Shaina & Michael
The Engagement : Let ’ s set the scene : It ’ s New Year ’ s Eve and the couple are at Shaina ’ s brother ’ s house waiting for the ball to drop with both hers and Mike ’ s families . “ It ’ s a tradition my family has always had that I was excited to welcome Mike ’ s family to — I didn ’ t think anything else of it ,” Shaina says . But then when the clock struck midnight , Mike got down on one knee . “ It was so special being surrounded by the people we love most ,” she adds .
The Venue : Having a similar taste in style and design , the couple decided to look for an industrial venue with bohemian , romantic details . After plans for a mill-style building in New York fell through , they decided to check out the Lace Factory . “ The moment we stepped into the main reception area and saw the steel beams and old wood floors , we knew it was perfect ,” says Shaina . “ We fell in love with the character and the charm and we couldn ’ t wait to bring our friends and family .”
The Photographer : When Brittany Medeiros started her photography business , Shaina asked her to photograph her new dance studio . “ I loved her creative style and bubbly personality ,” Shaina says . “ From then on , she has captured all the milestones in our lives , from engagement and wedding photos to maternity and now even newborn . I am so lucky to have such a talented friend to share these moments with . Her work speaks for itself , but I can ’ t recommend her enough !”
The First Dance : The couple didn ’ t have a song in mind for their first dance as Mr . and Mrs . until one fateful day when “ Say You Won ’ t Let Go ” by James Arthur played over the car radio . “ We realized it was very similar to our love story ,” Shaina says . “ From the first line , ‘ I met you in the dark , you lit me up ’ to ‘ I promise ’ til death we part , like in our vows .’ We had written our own vows and put a lot of thought and love into them . It was perfect for us .”
The Highlights : “ Mike and I love the song ‘ Shallow ’ from A Star Is Born — we sing it in the car and at karaoke whenever we get the chance . We decided to sing it on the dance floor at the end of our reception surrounded by family and friends — who sang with us — and it was our favorite moment of the day . Whenever our wedding gets brought up , everyone talks about that memory and it brings smiles to our faces .” — Shaina
The Meet Cute : “ When I was eighteen and in college , my friends and I would go out to the clubs in Providence . Mike was a promoter I would always see out ,” Shaina says . “ Although I did find him attractive with such a fun personality , we didn ’ t end up dating because Mike was already in a relationship .” But ten years later , after keeping in touch on social media , the two ’ s paths crossed again and the timing was finally right .
The Advice : “ Make sure you stay by each other ’ s side as much as possible , and if you can sneak away for a few moments to really soak it all in , even better !” Shaina says . “ Also , our officiant suggested we read the 5 Love Languages before our wedding day and it was so enlightening that we recommend it to everyone getting married !”
92 | ENGAGED IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND 2022