Weddings INSPO

By Meg Schmit

The Winter Wedding

For Tara Vieira, it was never a question that she wanted to get married in winter. For starters, it’s when she and husband Kevin got engaged on Valentine’s Day of 2020. It’s also when she gave birth to their son a year later. With visions of a sparkling blue and silver wedding, they decided to hold their special day in February of 2022.

“I’ll admit, I was a little nervous having a winter wedding because you never know what you will get with the weather, especially here in New England,” Tara admits. But when the day came, it was a surprisingly balmy 60 degrees and what Tara describes as “a magical night.”

Guided by her pre-determined palette, Tara worked with Kirkbrae Country Club in Lincoln to create the winter wedding of her dreams.

The Colors

“I wanted our wedding in the winter specifically for this color scheme,” Tara explains of their navy blue, white, and silver theme. This winter-perfect palette was infused into every last detail, including the flowers, table linens, centerpieces, and even the cake.

The Venue

Tara shares that Kirkbrae Country Club was the only venue the couple visited, and it was perfect. With its recent renovations –including silvertone walls and a blue patterned carpet – it fit their theme to a tee.

The Cake

The couple’s cake was certainly a show-stopper, with four tiers of navy blue and white buttercream, accented by navy blue roses, shimmery silver sprinkles, and a matching silver topper with the newlyweds’ names. The custom creation was designed by the talented Silver Spoon Bakery in East Greenwich.

The Decor

Everything was satin, glass, or silver, so every surface shimmered. Tara describes their centerpieces as nothing short of magical: tall white floral arrangements with white branches and hanging gems that glittered when they caught the light.

The Special Touches

As Tara and Kevin embraced for their first dance, a rolling white mist at their feet gave the illusion that they were dancing on clouds.

Rhody Resources

PHOTOGRAPHER & VIDEOGRAPHER: STACEY SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY

North Providence

SUITS:

SIMPLY DAINTY | Cranston

CEREMONY: HISTORIC SAINT JOSEPH’S CHURCH

Cumberland

Weddings VENUES

By Meaghan D’Abrosca

Beyond Ballrooms

The owner of Rhode Tripper Photography shares her top picks for unexpected wedding venues brimming with atmosphere

For the couple that wants to exchange their vows in a less traditional setting that celebrates their shared interests or state love, Rhode Island has plenty of unexpected venues ready to host your special day in style. Here’s six of my favorite quirky, historic, and downright beautifully unique places to say “I do.”

Botanical Oasis

Plant parents – this one is for you! There’s a good chance you’ve visited the Botanical Center at Roger Williams Park but may not have realized you can get hitched among the lush flora. With four greenhouses, including the massive glass and steel conservatory, this venue delivers on botanical vibes year-round. There are options to host up to 170 guests in their indoor and outdoor spaces. The best part? You can totally go minimalist with your decor and let the space speak for itself, or go big with the greenery theme incorporating floral and patterned linens, or even throw in some disco balls. Providence, RogerWilliamsParkEvents.com

Coastal Charm

Looking for coastal views with private-home feels? Dragonline Studios is a historic site on the coast of Jamestown – right next to Fort Wetherill State Park – that comes complete with panoramic ocean views and private beach access. With a recently refurbished artist’s studio building and about four acres of land for a larger tented reception, you can take in the view of Aquidneck Island across the bay soaking up the ocean breezes. This blank-slate property requires rentals for four nights, so you’ll have private access to create your dream wedding weekend for you and your guests. Jamestown, Rental.DuncanLaurie.com

Artsy Industrial

Inside the converted mill building housing Pawtucket’s popular Hope Artiste Village, the arts space doubles as the Hope Events on Main venue, with features both fanciful and fun. The ceremony occurs right in the halls of the artist studios, and then the reception unfolds in a spacious open room with red brick walls, tall ceilings, and tons of natural light. But the best part is cocktail hour, which you can host on the third floor in – drum roll, please – a restored 1920s duckpin bowling alley and bar! Talk about a fun and nontraditional way to entertain your guests. Pawtucket, HopeEventsOnMain.com

Rustic Farmland

This destination is for the couples who love the country vibe but are looking for something a little more elevated than the traditional barn venue. While Bristol’s Mount Hope Farm does have a beautiful barn – boasting a gray-shingled exterior and wooden interior – the di erence is in the region’s signature farmcoast features. Whether electing use of the Cove Cabin for more intimate weddings or a ceremony and tented reception (with the option of chandelier lighting in the evening) on the water, distinctly Rhode Island scenery will backdrop your vows in a stunning way. Bristol, MountHopeFarm.org/weddings

Bookish Appeal

Built at the turn of the century, the event space at the Providence Public Library comes with all the exquisite historic touches you could hope for: original marble and hardwood flooring, glass cabinetry with old books and artifacts, a huge open atrium with ornate detailed arches, and an enchanting staircase to make your grand entrance or have a first look with your betrothed. It’s perfect for book lovers, antiquarians, or even couples who want to express their home city love into their big day, right in the heart of downtown Providence. Morins.com/ Providence-Public-Library/

Pastoral Vineyard

A newcomer to the wedding scene in South County, Shepherd’s Run is the definition of bucolic elegance. This estate winery, inn, and wedding venue sits on a renovated historic manor in South Kingstown. With options for both indoor and outdoor ceremonies and receptions, you and your guests can sip wine and congregate in rooms that exude New England charm, on the terrace surrounded by manicured lawns, in a vast event hall with high vaulted wood ceilings, or under a sailcloth tent decorated to your heart’s desire. Think early 1900s luxury with understated modern touches and amenities. South Kingstown, Shepherds.run

Looking for advice on how to customize your special day or a photographer to capture it in creative or alternative ways? Make an appointment with Rhode Tripper Photography at RhodeTripperPhotography.com

Weddings FLOWERS

By Jill Rizzo

Farm to (Wedding) Table

Let local abundance be the guiding force behind the flowers for your celebration

The farm-to-table movement, in terms of food, has become widespread over the last two decades as more and more people discover the benefits of supporting local agricultural systems. The same awareness with local flowers has been a little slower to catch on, especially in the wedding industry, but fresh, chemical-free blooms grown in your community deserve a place at the table as well.

Field to Vase

The decision to feature local and seasonal materials at your event is a direct investment in the farms and farm workers in your community and a positive alternative to the environmental and health issues linked to imported flowers. In their short journey from field to vase, local flowers use less fuel for transportation, less energy for refrigeration, and less packaging than their imported relatives. If local flowers aren’t available at the time of your wedding, you can work with a florist to source certified US Grown or Fair Trade flowers (traceable farms that follow social and environmental growing standards).

In the Zone

When planning to create your own event flowers, begin by educating yourself on seasonal availability direct from farms. Options range from pre-order bulk buckets of mixed varieties, individual stems, single variety bunches, or first-come, first-served bouquets. Instagram is a great resource for weekly crop updates and you can scroll back through farm feeds to see offerings in the weeks before and after your scheduled event date. The selection at different farms will vary depending on the farmer’s personal taste, what grows best in their climate, and what sells well in their market.

Bloom Service

Choose to work with a florist who specializes in local blooms and regularly sources from a network of regional farms. Florists who are consistent supporters of farms and buy a variety of material have the best access to local blooms! Inspirational wedding designs emerge from the mutually beneficial collaboration between florist and farmer as there are always unexpected surprises from Mother Nature. Trust in your chosen floral professional is required (if you need to see an exact sample, this is not for you), but the results of truly embracing local and seasonal flowers are breathtaking and will be completely unique to your wedding. Learn more at WildSeasonFlorals.com or visit 174 Green End Ave, Middletown