The Meet Cute: Lauren and Peter met during a trip to Poland for an international Catholic youth conference in 2016. At the time, Lauren worked for a local Catholic newspaper, and her editor sent her to cover the event. Meanwhile, Pete attended with a group of friends. While touring Poland and the Czech Republic, the pair got to know each other and exchanged phone numbers. After returning to Rhode Island, Pete mustered the courage to ask Lauren out on a date.
The Engagement: After almost eight years together, the couple had talked about marriage, so Lauren knew a proposal was coming, just not when. Pete chose one of her favorite places, the White Mountains of New Hampshire, to ask the question. While hiking Mount Willard with Lauren’ s family on the Fourth of July, they stopped for photos. When it was their turn, Pete got down on one knee and proposed. The couple celebrated surrounded by family and beautiful mountain views.
The Theme: Since the Providence Public Library already provided a stunning backdrop, the couple kept the decor minimal. They chose a fall color palette of terracotta orange with cream, green and a few other colors. Subtle literary-inspired accents tied everything together, including escort cards designed like old library borrowing cards, tables named after their favorite books and custom bookmark favors featuring a quote from their ceremony readings.
Giving Back with Love: Lauren knew she didn’ t want traditional gifts for her bridal shower. Instead, guests brought gift cards to donate to organizations that help families get established in their new homes. The couple raised close to $ 2,000 in gift cards and cash and enjoyed a casual backyard barbecue with their friends and family.
Remembering Loved Ones: In the nine months before the wedding, Lauren lost both of her grandmothers, so it was important for her to have them present that day. She wore her grandma’ s pearls, a hair comb that belonged to her memere and her great-grandmother’ s pearl bracelet. The welcome sign was made from a mirror that hung in her memere’ s living room, and wedding photos of deceased family members were on display in the entryway.
September 27, 2025
TARA MORRIS IMAGES @ TARAMORRIS
The Highlights: Lauren received many compliments on her altered dress. When she bought it off the rack, she loved the bodice and train but knew the puffy sleeves had to go. Ruby at Alterations Plus did an awesome job at transforming the fabric into something beautiful and breathable for dancing. Another favorite memory ended up happening unexpectedly, when the couple stepped outside for some air and ended up sharing their wedding meal on the library steps on a gorgeous evening.
The Advice:“ Don’ t be afraid to take a break or alter the plan as needed,” suggests Lauren.“ Weddings are expensive, and you can stretch your budget further if you prioritize what’ s important to you.”
92 | ENGAGED IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND 2026