Vibrant and Creative Wedding at Colony House Newport

A bride and groom hold hands during a wedding ceremony at Colony House Newport.

April 30, 2025

The Old Colony House Newport is a stunning historic wedding venue. Connor and Ben’s wedding is a unique example of combining modern fun and nostalgic aesthetics in an elegant setting. I’m obsessed with the details at this wedding! You just have to take a quick look at the photos to see why.

A bride and groom cheers with wedding guests.

A Wedding at the Old Colony House Newport

The Colony House Newport looks like the set of a period film (which it kind of is in Hocus Pocus 2). The interior includes incredible architectural details, such as carved columns, wide windows, and elaborate moulding. It’s historic Newport at its best.

A floral installation decorates the ceremony spot at Colony House Newport.
Big flower installations decorate Colony House Newport for a wedding.

Weddings typically take place on the second floor. Connor and Ben’s ceremony is a perfect example of how you can hold a ceremony with semicircular seating. It’s surprisingly intimate and artistic for such a formal space.

A curved green couch sits inside Colony House Newport.
Blue candleholders and red flowers sit on a wedding reception table inside Colony House Newport.

Here are some helpful details if you’re considering getting married at Colony House.

  • Capacity: 160 guests
  • Starting Cost: $4,000 in season and $2,000 off season
  • Venue Type: Indoor
A bride reads a wedding newspaper on a vintage bed.
A bride adjusts her dress while looking in a mirror in a suite at the Colony House Newport.
A group of bridesmaids reach towards a bride for a group hug.

The Old Colony House Newport is run by the Newport Historical Society. It’s the fourth-oldest state house still around in the U.S. Built in the mid-1700s, it’s a great example of American Colonial architecture.

A groom poses beside a window for a portrait at Colony House Newport.
A groom and his groomsmen read a wedding newspaper.

This wedding venue is located in downtown Newport near Eisenhower Park. It’s just a few blocks from Newport Harbor. If you have guests coming in from out of town, this is a great area to showcase the best of Newport.

A bride and groom have their first look in a sunny corner of Colony House Newport.
A bride and groom stand beside a floral installation in a film wedding photo at Colony House Newport.

Vibrant and Creative Wedding Details

When I tell you that Kayla at Madden Made Events designed every detail with intention, I’m not exaggerating. Her design deck made my jaw drop. She really thought of everything from the palette to lounge areas to lighting design for each part of the evening. 

A bride wearing sunglasses walks down a staircase inside Colony House Newport.
A bride and groom pose against a red pool table in Newport.
A bride and groom kiss in a booth at a Newport bar.

Kayla’s design deck described Connor and Ben’s wedding this way: “A warm, creative and engaging celebration with a lot of joy and a lot of funk.” This wedding delivered on both! 

A bride and groom pose with their wedding party on the steps of Colony House Newport.
A bride poses for a film wedding photo.

I love the way the rich reds and greens paired with black and white checkers bring a combination of nostalgia and modern sensibilities to the Old Colony House Newport. Some of my favorite details include:

  • garlands of plum tomatoes on the pizza table
  • curved green couch in the same shade of green as the invitation suite envelopes
  • flowers everywhere bringing an earthier version of the palette to life
A bridesmaid carries a green anthurium in a processional at a Newport wedding.
Wedding guests watch a ceremony inside Colony House Newport.
A bride and groom share their first kiss at a wedding ceremony at Colony House Newport.

The design was amazing partly because it felt so true to Connor and Ben. Here’s how Ben described Connor: “My favorite thing about Connor is her ability to connect with each person she interacts with. She gives so much of herself to others, whether it is her students, family, or strangers in the neighborhood we see every few days while walking our dog. Connor just has such a natural ability to brighten everyone’s day and she goes out of her way to do so. “

Bridesmaids help a bride put on her veil before a wedding ceremony at Colony House Newport.
A bride looks over her shoulder at a Newport wedding photographer at Colony House Newport.

Connor, of course, is just as smitten with Ben. She told me, “It’s so hard to choose my favorite thing about Ben, but for me it is his simplicity and ease. Ben doesn’t overcomplicate the world and finds such joy in the small things, while also letting me live my loudest and wackiest life. Ben has so much gratitude for the everyday things. He is easy, kind, and keeps me grounded.”

A bride and groom walk down a staircase to enter a Newport wedding reception.
A wedding guest in a red sequin dress holds a cocktail.

Fun Film Wedding Photos

Ben and Connor’s wedding at the Old Colony House Newport translated beautifully into film photography. I typically document weddings on a mix of digital and film photos. The colors look especially rich and vibrant. 

A bride and groom share their first dance at Colony House Newport
Pizzas sit on a red and white table cloth at a Newport wedding reception.

The energy of this wedding worked well with direct flash, too. It gives some of the photos a fun rock-n-roll aesthetic. Direct flash was especially fun for some of the moodier portraits and detail photos. 

A bride eats a cocktail garnish.
A bride and groom sit inside a wedding photobooth at Colony House Newport.

Would you like me to photograph your wedding? I’m a wedding photographer based in Newport and Portland. I’d love to document your day with artful and candid film photos. Inquire with me here!

Thank you to the vendors who helped make this wedding so incredible.
Planning and Design: Madden Made Event
Photography: Andreia Claro Photography
Content Creation: Lucky Share
Venue: Old Colony House Newport
Catering: Blackstone Caterers
Floral Design: Traveling Flower Ladies
Hair and Makeup: Ali Lomazzo Beauty
DJ and Lighting: XOXO, DJ Dayglow
Rentals: Peak Event Services, Kadeema Rentals,and BBJ La Tavola
Custom Signage: Holly Winnie Design Co.
Invitation Stationery: One Mimosa Please
Photo Booth: Majestic Photobooth
Transportation: Experience Rhode Island
Officiant: Hailey Flavin
Hotel: Hammetts Hotel