June 11, 2016

📷: Snap! Weddings

To be quite honest, we thought that weddings like this only existed in fairy tales. But we were wrong. Between the good luck rain that provided the beautiful entrance into the church to the groom’s emotional yet adorable reaction to his bride, this is the perfect wedding to spring into the warmer months with.

By Chelsea Carney

How and when did the two of you meet? 

We met at a lounge in downtown Providence five years ago. We were introduced by mutual friends and we were inseparable from the start.

Was your proposal a surprise?

Yes! On a flight to Jamaica he surprised me by having the flight attendant call me up to the front of the plane where he got down on one knee and proposed in front everyone.

How did you come across Kirkbrae Country Club? 

For a wedding of 250 people, we wanted something that could hold our large amount of people but still set the romantic, intimate tone we wanted. We loved the classic beauty and atmosphere of Kirkbrae.

When the day came around, would you say you were more nervous than excited or more excited than nervous?

On the day of the wedding, I was more excited than anything. I couldn’t wait to marry my best friend.

What was each of your favorite moments from that day?

Ashley:  My favorite moment was when the church doors opened and I got to walk down that aisle and see Dinis waiting for me at the altar.

Dinis: Watching her walk in the church. My emotions got the best of me. She looked so beautiful.

Were there any hitches that day? If so, how did you overcome them?

The only hitch we had was the pouring rain but the rain created a favorite moment for me: When I walked up the stairs to the church with my long gown flowing behind me. Trish from Snap! Weddings was able to capture that moment for me by having the groomsmen hold black and white umbrellas over me as I walked up the stairs. Not a drop of rain touched my dress. Seeing these guys come together for me made for such a classic and memorable moment in the photos.

What’s going on here?

This photo was taken when we first arrived at Kirkbrae before anyone else could see; Tiffany [Kirkbrae’s coordinator] wanted us to see the room all dressed up and have our own moment to dance a little. It was beautiful.

Your cake topper is absolutely adorable and hilarious! Who made it? What made you decide to use that instead of something more traditional?

My husband is a professional mixed martial artist so I wanted to incorporate it into our big day instead of doing something more traditional. I actually found the cake topper on Etsy!

Your dance with your dad was really beautiful. What song did you two dance to and did he give you any advice?

I let my dad choose the song he wanted to dance to. He picked “My Little Girl” by Tim McGraw. We had a wonderful heart to heart; it was beautiful.

What song did Dinis’ father sing and did you two know about it beforehand? If not, what were your reactions?

Dinis’ father is a great Portuguese fado singer so we asked him to sing for us. He was excited and chose a traditional song, entitled “Va e Valte.”

What gave the inspiration for all of the different types of bars? 

With the favors I tried  to pick things that people could enjoy. I loved the idea of a cigar bar because it not only went well with the hint of Gatsby we had but we also had a giant balcony outside the room where everyone could enjoy them if they wanted to. As for the candy bar, Dinis and I love our sweets so that was one of our favorite ideas. Everyone LOVED it. For the cake bar, there are so many different kinds of cakes so we figured to switch it up and give our guests variety.

Do you have any advice for recently engaged couples?

Compromise, compassion and consideration.

Were there any vendors that you are particularly impressed with on that day?

Our photographers, Mariah and Trish from Snap, made the whole thing start to finish fun and a breath of fresh air. They helped bring the day together with gorgeous pictures we will always have. Another vendor that stood out was Jay, our florist from Golden Gate studios. He did an amazing job creating the vision I had in mind: Simple yet elegant.

The Details

Photography: Snap! Weddings // Ceremony Space: Our Lady of the Rosary Church // Reception Space: Kirkbrae Country Club // Hair: Gabriela Villanueva and Lyndsay Oliveira // Bride’s Dress: Maggie Sottero at Ana’s Bridal Boutique // Groom’s and Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Wearhouse // Floral Design: Golden Gate Studios // Officiant: Father Joseph Escobar // Catering: Kirkbrae Country Club // Reception Music and Lighting: Chris Saraiva // Favors: Candy Warehouse // Cake Topper: Etsy // Invitations: Crosstown Press