Colleen and Ike at OceanCliff

Colleen and Ike met when Colleen was living in Syracuse, NY. She had just moved there from San Diego in April of 2005 because of her work.

Being a huge fan of Dave Matthews Band, a co-worker took her to one of their shows at the Darien Lake Performing Arts Center that July. He suggested that she meet this guy, Ike, who was on the crew. They met and immediately hit it off!

Proceeding much text messaging, he insisted that she go down to NYC to watch another show. It was such an unbelievable day on Randall’s Island that, from that day on, they were inseparable. She would visit him all over the country that summer while he was on tour and when he finished touring in September, she visited him at his winter home in Killington, VT. That lifestyle continued for two years and then after her promotion, they bought a home Providence, RI.

The happy couple's entire love story is going to be featured in the upcoming issue of Newport Wedding Magazine, which should be on shelves in December, 2009 for the 2010 season.

Colleen and Ike were married on May 9th, 2009 at OceanCliff and it was such a fresh and exciting day full of love and fun ... I hope that every day of their lives together is just as wonderful as their wedding day!

Colleen's beautiful gown was selected from:

Madeline’s Daughter in Portsmouth, NH.

Colleen's favorite color is green and all of her favorite flowers are

creamy white so she chose spring green and ivory for the color theme.

Flowers and design prepared and supplied by:

Stoneblossom Florals, in East Greenwich, RI.

Wedding Planner: The Event Diva, Magdalena Andriozzi, made it all come together!

It's OFFICIAL!

Here, Ike presents Colleen with her new credit card displaying her new name!

OceanCliff was extremely accommodating in helping the couple include their two "children" (aka; Siberian huskies) on the big day ... that was a HUGE priority for both Colleen and Ike because the two pups vacate enormous parts of their hearts and lives!

The placards sported images of their sweet little pooches!

The couple live a responsible rock-star lifestyle, as do their friends ... sooooooo, they decided to supply more edibles at 11pm before their send-off.

Catering also supplied by OceanCliff:

Ike has such a penchant for Petron that it became the inspiration for a very special cake.

It was also sewn throughout the entire wedding day design.

Rings (engagement and wedding bands)

Custom Design by: Elouqence Jewelers

Colleen and Ike provided a photo-booth for their guests ... a really cool idea!

Boston Photobooth in Boston, MA

Wedding cake made possible by:

Toria Dolce, Victoria Kenyon, Ashaway, RI

You can view Colleen and Ike's wedding feature in the upcoming issue

of Newport Wedding Magazine - on shelves in December, 2009!

LaWanda and Salvatore's Big Day!

LaWanda and Salvatore's love story is probably more like most fairy tales you read about as a child. You know - odds piling up against true love and then finally, they get to live happily ever after.

They met at Twin River where they were both employees. LaWanda remembers she wasn't very interested in a relationship, even though he pursued her for an entire year! (Talk about perseverance!) In fact, LaWanda admits she strung him along a bit.

One day, Salvatore finally asked LaWanda, "Just give me a chance." He promised he would "make her happy and never do her wrong". He asked for one chance to ultimately impress her.

LaWanda gave in and said, "Okay - ONE chance!" His one chance to ultimately impress her was granted.

He took her out to dinner that night and, "That was it! I was in love!"

Sometimes, when she thinks back, she almost wishes she could somehow kick herself in her "own behind" for very nearly letting the man of her dreams get away!

LaWanda says that, "Every day is completely brand new! Every morning when I look at him, it's like seeing him for the first time and I fall in love with him all over again! He's so sweet and so, SO good to me."

On August 15, 2009 - LaWanda and Salvatore tied the knot. I guess, sometimes, falling in love isn't always perfect. Sometimes, it can be like a diamond in the rough ... with some diligent polishing, all its beauty eventually shines through!

Enjoy your fairy tale!

Caitlin and Jason

I met Caitlin two years ago at a wedding where I was photographing. As I was shooting, she came up to me and said, "When I get married, I want YOU to photograph my wedding!"

At the time, she had been dating Jason ... but sure enough, in April of 2008, my phone rang and it was Caitlin!

April 19 ... Jason had the entire proposal planned (Caitlin had NO clue). Blessed with perfect weather, the two headed out for breakfast and a drive in Newport, Rhode Island.

The proposal poem:

Caitlin

Finding you has been a dream come true

I never thought I could love someone as much as I love you

We used to cross Oceans for each other, now we are near

Living with you has helped me see things more clear

It's difficult to leave you in the morning, but I love seeing you at night

Relaxing with you at the end of the day just feels so right

It's the little things you do that help brighten my day

We compromise and work together; I wouldn't want it any other way

I realize that together we are a perfect pair

And I wanted you to know how much I truly care

I have finally found the Woman of my dreams, the love of my life

I could never imagine any other to be my wife

I look forward to the life we will spend together

Because my heart belongs to you forever

What I'm trying to say, you may already see

Is Caitlin....

(Jason knelt down here)

Will you Marry Me?

As the wedding would take place during the Summer on August 15th, 2009 at the Atlantic Beach Club, Caitlin and Jason wanted to schedule (specifically) an Autumn Engagement Session at Roger Williams Park and Zoo, in Providence, to showcase a different "look" in their images.

Caitlin's natural radiance and glow was present the day I met her but every time we met, the more she seemed to radiate! Her personality is very fun, lighthearted and "frolic-y" and it's precious to watch her with Jason, who is super attentive and loving to her. They're wonderful to be around.

She called me as soon as she found her bridesmaid's dresses at The Bridal Garden. (They were so unique too. In all my time photographing weddings, I had never seen the color before - it was enchanting!) Everything took off and fell into place from there and the excitement took hold of her. Caitlin is someone who is, simply put, wholly happy! She and I went out for coffee and she kept asking me, "Should I be nervous? Should I? 'Cuz I'm not!" - pretty awesome, considering it was only TWO days before the wedding! :-)

YAY!!! The WEDDING DAY is finally here!

We couldn't have caught a more perfect day too!

We began the day by documenting Caitlin getting ready at

her parent's home in Narragansett. Here comes the bride!

Isn't she just absolutely radiant?

The wedding colors were hot pink and green and

Flowerthyme in Wakefield, Rhode Island did superb job

of weaving the theme into the stunning floral arrangements.

Their ceremony took place at a local church in Narragansett.

In this photo, we are outside the church after the nuptials.

We also went to Goat Island and stopped by the

lighthouse at the Hyatt Regency, Newport.

We strolled down to Ocean Drive and I was able to capture

this really fun photo of the entire wedding party.

On the way back, we made a pit stop!

Can't get anymore "Rhode Island" than Del's!

We got back to the Atlantic Beach Club and just before

the reception, we took advantage of the perfect light, the

beach and the view to make more beautiful photographs ...

Just to give you an idea of the "feel" of Caitlin and Jason's day!

The band, Men in Black (Hank Agency Group; Boston, MA) was incredible!

With the exception of eating, the guests didn't warm their seats at all!

Ahhhhh ... the first dance as husband and wife! Nothin' sweeter!

Barbara Ruggieri made a magnificent and VERY yummy and cake!

Enjoy your lives together, Caitlin and Jason!

Engagement Portraits

Your engagement is a wonderful milestone worthy of visual memories to document the beginning of your lives being shared together. Not only is it a way to announce your engagement to the world but a way to make a unique statement about what makes your commitment to one another so special.

The Engagement Session provides you with an important opportunity for you to become familiar with your wedding photographer and vice-versa. The session also helps both of you become more comfortable in front of the lens prior to the big day. The key to a successful relationship between you and your photographer is keeping the lines of communication open and learning about each other. This time spent together beforehand results in complete mutual trust and openness, which will ultimately reflect on your wedding day!

You can also do so much with the images from your Engagement Session such as create a display portrait for your wedding day either in a beautiful Custom Frame or even a custom mat designed to be used as a Signature Board for your guests to sign. You could also create a custom Guest Book for well wishers to express their sentiments. Your possibilities are endless! Give us a call at the studio for further details and additional options: 401/398-2922

Ashley and Justin are gonna take the plunge!

If you've never had the pleasure of seeing a girl in love, take a look at Ashley - she is totally smitten with her beau, Justin. The thunderbolt has officially flown down and struck the two of them!!! Put it this way, they were so excited upon getting engaged that they called me to document their enthusiasm in an Engagement Session before they had even gotten to setting their wedding date! How adorable is that?

Justin and Ashley met at a friend's house while he was in the academy training to become a firefighter. The sparks flew that night and started an all out inferno between them ... and this is one intense fire that will never get put out!

;-)

Ashley and Justin were engaged while on vacation in St. Maarten. It has been a family vacation spot for Ashley ever since she was a little girl and now holds so many more unforgetable memories!

They wanted some beach photography so we took the session to Newport, which is chock full of nooks and crannies that always make for beautiful images. We made some beach, park and city photos which all came out wonderfully!

Take a peak at Ashley and Justin's engagement slideshow: