♥ local love
FLANNERY and MIKE
December 31 , 2016 // Joseph Laurin Photography
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As it turns out , rom-coms don ’ t have it all wrong … Some soulmates do still meet in crowded bars . For Flannery , it was practically love at first sight . She spotted Mike across the room while out in Providence one night and she knew she would have to be the one to make the first move , which involved asking her friend , Bernard , to be her wingman . Meanwhile , for Mike , it was more like confusion at first sight ; mainly because he didn ’ t understand why the pretty blonde ’ s boyfriend was encouraging him to go talk to her . But once Bernard explained that no , he and Flannery were not together and no , he was not trying to rope Mike into some strange ménage a trois , Mike was more than happy to go and chat up his future wife .
Fast forward to the early wedding planning stages in 2015 ( precedented by a cozy breakfastin-bed-style proposal ) and the couple already knew that Bernard would be the one to officiate their marriage . “ There was never any other option , it was him from the start ,” Mike confirms while Flannery adds : “ We knew he would make the ceremony both personal and funny .”
And Bernard certainly delivered at their December 31 , 2016 nuptials . In fact , his words , combined with breathtaking music by Legacy String Trio and the couple ’ s heartfelt vows , made up Flannery ’ s and Mike ’ s favorite part of the whole day . But that ’ s not to say that the rest of the wedding wasn ’ t equally as beautiful . “ Exquisite Events was a last-minute hire , but I don ’ t think the wedding would have been as much of a success without them ,” Flannery reveals . “ They were responsible for not only the ceremony backdrop but also for the lighting and the hallway draping that connected the ceremony and reception spaces . They even made custom pillows that matched my table linens and advised me on selecting general decor .”
And the decor was certainly a sight to behold ; professional-looking DIY signage , hanging glass snowflakes , an abundance of fairy lights and , of course , floor-to-ceiling greenery provided by the venue ’ s botanical gardens . These , along with details like Flannery ’ s vintage-inspired , long sleeved lace gown and the bridal party ’ s black tie attire did well to nail the glam New Year ’ s Eve theme . “ We had been to so many summer weddings and
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