Stylish & Fun

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Each wedding and event are very personal to me. My goal is to always be able to create that extraordinarily, stylish, and authentic experience that will be cherished and never forgotten.

Schmit WEDDINGS

The Summer Wedding

The Ocean State holds a special place in the hearts of Nicole and Kristen, who are originally from New York and Massachusetts respectively. It’s where they first met their freshman year at college, and where their friendship flourished into something more. So, after the couple got engaged in 2019, it was a no-brainer to pick Rhode Island as the setting for their wedding.

“Kristen and I love the summer,” shares Nicole, reminiscing on warm-weather days and trips to the beach. They originally picked a date in June of 2021, but like so many couples, made the di cult decision to postpone it by a year due to pandemic and vaccine rollout concerns.

“Choose a season you love so the incorporation happens naturally,” says Nicole. “If you love summer, you can incorporate things you love about it into your wedding like fruity cocktails, ice cream, color choices, and decor.”

The Colors

“Our colors were dusty sage, dusty blue, and gold,” says Nicole, who drew inspiration from Blithewold’s natural beauty. “We chose a dusty palette so the vibe felt light, airy, and summery.”

The Venue

“Kristen and I knew we wanted a venue on the water,” Nicole explains, and they immediately fell for Blithewold’s harbor views. The beautiful mansion, manicured gardens, and outdoor tent sealed the deal, granting the couple’s wish for an outdoor ceremony and cocktail hour.

The Flowers

Designed by Cranston-based Golden Gate Studios, the centerpieces and bouquets starred blue and green hydrangeas punctuated by white roses. “What is more summer?” insists Nicole.

The Menu

From an abundance of seafood, to fruity signature cocktails, to a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream bar, Kristen and Nicole’s wedding didn’t just feel like summer – it tasted like it, too!

The Special Touches

Painted oyster shells with their guests’ names added a personalized seaside touch to the place settings (and was one of Nicole’s favorite details).

Rhody Resources

PHOTOGRAPHER & VIDEOGRAPHER: BRITTANY ADAMS PHOTOGRAPHY

Bristol

CATERER: BLACKSTONE CATERERS | Middletown

FLORIST:

GOLDEN GATE STUDIOS | Cranston

MUSIC: MUSIC MIXERS ENTERTAINMENT

Narragansett

TRANSPORTATION: VIKING TOURS OF NEWPORT

The Fall Wedding

“Fall is by far my favorite season,” says Lisa MacGregor, who could never imagine getting married any other time of year. “To me, it is the season of romance.”

Lisa met her husband Billy on a blind date in 2016, and two years later, in the fall – of course – the couple got engaged. “It’s a pretty funny story,” Lisa shares of the proposal, which was carefully pulled o by Billy despite the fact Lisa woke up with a horrible cold that day. “I was so grumpy with him.” She now laughs about the ruse of being coerced to go to downtown Boston for a friend’s fake work presentation. But once Billy got down on one knee at the same spot they first kissed, it quickly turned into one of the happiest nights of her life.

When it came to planning their November wedding, Lisa let the time of year as well as the Gilded Age vibe of their venue lead the way. “Little touches and accents here and there are more than enough,” Lisa explains. “The season will also speak for itself.”

The Colors

Lisa and Billy’s color scheme featured burgundy and blush with lots of shimmering gold accents that Lisa felt meshed with the ornateness of their venue as well as the warmth of autumn. These appeared in the florals and decor elements, many of which Lisa savvily sourced from Facebook Marketplace and Etsy.

The Venue

After living in Rhode Island after college, Lisa fell in love with Providence and often grabbed dinner and drinks at The Dorrance. The “oldworld charm, ornate beauty of its marble floors, original stained-glass windows, and dramatic high ceilings” made it a rich, romantic venue for their big day.

The Flowers

The couple worked with New England-based Leslie Lee Floral Design to make Lisa’s Pinterest board come to life with a gorgeous selection of palette-pleasing blooms, particularly red roses.

The Dessert

Instead of cake, the couple took dessert in a new direction with the help of Providence’s popular French bakery, Ellie’s. “We did a macaron tower along with mini tiered cakes, including a carrot cake with salted caramel buttercream and apple cider tartlets.”

Rhody Resources

PHOTOGRAPHER & VIDEOGRAPHER: WILLOW PHOTO CO.

BAKER:

ELLIE’S BAKERY | Providence

CEREMONY: THE PAVILION AT GRACE CHURCH

Providence

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

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

GUIDED