What could be better than a Spring House wedding on Block Island? A Spring House wedding on Block Island with lots of babies and boats!

Our bride Erin grew up vacationing on Block Island with her family, so naturally it was the perfect place to assemble the whole gang for her wedding to Mike! Her family has grown a bit over the last few years and is currently smack dab in the middle of a major kid explosion. 🙂

Here’s one of the newest members and Erin’s mom and dad, the proud grandparents.

 

Erin is the prettiest, nicest auntie around.

 

If you’ve spent any time on Block Island you know that the weather can be a bit unpredictable. The morning of Erin and Mike’s wedding there was a major patch of thunderstorms on the horizon. Erin and Mike took it in stride because they know that kind of weather disappears as quickly as it appears, it’s just part of life on the BI.

 

Mike sporting his Block Island tie, a must have!

 

Erin and Mike did not want to see each other for a first look, but they did want to get some of their formal photos done before the ceremony. Luckily the Spring House has a fantastic covered porch to keep the rain off.

Cuties.

 

A bit of fog made the light soft and lovely for Erin’s portrait.

 

Erin and Mike had planned to have their ceremony on the lawn but it started raining at just the wrong time. Plan B was to have the ceremony under the tent, luckily still a water view. Mike doesn’t seem fazed, he’s too excited to see Erin to worry about a little rain.

Erin’s big entrance. The back of that dress, woah.

 

Love this moment and this intimate perspective!

 

 Mike and Erin blocking out the rest of the world while they say their vows.

So happy, such great expressions!

Married!

Is that the sun coming out in the background?

Erin and Mike were okay with Plan B, but we knew they probably were a little disappointed the wedding wasn’t on the the lawn. With composition and cropping, we tried to make it seem like they weren’t under a tent and also tried our best to get ocean in the background, luckily mother nature cooperated and blew some of the fog away!

 

Suns out, smiles out!

Mike is a Tech Ed teacher and because technology is kind of his thing he had a ton of questions about lighting, equipment etc. before he decided to book us. Truth be told, the very trickiest scenario for us is exactly what’s happening in the photo below. Here’s a quick Tech Lesson from Professor Snap.

The Family Formals Nightmare Scenario: Mid afternoon (the sun is high in the sky), super sunny (everyone is squinting + no way to overpower it with flash), no shade (uneven light on faces), beautiful blue ocean (natch- it’s what everyone wants in the background but it is in the WRONG spot for good lighting on the peeps).

The best thing to do in this scenario is to turn your subject so that their back is to the sun (kind of). In this case, the sun is at about 2’oclock to my camera. That’s behind them enough to keep the sun off their faces and  keep them from squinting but not directly behind them which would cause all kinds of unwanted lens flare.

If I had turned them to have their backs to the ocean, which is what most people expect and want, then they lighting on their faces would be atrocious because the sun would be blasting them in the face causing severe highlights and shadows. It’s a tough call and there are A LOT of suggestions from the peanut gallery (Uncle Joe the amateur photo enthusiast) when we are making calls like this. What it comes down to is that family formals are about the people so it’s really important that the people look good! They should have their eyes open and have even light on their faces!

I think this photo is absolutely lovely. It feels like it looked, a warm summer day on the lawn at the Spring House! I shot it a little wide to incorporate the building and of course a nice slice of that beautiful blue ocean! Most importantly, everyone looks awake – except that bay on the end, he’s actually zonked out! LOL

 

There’s always one. 😉

 

Srollin’

When you’re strolling it doesn’t really matter what direction the sun is coming from. Romantic strolling looks good from any direction!

 

Field trip to New Harbor!

Erin’s family boat is docked there so we took a photo excursion there during cocktail hour.

 

That’s Erin and Mike with the family water-whip! Fun!

 

This is soooo Block Island.

 

 

Of course, a quick stop at the Southeast Lighthouse is always a good idea!

 

Back in time for the party!

 

Awww…

 

Some jokes at Mike’s expense and some sweet well wishes too.

 

And… some funny singing from the MOH!

 

Trish and I call this shot “guests reactions” it’s fun to swing around from the person toasting and get a wide shot of all the faces enjoying the speeches.

 

Such nice families! Block Island is the best place for families!!!

I’ve been taking my kids there for fourteen years now. It’s so special.

 

Cake cutting with a side of casual.

 

Well, that’s one way to do it. 🙂

 

There are your blue skies Erin and Mike! The perfect Block Island afternoon for two perfectly amazing, loving, sweet people. Cheers!