The first time Camia and Chris saw each other they were passing by in sailboats. The first time they ever spoke to one another, it was about oceanic wind patterns they were studying in order to become certified sailing coaches. When he asked her to marry him, it was on a wooden dock, surrounded by moonlight and the glittering ocean. “In the eight years since those first encounters, we have traveled the globe and lived many adventures, but the ocean has been a central theme in our life together,” says Chris. It was a natural choice to be married near the waves, and Block Island – the small, rustic island off their home state of Rhode Island – presented the perfect venue. The details and the setting are gorgeous, but it is their pure hearted smiles that truly stand out in these images by Aubrey Greene Photography. Cheers Camia and Chris, may you have many more adventures.

From the Groom

The Setting:
When it came time to choose a place for our wedding, we both wanted the sea to somehow be incorporated into it. So it is fitting that when we were searching for the ideal wedding site, we found ourselves on Block Island — a small, quaint, rustic island off the coast of our home state of Rhode Island. Although it was a cold mid-December day when we walked up the expansive hill to the Sullivan House, we found ourselves surrounded by nearly 360 degrees of water with breathtaking views, and we knew it was the perfect spot. When planning our wedding, it was hard to imagine it lasting only one afternoon. Fortunately for us, we were able to extend the wedding festivities into a weekend-long event, with our closest family and friends staying within several houses adjacent to the Sullivan House: the site of everything including the rehearsal dinner, the ceremony, the reception, and a post-wedding brunch!

Most Memorable Moments:
There were so many beautiful moments from our wedding day. We spent a lot of time working on our ceremony, which incorporated Camia’s Filipino heritage through traditional rituals of lighting candles, being embraced in a hand-woven veil crafted from her family’s village in the Philippines, and placing a yugal (or infinite piece of rope) around one another to symbolize our everlasting love. Perhaps the most moving moment of the day was our vows. After so many years of exchanging letters and postcards while I was at sea sailing and Camia was studying at Brown, our vows ended up being words and reflections we wanted to share with one another on our wedding day. We, and everyone else, were in tears by the end of it!  Finished off with a rocking dance party and cozy beach bonfire, it was a perfect seaside, autumn wedding weekend surrounded by our friends and family. And oh yeah — lots and lots of love!

Photographer: Aubrey Greene Photography / Reception Venue: The Sullivan House / Floral Designer: La Bella Rose / Dress Store: Country Weddings Bridal Boutique & J.Crew / Veils and Headpieces: Sara Gabriel / Caterer: Block Island Gourmet / Band: Cover Story