Kimberly Larsen & Thomas Rider
Glen Manor House
April 9, 2011
Published in Newport Wedding Magazine 2012
Confusion exists about when Kimberly Larsen met her future husband, Thomas Rider. He says it was studying in the library at Roger Williams University in nearby Bristol. She says it was as opponents during a game of beer pong, which apparently her team won.
Fast-forward to the day Tom put the “Big Question” to Kimmie and this time the consensus is unanimous. Tom flies to Kimmie’s family home in Pennsylvania a day before her and a day before she thought he’d be arriving. Once there, Tom decorates with streamers, rose petals, signs and a giant heart made of candles. He also fell in the fishpond.
When the big day finally came, the Newport area hosted the proceedings. “One of the biggest reasons we got married in Rhode Island is because it is the place that brought us together,” says Kimmie. Glen Manor, a 1920s stone mansion along the banks of the Sakonnet River whose John Russell Pope design is based on the Petit Trianon at Versailles, hosted 75 guests. “It’s near and dear to our hearts as our law school hosted both our graduation receptions there,” recalls Kim.
Amid the yellow and gray dressed reception venue, the wedding’s central theme was “East meets West.” With Kimmie coming from the east, her mother and father coming further east from Korea and Denmark, respectively, and Dan coming from Seattle and “being so very ‘western,’” as Kimmie puts it, it fit the bill. There was also great emphasis placed on family – those who couldn’t attend, including Tom’s brother stationed in the Indian Ocean. Gestures such as these seemed to permeate the day as the newlyweds danced to “Moon River” by Bobby Darin and flew to the Dominican Republic for a honeymoon before returning to their Seattle home.
DETAILS:
Rehearsal Dinner: Villa 120, Newport
Flowers: Stoneblossom Florist, East Greenwich
Caterer & Cake: Russell Morin Fine Catering, Newport
Photographer: Carla Ten Eyck, Hartford, CT
Transportation: Newport Limousine Service, Newport
Ceremony Music: Westminster Strings, Westerly
Accommodations: Hyatt Regency Newport
Post-wedding Brunch: Greenvale Vineyards, Portsmouth
Rehearsal Caterer: Pranzi Catering, Newport
