Shaina & Michael | Nov. 10, 2019

📸: B. Medeiros Photography // @bmedeirosphotography

See why fall is one of the best seasons to say, “I do” as Shaina and Michael get hitched at The Lace Factory in Deep River, CT.

The Meet Cute

“When I was eighteen and in college, my friends and I would go out to the clubs in Providence. Mike was a promoter I would see out,” Shaina says. “Although I did find him attractive with such a fun personality, we didn’t end up dating because Mike was already in a relationship.” Ten years later, though, after keeping in touch on social media, the two’s paths crossed again, and the timing was finally right.

The Engagement

It was New Year’s Eve and the couple were at Shaina’s brother’s house with both her and Mike’s families waiting for the ball to drop. “It’s a tradition my family has always had that I was excited to welcome Mike’s family to—I didn’t think anything else of it,” she says. But then when the clock struck midnight, Mike got down on one knee. “It was so special being surrounded by the people we love most.”

The Venue

Having a similar taste in style and design, the couple decided to look for an industrial venue with boho, romantic details. After plans for a mill-style building in New York fell through, they decided to check out the Lace Factory. “The moment we stepped into the main reception area and saw the steel beams and old wood floors, we knew it was perfect. We fell in love with the character and the charm and we couldn’t wait to bring our friends and family there for our big day.”

The Photographer

When Brittany Medeiros first started her photography business, Shaina asked her to photograph her new dance studio. “I loved her photos, creative style and bubbly personality,” Shaina says. “From then on, she has captured all the milestones in our lives, from engagement and wedding photos to maternity and now even newborn photos. I am so lucky to have such a talented friend to share these moments with. Her work speaks for itself, but I can’t recommend her enough!”

The First Dance

The couple didn’t have a song in mind for their first dance as Mr. and Mrs. until one fateful day when “Say You Won’t Let Go” by James Arthur played over the car radio. “We realized it was very similar to our love story,” Shaina says. “From the first line, ‘I met you in the dark, you lit me up’ to ‘I promise ’til death we part, like in our vows’ — we wrote our own vows and put a lot of thought and love into them. It was perfect for us.”

The Highlights

“Mike and I love the song “Shallow” from A Star Is Born—we sing it in the car and at karaoke whenever we get the chance. We decided to sing it on the dance floor at the end of our reception surrounded by family and friends—who sang with us—and it was our favorite moment of the day. Whenever our wedding gets brought up in conversation, everyone always talk about that memory and it brings smiles to our faces.” — Shaina

The Advice

“Make sure you stay by each other’s side as much as possible, and if you can sneak away for a few moments to really soak it all in, even better!” Shaina says. “Also, our officiant suggested we read the 5 Love Languages before our wedding day and it was so enlightening that we recommend it to everyone getting married!”