We knew going into this engagement session that it was going to be a good one. You see, Chelsea is a lover of shabby chic, seaside, DIY decor.  She is also the owner and lead artisan of Style By The Sea where she makes beautiful, rustic, reclaimed wood signs which she ships all over the country. She actually made her own “Will you marry me?” sign without knowing it! Zach put in a fake order and then totally surprised her with it when he proposed. Chelsea incorporated a few of her lovely signs into the session and then blew us away with the lakeside portion of our evening. There were lots of vintage details, some peonies, and handmade candles (by Chelsea of course) that will be incorporated into their January wedding. We are really in love with this beautiful session and this awesome couple, just imagine what the wedding will look like!

They met at a bar called Snickers. Years later they married at Belle Mer. Along the way Jen and John had many adventures and fell madly in love with each other. Their wedding day invoked the beauty, romance and happiness that these two share.  Jaime at Eventfully Planned made sure that no detail was left unattended which made our job that much easier. It also didn’t hurt that the talented makeup artists at Jennie Kay Beauty transformed Jen into the most beautiful Disney Princess. We are sure this isn’t the look Jen went into her makeup trial asking for but take a look at this stunning beauty and tell us that she’s not the fairest of them all! Some people say that all the groom has to do is show up on the wedding day, not THIS groom! John was just as involved as Jen. He knew the timeline by heart and kept us all on track and in stitches. This guy is truly the life of the party and so, so nice.

Before we even arrived at Belle Mer we traveled all around Newport with the talented David Bettencourt shooting video.  Beginning at the Mill Street Inn, a former nineteenth century mill that combines historic charm with today’s modern luxuries, we captured the delicate details of Jen’s styling. John was a few suites away and we witnessed a sweet exchange of gifts between the bride and groom. We took a quick walk over to the grounds of Trinity Church for a first look and some formal portraits with the wedding party and then moved on to Ochre Court at Salve Regina. This stunning building serves as the administration building for the university but it’s like no administration building you’ve ever been to. Nestled among the incredible mansions of Newport’s Bellevue Avenue, Ochre Court was once the summer residence of a prominent New York banker. With hushed tones John and Jen stole some quiet moments and a private dance surrounded by details inspired by French Gothic chateaux and churches.

Next was Belle Mere for the ceremony with the sea and the Newport Bridge as the backdrop. Guests are always blown away by this venue. It’s absolutely breathtaking. Blooms by Broadway Florist enhanced the beauty of the cocktail hour and reception while the Boston Common Band had all of the guests dancing and partying into the night. To say we like this couple would be and understatement. We LOVE this couple!!

Wedding Venue: Belle Mer
Event Planner: Eventfully Planned
Florist: Broadway Florist
Wedding Cinematography: David Bettencourt
Cake: Scrumptions
Music: Boston Common Band
Getting Ready: Mill Street Inn
Makeup: Jennie Kay Beauty

Want to see more from one of our favorite venues?  Check out this Belle Mer Newport Wedding

We met Laura and Ryan in downtown Newport on a beautiful spring evening. The sky was a little bit hazy so we didn’t have to fight with the glaring sun. Everything in sight was blooming: magnolia trees, forsythia bushes, daffodils, tulips, and dogwood trees. Our locations were both overlooking and right next to the ocean so we really couldn’t go wrong.  As we began our session it was very clear how much Laura and Ryan adore each other. Laura said she first fell in love with Ryan’s blue eyes and the rest just fell into place. Laura had us in stitches the entire time with her silly outbursts and comical expressions.  There was also lots of time for quiet cuddles and stolen kisses. Enjoy this lovely evening with a lovely couple!