Kelly & Cody's Garden Wedding at the Roger Williams Botanical Center

We’re officially in the last month of summer here in Rhode Island, and as we count down the number of days that will be hot enough for us to go bask on the beach we also know we’ll miss days like last Saturday as soon as it’s colder out. As has been the trend this year, Saturday began bright and hot and slowly but surely cooled off as clouds rolled in later in the day, lower the temperatures a bit as the evening settled into place. Our time with Kelly and Cody started right in the middle of downtown Providence at the Dean hotel, a funky spot not far from home for us that’s known for its quirky architectural detail and minimalist design. It’s fitting that the whole day, from start to finish, was structured with architecture in mind since it’s what brought Kelly and Cody together in the first place. Having met in the architecture program at Roger Williams University, these two wanted to host a wedding that both paid homage to the city they met one another in as well as the world they’ve made careers and lives out of. The Roger Williams Botanical Center is both a delightful example of unique architecture as well as a generally really fun place to make photographs in, so when they reached out with their plans last year (at that time we hadn’t yet worked there), we were excited to work with folks who appreciated the space for what it is.

Kelly and Cody succeeded in planning a wedding that allowed them to enjoy one another, which is harder to do than it may sound. As soon as they first saw each other outside the main greenhouse at RWBC, it was like a light switch flipped and all the stress of planning and decision making melted away for them both and from then on it was a party. Their group of friends, a bunch they’ve known since they were little kids growing up on a cul-de-sac (which gave Andy major nostalgia), were equal parts dutiful and always there to lend a hand as well as absolute goofballs who played the perfect hype-team for Kelly and Cody as the day wore on. The ceremony in the greenhouse among the cactuses, the cocktail hour in the main greenhouse, the live jazz as folks caught up and snacked on all sorts of tasty bites, and the powerhouse of live music that is Ripcord made this day a memorable one for us. As we walked up towards the greenhouse at the end of the night for one last moment with them before heading out, Kelly looked at Cody and with hints of relief, excitement, and perhaps a bit of disbelief said “the day’s almost over!” - which to us was the perfect encapsulation of how the whole day felt for us. Time flies when you’re having fun, and before you know it the day you’ve planned for for months, maybe years, is a wrap. Bravo, Kelly and Cody!

Venue: The Dean/Roger Williams Botanical Center
Coordination: Katherine Tsonis
Florals: Bella Florist Boston
Catering: Pranzi Catering
Dress Boutique: Alexandra’s Boutique - custom dress
Hair/Makeup: Angela Vescara
Menswear: Generation Tux
Band: Ripcord
Cake/Dessert: Ovenbird Cafe
Videography: Frame & Anchor

Hannah-Marie Hayes