Leanne and Paul met in the summer of 2008 when she stopped to see a friend get ready for prom with her boyfriend, which just so happened to be Paul’s younger brother. Leanne was sitting in the kitchen eating his mother’s pizza when he walked in from work. Right from the start they had an instant connection. Leanne and Paul dated for that summer but then decided to take a break and go back to college. Paul attended Bryant University and Leanne attended the University of Rhode Island. After about a year and a half of keeping in contact, they decided they couldn’t be apart any longer. On Christmas Eve 2009 Paul called Leanne around 2 o clock in the morning after she gotten home from midnight mass with the family and told her he knew she was the one he wanted to be with.
After dating for 6 years, Paul finally knew it was time to pop the question. During the first 6 months of their relationship, Leanne studied abroad in Paris for 6 weeks. During this time, she fell in love with the city and have always wanted to go back. After she returned, Paul took her to the next best place, Epcot in Disney World. After a long day of walking Epcot in the pouring rain the couple finally sat down to dinner at Monsieur Paul’s in Epcot Paris. After an amazing meal, Leanne was surprised with a plate of what looked like dessert but was really an engagement ring with the words “Will you marry me” written on the plate in French. Needless to say, that day Disney lived up to its tag line and certainly was the happiest place on earth for Leanne and Paul.
When Leanne and Paul started planning their wedding they immediately thought of getting married in the Newport area. Being a south county girl, Leanne has always loved the ocean and the history behind the mansions of Newport. After a few months of venue searching, the bride-to-be happened upon a picture of her grandmother and late grandfather at a garden. Flipping the picture over, she saw the words “Blithewold Mansion” written on the back and knew she had found their venue. A visit to the home and gardens confirmed that it was the perfect blend of classic glamour and sophisticated mansion style. The final decision was picking a day. The couple went with 4th of July weekend as the ultimate way to celebrate their country and their new lives together.
Gabrielle Marks Photography shot Leanne and Paul’s big day. You are going to fall in love with this sweet couple and the beautiful Blithewold! Fall in love with this and other Newport weddings on our our Newport Wedding Pinterest board.
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Photographer(s): Gabrielle Marks photography | Invitation/Paper Goods: Wedding Paper Divas | Bridal Gown: Custom design by Kate Brierley owner of Isoude in Newport | Bridal Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridal Veil: Bride re-designed her mother’s veil | Bridal Jewelry: VanCleef Arpels from Tiffany + Co | Bridal and Bridesmaids Hair and Makeup: Brianna Hamilton, B Lovely Beauty Studio | Grooms Outfit: Men’s Wearhouse | Bridesmaids Dresses: Vera Wang for David’s Bridal | Groomsmen Outfits:Men’s Wearhouse | Ring Bearer outfit: Men’s Wearhouse | Florist: Golden Gate Studios | DJ/Band/Entertainment: Jay Friese, Signature Sounds | Ceremony Venue: Saints John + Paul Church | Reception Venue: The Blithewold Mansion | Event Rentals: Exquisite Events | Catering: Russell Morin Catering | Transportation: Rockstar Limo | Favors: Wildflower Seed Packets by Max & Bella | Wedding Cake/Dessert: Russell Morin Catering