Gurney's Wedding Day | Quinn & Anthony | Sara Zarrella Photography

A summer wedding at Gurney’s? Sign us up! Congratulations Quinn and Anthony! Your Newport RI wedding day was absolutely perfect!! Did we mention how much we love photographing in Newport and at Gurney’s? If not, we really do love it, especially when it’s elegant wedding days like the Piciacchios planned. We just can’t get enough of Gurney’s – hand down one of the best locations Newport has to offer!

Quinn and Anthony chose to do a first look before their ceremony! We’re so glad they did because it made their day really relaxed. First looks are a great time to have a private moment together and exchange a letter or card, and trust us, they do NOT take away from the moment you two see each other at the ceremony!! The emotions are totally still there (we promise!). Nothing will take away the moment you are being given away!

We were able to spend plenty of time exploring “Goat” Island and taking advantage of the gorgeous property Hotel Gurney’s has to offer to create timeless wedding portraits of these two and their bridal party!! Yes, we put “goat” in quotes … true to its name Gurney’s has their very own Goats living right there enjoying the best view Newport has to offer! So next time you’re taking a stroll to the lighthouse, go say hi to the goats of “goat” island!

And can we talk about the teal and navy combo that Quinn chose for their bridal party?! It was just beautiful! What a great choice of colors for a summer wedding – classic and fabulous all at once. We loved it!

Gurney’s Newport Resort Weddings

If you want a classy wedding in Newport, RI Gurney’s Newport Resort is the place to be. Honestly everyone loves it there and you’d be amazed at the number of people who come to Goat Island in Newport Rhode Island for portraits. Booking Gurney’s means that you will not only have a front row seat to seeing the goats but the Newport Bridge and the breathtaking ocean view that wrap around the New England lighthouse.

Can we just say, the beautiful scenery for your portraits is a wedding must! Gurney’s was recently redone a few years back and we LOVE it! The entire hotel got a huge renovation from inside out. Go stay for the day or the weekend and enjoy all it has to offer. Have a boat? Dock up at the slips and enjoy the pool… lucky enough to be invited to a wedding as a guest ? RSVP yes! And enjoy!

Their property is incredibly beautiful too. You have the option for portraits along the venue, the lighthouse, and the stellar view of the Newport Bridge. And one of the other great things about Gurney’s is that they have an operating hotel on property which means that your bridal party or family/friends can stay on property and for a wedding day, that’s a great option! Check out another wedding we did at Gurney’s recently and you’ll see even more reasons why we love it here!

Thinking of having a wedding at Gurney’s? The ballroom is really nicely done with the new renovations from a few years back. They chose a beautiful neutral color palette full of whites and greys (a photographer’s dream!!) and it makes decorating your reception room a breeze as anything you pick will go – as nothing is competing with what colors you select for your decor!

A Tip For Our Couples…

First looks have a domino effect! Quinn and Anthony chose to do a first look for their wedding day and it made SUCH an impact on their day and the flow.First looks have a tendency to do that. When you choose to do a first look, you’re able to spend more time with your spouse-to-be because you have a one on one private moment with each other… hello emotions! You then get to capture all your must have photos with your family and bridal party portraits!

For Quinn and Anthony, that’s exactly what happened! While we were taking portraits, we noticed that the parents and in-laws of our sweet couple were actually getting a chance to sit down and talk – yes, talk! They got to just relax on their kids’ wedding day and there’s no way that would have happened without a first look. In fact Quinn’s mom pulled me aside and said “wow” now I get why “first looks” are so popular for so many reasons. You are able to step back and enjoy your wedging day before all the celebrations begin!

The benefits aren’t just for your family members, though! Because Quinn and Anthony had taken portraits earlier in the day with us, between the ceremony and cocktail hour, we didn’t need nearly as much time with them. That meant they actually got to to go to their cocktail hour and enjoy the company of their family and friends. And you know what that meant for their reception? They got to EAT! Yes, the bride and groom got to eat a hot meal that they had picked out and enjoy it. The newlyweds could enjoy being together instead of having to visit every single table before the party kicked off. Can you imagine how much more relaxed your day would feel if you had the chance to do that? We’re telling you… first looks are about much more than just a quick moment together. They will totally change your wedding day!