the kitchen.
“Time is passing by, I still want you Crime is on the rise, I still want you Climate change and debt, I still want you
The earth is heating up, I still want you Hurricane and floods, I still want you Even more than I did before.”
It was the most simple of moments and a simple explanation of love through song but it was everything that I needed. No matter how scary the world was at that moment, even though I honestly had no idea what the future would look like, even if I couldn’t have the wedding of my dreams, somehow I still wanted to get married. Among the canceling, the stress, the questions - that had never wavered. I still wanted to commit to spending the rest of my life with the man who was currently busy making me a grilled cheese sandwich to calm down.
I felt like the Grinch suddenly learning that Christmas isn’t just about presents. In the wise words of Dr. Seuss - “it came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags.” My heart grew 3 sizes that day realizing that maybe marriage means a whole lot more.
And at that moment, I realized that while I wanted a wedding, I didn’t need one. The only thing my heart wanted was to marry my fiancé. So I trusted in the thing that had represented love for the past eight years, the end date that had guided me throughout the entire wedding planning process, the day I thought was magic - May 16th. With trust in each other and our love, we decided to get marriedwithout a dress or tux, with no venue, no vendors, no transportation, no speechesjust us.
If you thought planning a wedding was hard, try planning a wedding, canceling and rescheduling said wedding for 2021, and then planning a makeshift wedding in the middle of COVID. While it will never be the day I planned, it ended up being pure magic. There are certain memories from that day that I’ll never be able to fully
articulate. The feeling of having my mom hem a wedding dress I bought online (since my actual dress was locked away in a bridal store a state away) in my childhood bedroom. Finding, through pure luck, a venue that allowed us to use their outdoor ceremony space free of charge and treated us with such kindness. Driving to our new venue and seeing a terrible traffic jam, one that we would’ve been stuck in had things actually gone the way we originally planned. Figuring out how to Livestream our ceremony since many of our loved ones couldn’t attend and being truly overwhelmed and speechless with the amount of love sent our way. Walking into our “reception” (AKA my best friend’s backyard) to see the painstaking effort she put into decorating it to look like a twinkling wonderland. Sharing a first dance as Mr. and Mrs. to a song that had become our anthem since that day in the kitchen months prior. And the feeling of saying “I do” with only 7 people in attendance, without any fluff or fuss, and being truly, blissfully, unquestionably happy. While my hand was forced, I ended up
having the day I had dreamed of ever since.
All of this isn’t to say you shouldn’t throw that big extravagant wedding. You deserve to have the wedding of your dreams. You should be able to see that dusty rose and burgundy color palette you’ve been dreaming about finally come to life before your eyes. You have every right to marquee letters and a sparkler exit. But I hope my story pulls you back enough to see the tree through the forest. To help you recognize that you don’t need any of that. All you need is the person you’re making this commitment with.
No wedding will ever be perfect. Whether it’s a pandemic or a torn veil, something will take you by surprise. But I hope, as it was in my case, that at that moment when it feels like everything is crumbling, you see not what’s wrong but who is right by your side. Ready to help you, ready to comfort you, ready to love you, ready to commit to a lifetime with you, and ready to give you a grilled cheese to calm down.
In the end, isn’t that what marriage is all about?
Fall River Country Club offers a truly beautiful venue that is tucked away in a secluded area of the north end and is surrounded with spectacular scenery views of the Taunton River. We offer intimate wedding gatherings with only one wedding a day. This enables our staff and culinary team to cater to you and your guests from the start of the ceremony to the completion of the reception. Our facility offers the finest service and outstanding food to ensure that your wedding will be both memorable and carefree.”
When you book your wedding with us you will receive a one-year Social Membership.
The Bristol wedding scene is stronger than ever, fueled by the trend toward outdoor venues and the desire for intimate experiences
BY SCOTT PICKERINGThe wedding business is booming in Bristol. It remains to be seen whether 2023 will be the biggest year ever, but it’s tracking like it could be, and those at the heart of selling, booking and manag-
ing this seaside destination believe the future is bright.
This was not always the certainty it is today. A generation ago, there were two options for a grand wedding in Bristol — Blithewold Mansion and Linden Place. Those two institutions, both historic mansions preserved by philanthropists and volunteers, put Bristol on the wedding map.
Today that map is more colorful than ever before. Mount Hope Farm has risen
from being a distant third in the wedding business to becoming one of the busiest hubs in the region. In a typical summer weekend, the sprawling estate overlooking Mount Hope Bay will host six weddings — two a day for three days in a row. Last year, they hosted more than 100 private events on the farm.
The Herreshoff Marine Museum is a relatively new player, but is its own busy hub. Their large Bristol Harbor-front tent
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hosts at least one, and often multiple weddings, every weekend through the “outdoor” season, which begins in May and ends in October.
Of course business leads to more business. As Bristol’s wedding reputation has grown over the years, so have the venue options. With its permanent waterfront tent site, the Bristol Harbor Inn is a regular host. Across the harbor, the Bristol Yacht Club gets a chunk of the action. The town’s Maritime Center, Coggeshall Farm and other small venues have all hosted weddings as well.
Insiders say there are a multitude of reasons why Bristol is such a successful wedding destination, but there is one common thread — vibe.
The Bristol vibe
Bristol wedding planners inevitably make comparisons to the Newport wedding scene. As one of the elite wedding destinations in the world, the City-bythe-Sea attracts brides and grooms from everywhere. But that scene is not for everyone.
“Here in Bristol, things are smaller, calmer. You don’t get the same level of hustle and bustle. There aren’t wedding parties up and down the street, everywhere,” said Alyssa Wood, special events coordinator at Herreshoff.
“When you drive into Bristol, you realize that everything is so much more intimate,” said Emily Rachels, director of
Event Success for Russell Morin Catering, which caters all of the weddings at Mount Hope Farm and Linden Place. “There is much less distraction. You find no problems with parking. You can grab a drink on the rooftop at Thames Waterside Grille, you can walk the streets … everything is accessible and intimate.”
Susan Battle, executive director at Linden Place, said Bristol has inherent advantages. “There are still many couples who start their search in Newport, where they’re going to get some sticker shock. Many of them eventually find their way to Bristol. I’ve seen it so many times, where they really fall in love with Bristol.”
Battle also believes the downtown dis-
trict sells itself. “They don’t have to spend $30 to park their car. They can stroll into a restaurant and get a table. Their friends and family can all find a place to stay downtown. They can all walk to their destination … I think people stumble onto Bristol, and they really like the charm. Newport just does not have charm. Bristol is so much charming and low-key.”
Karen Binder, executive director of the majestic Blithewold Mansion Gardens and Arboretum, loves how Bristol has continued to invest in itself, keeping the destination desirable to all audiences, including young couples.
“Bristol continues to develop its restaurant scene, which means it’s a
great destination for rehearsal dinners. There are more short-term rentals than ever before, so people are better able to find accommodations. The work at Unity Park is a real plus for the wedding business. It attracts a younger crowd with a younger vibe,” Binder said.
“Overall, Bristol has a lot more authenticity than the Newport scene … For ease of guest experience, Bristol offers a full bandwidth for any type of wedding.”
From nearly all corners, planners say business is great. At Blithewold, Binder said they raised their prices, still booked out their entire 2023 schedule and are
currently booking into 2024 and taking calls about 2025.
“We used to do 68 to 70 weddings a year,” Binder said. “Now our sweet spot is 55 to 60.” Blithewold is perfectly content at that volume. The events put less stress on the pristine, historic grounds, and they still keep Blithewold’s revenue as high as it’s ever been.
At Mount Hope Farm, Rachels said 2022 was a record-breaking year, as they booked every date, Thursday to Sunday, often with two events per day.
The farm is blessed to have two separate, very distinct sites on the 127-acre property. The most visible is the circa 1860 barn, located just across from the
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grand Governor Bradford House. Both buildings, plus the nearby gardens, can be incorporated into weddings plans, or couples can choose a more remote setting. They can drive a mile down the road and enjoy the rustic Cove Cabin and an outdoor tent in one of the most remote nooks in the region. “You’re right on the water, you have a historic cabin … It’s breathtaking once you get down there,” said Rachels, who held her own wedding there.
“At this point, things feel a little more ‘normal’ than they did in 2022,” Rachels said. “We have a few select dates available in 2023, but not many, and we’re definitely booking into 2024 at this point.”
She also said Thursday weddings have become much more popular. They come with a slightly lower price tag, and it can be easier to contract vendors on those nights.
Because it is so different than its waterfront peers, Linden Place is not seeing the same peak demand as others, but it is still solidly booked and getting
more creative in its approach. The biggest factor is the public’s desire for outdoor venues, tented receptions and open air — a lasting symptom of the pandemic. Most of Linden Place’s infrastructure is designed for indoor experiences in magnificent, historic spaces.
“So we really have pivoted over the past couple of years,” said Battle. “We have two acres of gorgeous gardens … So we took a fresh look at the space and asked, ‘what do we need to do to make this venue all it can be?’ ”
They added professional lighting to the gardens. They upgraded the electrical service for outdoor activities. They’re hosting more tent weddings than ever before. They’re also opening up the mansion (in addition to their grand barn), for cocktail parties, small gatherings and more unique experiences. They’re using the entire property for an event — having cocktails in the mansion, dinner under the tent, and dancing with a band in the ballroom.
“No matter what we do, we’re never going to have a water view,” Battle said. “But what we do offer is a really pretty,
really unique, classic venue in the heart of downtown. We’re selling this as a destination experience, and we’re giving people as many options as we can to match their vision.”
Alyssa Wood and Herreshoff are also selling the downtown destination, along with a venue at the heart of world-class boating. “We do get a lot of people who are boat lovers, or they’re from the sailing world, and they want to be on the water. That’s a big part of our appeal,” Wood said.
Their wedding business is stronger than it’s ever been. A big appeal has been Herreshoff’s large tent, which can hold up to 250 people for dinner. These days, 250-person weddings are rare, and the norm has trended toward smaller gatherings, often around 100 people.
“We are still getting a few inquiries for 2023, but caterers and vendors are really booked up,” Wood said. “We’re not fully booked for this year yet, but we’re getting close. We’re doing great, and we’re hoping to see even bigger numbers for 2024.”
So, you’ve had the talk...
You’re picking out and designing diamond settings and already practicing writing your new last name. He’s picked up on all the hints and knows your size. Even if he hasn’t gotten down on one knee yet, it’s never too early to start preparing.
If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s how to adapt in unprecedented situations. The coronavirus has uprooted the normal wedding timeline for many soon-to-be brides, after 2020 weddings were postponed and pushed into 2021, and so on. Many 2023 brides are still adapting to the wedding shift from the past two years, whether that means rearranging their guest lists, or adjusting their budgets.
Some wedding photographers are already booking into 2025, which means that if you’re looking to have a wedding sooner rather than later, it’s best to book as much as you can in advance. This goes for all of your vendors, from caterers to DJs. Maybe there’s a venue you’ve seen in pictures, or somewhere you’ve been to as a guest— the sooner you reach out, the better your chances will be.
First things first, you’ve got to know what you want. You’ve probably already begun imagining what your dream wedding will look like, and there’s a good chance you can make those visions become a reality. But, you have to start now. Even if you feel like you have forever until the big day, time flies when you’re wedding planning.
Here are things you can work on even well before he pops the question:
Follow some local videographers or photographers to get a sense of their style, and make a list of potential vendors. Instagram can be an invaluable resource in the wedding planning process. By following hashtags and topics, you can find creative ideas and new trends to add to your special day.
You and your partner are not going to agree on everything, but it’s good to test the waters by discussing how you each envision your wedding.
Set a date
It doesn’t have to be set in stone, but talk to your fiancé about what time of year you’d like to get married. “In-season” (summer) weddings are often more expensive, as are Saturday evening dates. Think of your ideal time of year, which will help you brainstorm a color scheme to match. Search venues and reach out to them to check availability
Are you seeking a classy and elegant white-glove mansion wedding, or an informal reception barefoot on sprawling grass under the stars? The sooner you know, the sooner you can begin the process, and the less stress you’ll feel over time.
Get ahead of the game by browsing online for wedding gowns. Know the difference between dress styles (A-line, trumpet, mermaid, ball gown, etc.), fabric materials (tulle, mesh, satin, chiffon, etc.) and what suits you best. While you won’t know for sure until you try dresses on in person, it’s good to have an idea of your preferences ahead of time. Take note of some of your favorite designers and styles, and keep those in mind when you go to make your appointments.
Spreadsheets will keep you sane, especially if you’re wedding planning on your own. Compiling guest lists and addresses, party playlists, budgets, shot lists, and links to necessary websites can be very over-
whelming, but not with a neatly designed spreadsheet. Use different sheets and colors to keep yourself organized. Using a function like Google Sheets can allow for effortless sharing between you and your fiancé, bridal party, and family members to stay in the loop.
It’s between you and your partner to discuss what matters most, who matters most, and what’s worth splurging on. Keep your budget in mind when you begin to search for vendors, and use your spreadsheet to stay on track.
Once you’re engaged, you’re going to find that a lot of people offer unwanted opinions on how you should proceed. You know what’s best for you. Don’t feel like you have to follow the standards set by family, friends, or what you’ve seen online. Do not be afraid to break tradition, and don’t change your vision on the opinions of guests. Take risks, be bold, be YOU. This is your day to cherish. Make sure that above all else, you and your fiancé are happy!
It’s very easy to get caught up in the little things, the details, and the perception of it all. It will often get tiring. Some days, it may even feel like you’re planning a picture-perfect performance rather than a commitment of love. But this is your reminder to set aside time to focus on what really matters. Take breaks, talk things over, and trust the process.
Here are 9 post-pandemic, pre-engagement wedding tips (you can work on even before he pops the question)RICHARD W. DIONNE JR. The author and her fiancé pose for their engagement photo, shot along the cliff overlooking Surfer’s End at Second Beach in Middletown.
