As I write this, I’m currently 30,000 feet in the air on my was to LAX. The thought of escaping New England for a few days and seeing some sunshine has me reminiscing about Amanda + Joe’s Belle Mer wedding. I remember I had been looking forward to this wedding for a long time. And so had Amanda. She emailed me almost two years ago and asked about my availability for “summer 2016”, when I pressed her for a date, she admitted she wasn’t engaged yet, but that I had photographed two of her friends’ weddings and that I WOULD be photographing hers. Haha. I sent her a list of dates I had open, told her to call me the MINUTE she and Joe got engaged: it happened within the week. When a couple is this pumped about you and their wedding, it’s hard not to be equally pumped about them. Add to that: dog lovers, smart techies, totally in love, and great style, well it’s a recipe for success. Amanda + Joe are seriously two of the sweetest people I’ve ever met, and their families and friends welcomed me like one of their own.
Amanda and Joe are #saltlife people to the core. They’re on the water almost every weekend, hanging with friends, boating around and enjoying life with their pup. Belle Mer in Newport Rhode Island, on Goat Island was the incarnation of these two and the most perfect venue with it’s ocean views, epic sunsets, and large white modern interior. The whole event was modern and stylish, but never lost sight of what’s important – family and friends. Their cocktail hour was filled with music, a fire pit, incredible sunset and raw bar, and eased into one heck of a dance party. I was in my element with endless nooks and crannies to photograph in, and THREE Sn couples in attendance – getting the gang back together was a blast. And for a bonus, I got to see my pals Christina who did incredible flowers and Jimmie who kept the tunes pumping all night.
If you’re looking for a sophisticated, modern wedding venue, Belle Mer is it. You can make it your own, and you can’t beat those sunsets. Amanda and Joe, can we do it again please?!
I wanted to note, a few months after the wedding Amanda + Joe’s wonderful rottweiler, Bro {in pics below}, passed away. He was as sweet as his mom and dad, and didn’t take his eyes off them the whole wedding day {and their engagement shoot}. As a fellow dog mom, I know how painful that must be to lose a pup. I’m glad we took a few moments out of the day to hang out with him. He was such a sweet boy. <3
