How I Planned the Perfect Fort Getty Wedding as a Photographer | Wedding Photography Tips & Inspiration

As a professional RI wedding photographer, I knew from the start that I wanted my own wedding to be unique, memorable, and most importantly, stress-free. In August of 2021, I had the absolute joy of getting married in picturesque Jamestown, Rhode Island, and it was everything I had ever dreamed of! Planning the perfect wedding had been on my mind ever since I first discovered Pinterest in high school, but nothing could have prepared me for how magical the actual day would feel.

Here are three key things I did to create a wedding experience filled with love, laughter, and unforgettable moments—and how you can do the same!

1. Prioritizing FUN for the Ultimate Wedding Experience

One of my biggest wedding planning goals was to focus on fun rather than tradition. Inspired by Annie F. Down’s book, That Sounds Fun, I made a conscious effort to prioritize joy in every decision. If an idea sparked excitement, we went for it!

How We Made Our Wedding a Fun-Filled Celebration:

A Large Wedding Party: We surrounded ourselves with the people who bring us the most joy! Our bridal party was made up of 16 of our closest friends—6 bridesmaids, 2 bridesmen, 6 groomsmen, and 2 groomswomen.
Budget-Conscious & Value-Based Decisions: Instead of following unnecessary traditions, we focused on what mattered most. We skipped the bouquet/garter toss and formal speeches, opting instead for more meaningful, stress-free moments.
Unique Catering Choice: Choosing a venue like the pavilion at Fort Getty allowed us to ditch traditional wedding catering. We had Qdoba cater delicious burrito bowls, making dining fun, casual, and personalized for every guest. BONUS: As someone with a gluten and dairy allergy, this made catering to the needs of our food allergy friends easier!

The only fun-centered thing that I was unable to pull off for our wedding was having one of the adult bouncy houses that are designed for weddings. They are huge and white and beautiful, and while it would have been so fun to have a bouncy house at our wedding, our event insurance kinda frowned upon it. Oh well!

2. Scheduling Time Together – The Magic of a First Look

As a wedding photographer, I’ve witnessed firsthand how hectic wedding days can be. That’s why I prioritized intimate, intentional time with my partner, Justin, throughout the day. And we did our first look a little differently!

The Benefits of a First Look:

Reduces Timeline Pressure: By doing a first look, we captured our couple’s portraits before the ceremony, ensuring we had fresh hair, makeup, and plenty of time to relax.

Sentimental Location: What was unique about our first look, however, was where we did it. I wanted it to be very personal between Justin, me, and our photographer, Lindsey of Lindsey Mae Photography. There is a small, secluded park in Portsmouth, RI called Founders Brook Park. This is where Justin and I first said “I Love You”, and it is a magical little place! So while everyone else was setting up at the venue, I met Justin and Lindsey at the park to see each other and take some photos.

Cherished Car Ride Together: After the first look, we had a peaceful 30-minute drive to the venue, soaking in the excitement of the day. This uninterrupted time together right before tying the knot was one of my favorite parts of our wedding!

3. DIY Wedding Decor & Florals – A Personal Touch

Creating a cohesive and personalized wedding aesthetic was incredibly important to me. Once we set our date, I crafted a color palette that I still adore!

How I Designed My Dream Wedding Decor:

Choosing Wedding Party Attire: When refining our color palette, I started with the bridesmaid (and groomswomen) dress from Baltic Born. I chose an array of dresses that established the peach, terracotta, rust, and blush aesthetic and sent the list to the crew. Each person chose the design they preferred, and it stayed well within everyone’s budget.

Custom Signage & Fabrics: I hand-painted all of our wedding signs, dyed table runners and backdrops with RIT Dye, and up-cycled vases to match our color scheme. And by “I” I mean my amazing wedding party made it possible!

Budget-Friendly Wedding Flowers: Most of our floral arrangements came from Amazon, Walmart, and Trader Joe’s! I combined dried florals like baby’s breath with silk roses, peonies, and dahlias from Ling’s Moments, along with fresh eucalyptus for a natural, elegant feel. This also allowed my bouquet to be much lighter than living floral bouquets, so it was easy to carry around on the day of. Overall, I was so ecstatic to see it all come together on our wedding day!

Every DIY detail brought a sense of personal touch and pride. When I saw our venue beautifully decorated on our wedding day, I knew all the effort had been worth it!

Ready to Plan Your Dream Wedding?

Whether you’re planning a Rhode Island wedding, searching for wedding photography inspiration, or simply looking for ways to make your special day unique, I hope these ideas help you craft a celebration that truly reflects you! What fun, unique touches are you incorporating into your wedding day? Share in the comments below!