Coastal Grandeur: Alexa & Corey’s Aldrich Mansion Wedding
Check out this Aldrich Mansion Warwick wedding! There are very few places in New England that feel like a true French Chateau. The Aldrich Mansion is one of them. For Alexa and Corey, the estate provided a sense of scale that felt both historic and incredibly personal.
As a photographer, I loved the way their day transitioned. They started in the quiet, sacred atmosphere of the chapel. They ended in the wide-open celebration on the lawn as the sun went down over Narragansett Bay.
The Ceremony: Our Lady of Providence Chapel
The day began at the on-site chapel. It is a stunning space with high ceilings and intricate woodwork that creates an immediate sense of gravity for the ceremony. Documenting Alexa and Corey in such a classic environment allowed for those, timeless photos that really anchor a wedding gallery.
The Lawn & The Water: Cocktail Hour with a View
After the ceremony, we moved to the back lawn. One of the best features of the Aldrich Mansion is how it overlooks the water. Alexa and Corey’s guests enjoyed cocktail hour with a breeze off the bay. This provided a relaxed, airy contrast to the formal architecture of the mansion.
We took advantage of the “golden hour” light for portraits on the lawn, using the mansion’s stone facade as a backdrop. The natural light here is clean and bright, making everything from the floral details to the candid smiles pop.
The Technical Win: First Dance & Toasts After Dark
The biggest challenge of the day—and my favorite part to look back on—was the transition to the outdoor reception after sunset. Alexa and Corey held their first dance and toasts outside on the terrace under the night sky.
The Lighting: Outdoor night photography is notoriously tricky. Without walls or a ceiling to bounce light off of, you risk losing the background or having the photos look flat.
The Result: I used a specific off-camera lighting setup to “carve” them out from the darkness. We nailed the shots for the first dance and the toasts, resulting in images that feel cinematic and warm. You can see the glow of the mansion behind them and the expressions on their guests’ faces, but the focus remains sharply on Alexa and Corey. It was the perfect way to capture the high-energy, sophisticated vibe of their evening.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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Can you have an outdoor reception at Aldrich Mansion? Yes! The terrace and back lawn provide an incredible setting for outdoor toasts and dancing with a direct view of Narragansett Bay.
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How do you handle outdoor photography at night? I specialize in off-camera lighting for night receptions. This ensures that even in total darkness, your first dance and outdoor toasts look clear, vibrant, and cinematic.
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Is there a chapel on-site at Aldrich Mansion? Yes, the estate features a beautiful historic chapel, which allows for a seamless transition from your ceremony to your portraits and reception without ever leaving the property.
Towards the end of cocktail hour they went upstairs and read their private vows to each other. They were funny, emotional and heartfelt.
