Sonja and Jake’s Newport Rhode Island wedding weekend was an incredibly full three day celebration. It began with a welcome dinner at Bar ‘Cino and continued with a Hindu wedding at Newport Beach House, and then a Western wedding on the Newport coast at Belle Mer. As a New England wedding photographer, it was such a joy to capture their entire wedding weekend. It was a beautiful blend of family, culture, and tradition that was absolutely gorgeous.

With all the events and planning that took place, I was also impressed with how personal and tight-knit this wedding felt. Each day was unique and beautifully designed, but also so connected. This multicultural wedding weekend was planned in an intentional way to include space for both families, both cultures, and the people who had been part of their relationship.

Let’s dive into this beautiful Newport wedding weekend!

Day One: A Welcome Dinner at Bar ‘Cino in Newport

Sonja and Jake’s wedding weekend began with a welcome dinner and rehearsal celebration at Bar ‘Cino in Newport. They arrived with their families and wedding party on a Newport trolley, a classic touch and a fitting way to begin the weekend! 

For a truly intimate and personal wedding weekend, one that feels like a weekend-long party with friends and family, I think this kind of first event can be so important. It really sets the tone and gives guests time to enjoy being together with the bride and groom before the more formal parts of the weekend begin. Capturing these small moments throughout their welcome dinner, I saw firsthand how much it meant to Sonja and Jake.

From a photography perspective, capturing the welcome dinner added so much to the story of their weekend. Remembering the entire experience – the first hugs, the conversations, the cheers, the moments across the table from family and friends – really gives you something complete and authentic to look back on in your wedding photos. 

For more Newport and Rhode Island weddings, you can view more of my wedding photography portfolio.

Day Two: A Hindu Wedding at Newport Beach House

The second day of Sonja and Jake’s wedding weekend was their Hindu wedding celebration at Newport Beach House. This part of the weekend was so full of color, design and tradition. I loved being a part of it.

The design itself was inspired by a modern interpretation of traditional Indian wedding decor. A big shout out to Flowers by Semia for putting together a rich palette of reds, orange, and gold to fill Newport Beach House! At the center of the space was the mandap, decorated with marigold and carnations, the traditional symbol of families coming together. 

The Baraat and Hindu Ceremony

One of the most memorable parts of the day was the baraat. Traditionally, the baraat is the groom’s procession. But rather than watch, Sonja couldn’t help but to join in herself, and she told me later that she was so glad she did! It became one of her favorite parts of the entire weekend. Seeing the energy peak as she jumped in to celebrate with Jake, their families, and their guests, the joy of that moment was amazing.

Their ceremony was officiated by Hindu pandit Yogen Pathak, who thoughtfully honored Sonja’s Hindu heritage and Jake’s Jewish background with his approach. The ceremony incorporated various family members which made the whole experience personal and respectful of tradition.

As a photographer documenting multicultural weddings, I love seeing the traditional and the personal weaved together throughout the weekend. Each couple chooses to honor those traditions and shape the day in a different way that reflects their own story in a really cool and unique way. Being there to capture it with intention and artistry while providing the space to be genuine is how I help my couples relive not just how their day looked, but exactly how it felt for years to come.

See more about my approach to wedding photography.

Celebrating the Night at Newport Beach House

With Sonja in her red lehenga and Jake in his ivory sherwani, they enjoyed every minute together with their guests. The experience of their guests was a huge priority for the couple, and so the celebration at Newport Beach House catered to everything you could imagine for the evening. Cocktail hour included a spread of pani puri, bhel puri cups and tandoori chicken bites while dinner had some delicious Indian flavors including paneer butter masala and honey mango glazed salmon. For dessert, instead of a traditional wedding cake, Sonja and Jake chose desserts like chai spiced cheesecake bites and chocolate coconut tarts. Absolutely delicious.

I was able to sneak Sonja and Jake away for some couples portraits during the evening. Planning time, especially around sunset, to grab some couples photos is something I always recommend when building the photography timeline. It allows you to enjoy a brief break, just the two of you. With some of the big events of the day already done, it’s also a much more relaxed time to grab photos together. 

The yellow daffodils along the Newport coastline were such a perfect setting for photos, especially with the contrast against their wedding clothes. One thing I appreciate about Newport Beach House as a venue is that it gives couples a gorgeous coastal setting for portraits. I was able to capture Sonja and Jake’s first look, candid portraits, and more editorial shots all in the same location without taking time to travel to another spot.

I love helping couples feel comfortable in front of the camera, and help them capture those perfect editorial images straight out of Vogue. You can find editorial inspiration from this old-money engagement session or one of my favorite shoots of all-time at Boston Public Library.

Day Three: A Western Wedding at Belle Mer

The third day of the weekend took place at Belle Mer, and the whole design shifted into a different direction. After the color and energy of the Hindu wedding, the Western wedding felt softer and coastal, with lots of greenery and white and black details.

First Looks and Private Vows

Before the ceremony, Sonja shared a first look and beautiful moment with her father. She gave him a sweater from Boston Medical Center, where she will soon begin working as a doctor, following in his footsteps. It was such a touching moment to witness! 

Sonja and Jake also shared a private first look before exchanging handwritten vows overlooking the coast. Their vows were full of memories and inside jokes that led to happy tears as they took a moment together before the day’s events started. 

A Sweet Outdoor Ceremony at Belle Mer

Belle Mer was a beautiful setting for this part of the weekend celebration. The waterfront ceremony overlooked the Newport coastline, and a white circular stage with florals and design from Flowers by Semia was perfect against the backdrop of the water. It was really so beautifully done!

Their Western ceremony was officiated by their close college friend, Hannah who truly enhanced the ceremony with her understanding and knowledge of the couple. She invited guests to introduce themselves to someone they had not yet met, shared personal stories, included marital advice from family members, and led a ring warming ceremony. She even worked in the story of Sonja’s legendary three pointer in the intramural basketball game! 

See more of my favorite wedding day details at Belle Mer.

Reception Details & Guest Experience at Belle Mer

The reception at Belle Mer had so many thoughtful details, and they all felt connected to Sonja and Jake. Sonja hand-collected and painted more than 350 oyster shells to use as place cards. Each shell with a pearlescent finish, gold trim, and handwritten guest names. Their guest books were made from decks of playing cards as a nod to their love of games (so cool!).

They also displayed vintage framed family wedding portraits, which was such a sweet way of honoring generations of marriage before them. Jake’s grandfather also honored the couple’s Jewish heritage with a traditional challah bread blessing and breaking ceremony. 

What had to be my personal favorite touch, was how they created a green couch installation for photos down by the water. Inspired by a Vanity Fair-style portrait setup, guests gathered throughout the night for group portraits. That was such a fun guest experience detail! It gave people something fun to do, but it also created photos that felt different from standard reception group photos around a table. It turned portraits into part of the celebration, a fun event that led to some great memories and amazing photographs. 

Planning your coastal wedding? See more inspo from a waterfront wedding at Water’s Edge in Connecticut.

Photographing a Newport Wedding Weekend 

Photographing a wedding weekend like Sonja and Jake’s starts long before the first event. With multiple celebrations, cultural traditions, family moments, and portraits to think through, my goal is always to help couples feel prepared and help everything flow smoothly.

I want the photo experience to feel easy and enjoyable. That means guiding when direction is needed, helping people feel confident in front of the camera, and creating space for real moments to happen naturally.

For Sonja and Jake, that balance mattered. There were portraits that needed intention, ceremonies that needed a documentary approach, and moments with family and friends that were best photographed in a photojournalistic approach as they unfolded. My job was to help them stay relaxed and present while still creating images that feel beautiful, emotional, and true to how the weekend actually felt.

Reach out to learn more about my process for capturing your wedding day!

“Nick is absolutely phenomenal! We have had the privilege of working with Nick all year. He captured our engagement shoot, engagement party, and fantastic 3 day wedding celebration: rehearsal dinner/welcome party, Hindu ceremony & Sangeet, and Western Wedding & Reception. He is incredibly professional, considerate, energizing, and humble.

My husband historically didn’t like taking pictures at all. Fortunately, Nick specializes in making guys not only tolerate photos, but enjoy them and have a blast as its own fun part of the wedding festivities. Within 10 minutes of our engagement shoot, my husband was beaming, laughing, feeling confident, and enjoying every moment.

Nick and his second photographer Josh not only captured our precious moments, but they themselves added to the whole experience. We HIGHLY RECOMMEND Love By The Ocean Co!”

— Sonja and Jake

Planning Your Wedding Weekend in Newport Rhode Island

For a wedding weekend with multiple events, I love being there from the start to capture everything from the welcome dinner to traditional ceremonies, family moments and the small moments in between. With Sonja and Jake, there were portraits we planned for, traditions I needed to anticipate, and moments that were best photographed as they happened. That’s the balance I strive to deliver to each of my couples.

If you’re planning a wedding weekend in Newport, or a multicultural celebration in Rhode Island, reach out! I’d love to see if we’re a great fit to work together. 

Vendors

Rehearsal Dinner / Welcome Party
Photography: @lovebytheoceanco // Venue: @bar.cino.newport // Videography: @amoreweddingsco

Hindu Wedding at Newport Beach House
Photography: Love by the Ocean Co. // Day-of Coordination/Planning: Cose Bella Events // Venue: Newport Beach House, Longwood Venues + Destinations // Videography: Amore Weddings Co. // Hair: Ali Lomazzo Beauty // Makeup: BMC Makeup // Decor/Florals: Flowers by Semia // Bride’s Lehenga & Groom’s Sherwani: Nazrana // DJ: Team BSL / Boston Sound and Light Company // Stationery: Merrymaker Fine Paper

Western Wedding at Belle Mer
Photography: Love by the Ocean Co. // Day-of Coordination/Planning: Cose Bella Events // Venue: Belle Mer, Longwood Venues + Destinations // Videography: Amore Weddings Co. // Hair: Ali Lomazzo Beauty // Makeup: BMC Makeup // Florist/Decor: Flowers by Semia //  DJ: Team BSL / Boston Sound and Light Company // Wedding Dress: Alexandra’s Bridal Boutique // Tux: J.Hilburn // Bridesmaids: Azazie // Groomsmen: The Black Tux // Wedding Rings: Baxter’s Fine Jewelry