Bret & Jeff's Summer Chic Wedding at Rosecliff in Newport, RI

Bret and Jeff are special people. Living and working out of Cincinnati, OH currently, these two originally planned to have a wedding on the west coast before switching gears entirely and focusing their sights on Newport, RI. The goal was to juxtapose their natural goofiness with their venue, and in doing so they selected perhaps the most iconic of mansions in town: Rosecliff. Its gilded age construction was modeled after Louis XIV’s Grand Trianon in Versailles, although its proportions were reduced to fit into the already densely packed Bellevue Avenue, famous for its extravagance and opulence. Bret and Jeff envisioned throwing an exquisitely detailed rager of a party within this context: matching Louboutin shoes, matching embroidered suit coats, live music reverberating through the corridors, colorful and ornate tablescapes flickering with candlelight, you get the idea.

The wedding day was bountifully sunny, perfect weather to showcase the architectural details as well as the color story so carefully selected by Bret and Jeff. Starting down the street at the charming Bayberry inn, Bret and Jeff got ready together amongst their friends and families before heading over to Rosecliff. After making our way down the long drive way we were immediately struck by the presence of the building, equally intimidating and inviting with its marble lion sculptures, gilded lanterns, massive arched windows and towering doorways. As guests arrived they were treated to champagne and freshly shucked oysters before taking their seats at the ceremony on the back lawn overlooking the ocean. Bret and Jeff processed with their parents down the back stairs and shared vows before being pronounced married by Jeff’s brother. There was a certain calm that came over both of them now officially married, dressed to the nines and sipping on signature drinks, and after a moment of reflection by the ocean they were ready for the party.

The ballroom was stunning, as expected. Massive floral arrangements and tall taper candles and polished brass chandeliers and that ceiling. Toasts from Bret and Jeff’s dads led to first dances with music performed by Jeff’s sister followed by dinner and some more dancing. Guests spilled out of the ballroom onto the back stair, taking in the breeze coming off the ocean and cooling off by the fountain before heading back in for more. At half past 10:00pm the majority of the guests packed onto busses to head across Newport to the afterparty at Queen Anne’s Loft where things turned up a few more notches. Neon wigs, CO2 canons, disco balls, cheeseburgers, flip flops, all a direct projection of Bret’s imagination with DJ Boywife captaining the ship. Although we’re not usually photographing afterparties we’re so glad we were there for this one; it felt like a massive exclamation point after a day full of beauty and absurdity and it really couldn’t have ended a better way.

Venue: The Bayberry / Rosecliff
Planning: Em Devaud Events
Catering: Blackstone Catering
Florals: Sayles Livingston Design
Menswear: Tanner Fletcher / Christian Louboutin
Makeup: Alexandra Dale
Hair: New Leaf
Stationary: Gus & Ruby
Music: Encore / DJ Boywife
Rings: Ole Lynggaard / Good Gold NZ
Rentals: Peak Events / Luke Renchan Entertainment