Claire & Zack’s Beautiful Small Wedding at a RI State Park

SWELL & STONE / ADVENTURE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER / RHODE ISLAND & BEYOND

Claire and Zack’s small outdoor wedding at Beavertail State Park on the cliffy coast of Rhode Island was the stuff dreams are made of. Claire happens to be one of my good friends and when she reached out I knew her incredible boho style would shine in a gorgeous small wedding. She and Zack are also surfers who my husband and I have surfed with many times, so of course, they had to paddle out in their wedding gear!

Their day began with getting ready and the first look at Beavertail State Park. It’s the perfect spot to have an intimate, yet easily accessible outdoor wedding with unreal views. Seriously, this place has 5-star views for days and is one of the most serene spots in the Ocean State. They practiced their wedding song as the waves crashed nearby, and for the pair of surfers smelling the salty ocean air was exactly what they wanted on their day.

Soon friends and family began to arrive and the ceremony went by in a whirlwind. Speaking of wind, coastal RI is known for its breezy shores, so be prepared for a windblown look if you choose this spot for your special day! After the ceremony, we walked around the park to a couple of my other favorite spots and then we headed back to Claire’s mom and stepdad’s house for the celebration. They have an unbelievably beautiful back and side yard that was decorated to absolute perfection. Little details from Zack and Claire’s relationship were all over, and Claire’s mom is an expert gardener, so the whole thing had secret garden vibes. It could not have been more beautiful.

Toasts were made and tears shed. The couple shared a very special first dance as Claire’s stepdad sang to them. to me, their wedding was the perfect combination of friends and family putting unique and meaningful touches on the day while still maintaining an overall feel of beautiful and unique luxury that looks like it was completely professionally done.

The next day we hit the beach and they paddled out in their formalwear. The waves weren’t exactly cooperating and it was mostly windy and flat, but the images still turned out pretty cool and they had a great time. I love to recommend that even if you are having a small outdoor wedding with friends and family they either keep a part of the day or they schedule part of the day before or day after for adventurous photos with just the two of them. It’s important to include things that you love doing together on your wedding day(s), so carve out a time to make memories that are entirely your own and for just the two of you.