Gina and Jake’s summer wedding at the Squantum Association in Riverside, Rhode Island
was an absolute blast! Gina and Jake are the most kind-hearted and fun-loving couple! From the moment I arrived, they were happy and goofing around with everyone. They cared most about spending their day making memories with their family and friends and just being themselves - which is without a doubt my ideal couple to work with! It makes getting those real images… you know, those candid moments that trigger memories and give you all the feels, so much easier to get when you’re enjoying yourself and forgetting about the camera!!
The Squantum Association is a hidden gem in Rhode Island. It’s great because it has so many different locations on the property that you can use throughout the day; an outdoor grassy area for the ceremony overlooking the water, two separate buildings for the couple to get ready separately, and a historic main ballroom. There is also a little private island that was great for waterfront photos! It has something from everyone and was the perfect venue for Gina and Jake.
Rhode Island Summer Wedding
Gina got ready with her bridesmaids and her parents in one of the houses on the property. Everyone was so excited and emotional as they helped Gina get into her gown and put on her final touches. Gina selected a color palette with a seafoam green that was perfect for a summer wedding. It tied together perfectly with the white and light pink bouquets and the men's navy suits.
It was important to Gina to do a first look with both her dad and Jake. I absolutely loooveeeee the first looks because it extends the whole wedding day and makes it flow better for photos. When the groomsmen joined us for wedding party photos I realized that a bunch of them went to college with my husband which was cool to immediately have that like/know/trust factor established!! They’re all such amazing guys - Bryant sure does produce some quality gentlemen! We spent some time taking couples portraits and wedding party photos around the property before the ceremony. One cool thing that differentiates Squantum Association from other venues, is that the procession enters from the left side rather than walking down the aisle. It makes for some cool photos with a unique perspective. Plus, the “aisle” from the left is super long so if you’ve always dreamed about having that ‘walking-down-the-aisle” moment, it’s for sureeee going to make your day.
Squantum Association Wedding Reception
The reception space at the Squantum Association is full of character. It has beautiful beams, brick walls, and a gorgeous stone fireplace. The mantel was decorated beautifully with pink and white flowers, and each table was lined with candles. The wedding party got everyone hyped up for a fun night with their entrance into the wedding. After Jake's brother / best man gave his speech during the reception, and then he went outside to re-share it with his parents. They were still a bit nervous in a crowd because of Covid, so I thought this was SO SWEET for him to do this and his parent's reactions were so genuine. Since They didn't have a clue I was taking these pictures, it made me love the images even more!
When it came time for reception elements like first dances, speeches, and the dance floor, it was essential to utilize off-camera flash since the venue was pretty dark and there was no natural light. Off-camera flash allows me to light up the scene where I want to draw focus and improve the overall image. It’s essential to know if your photographer can handle all different kinds of lighting scenarios for your venue, and this is especially true at Squantum Association! I’m so happy Gina and Jake trusted me to capture these moments all night! So much love for these two!
“We hired Tammy as our wedding photographer for our June 2022 wedding and she was AMAZING! From start to finish our experience with Tammy was great! Tammy was so easy to communicate with and was extremely organized with regular check-ins and video calls prior to the wedding - and on the day of, she executed everything flawlessly! My husband hates having his picture taken and Tammy made us both (and the entire wedding party) feel so comfortable on camera. She provides direction, while also bringing her fun and playful personality. Our family and wedding party raved about Tammy and how great she was to work with. And most importantly, our wedding photos are absolutely beautiful. She captured every detail of our wedding day - I truly cannot pick favorites because I love them all! I love all the candid details and the emotion she captured throughout the day. An added bonus is that Tammy's turnaround time is amazing as well - she sent us a sneak peek within a day or two and our full gallery within 3 weeks! We are so so glad we worked with Tammy and could not recommend her more!” - Gina
Looking for more Rhode Island waterfront wedding venues? Be sure to check out Bell Mer!
Vendors
Photographer: Tamara Merri Photography
Venue: Squantum Association
Florist: Family Friend, Beverly Barzin
Hair: Stephanie Hurney
Makeup: Aline Sarkis
Wedding Dress Shop: Alexandra’s Boutique
Men’s Attire: Men’s Wearhouse
Bridesmaid Dresses: Revelry
Stationery: Paradise Invitations
xx,
Tam
Tamara Merri Photography
www.tamaramerriphotography.com
hello@tamaramerriphotography.com
