East Coast Soul at Cove Cabin, Mt. Hope Farm | Ilana & Patrick in Bristol, RI
Ilana and Patrick chose one of Rhode Island’s hidden gems for their wedding day — Cove Cabin at Mt. Hope Farm, tucked right at the water’s edge in Bristol. It’s one of those venues where you feel like you’ve stepped away from the world for a few hours. Trees, shoreline, a long winding road down to the cabin — everything about this place feels calm, coastal, and a little bit magical. Their celebration fit the setting perfectly: warm families, great food, an enthusiastic crowd, and a dance floor that stayed full the entire night.
Ceremony by the Water
Guests gathered down on the lawn beside Cove Cabin, with Narragansett Bay stretching out beyond the trees. The couple brought in a string quartet for the ceremony, and we supported with a clean, minimal sound setup: two mics for readers and a lavalier for the officiant. It was simple, intimate, and beautifully framed by the late-summer breeze coming off the water.
Mt. Hope Farm has a strict 65 dB sound ordinance, measured from the edge of the property, so we kept everything crisp and controlled. Their team checked in periodically and the whole thing went smoothly — clear sound, no issues, no interruptions.
Cocktail Hour on the Lawn
After the ceremony, everyone transitioned to the grassy area outside the reception tent for cocktails, where the string quartet continued playing. The Cove Cabin field is such a relaxed space — guests wandered between the lawn and the shoreline while the catering team set up for dinner.
Dinner in the Tent
Around 6:00, everyone moved under the tent for toasts and dinner. Ilana and Patrick opted for a casual welcome rather than formal introductions, greeting their guests from the front of the tent before settling in for the evening.
Dinner featured a small instrumental combo — sax, guitar, keys, bass, and drums — playing a mix of soul and mellow grooves. The musician meal timeline aligned with dinner service, and once guests had settled in with their plates, the combo helped create that “perfectly warm wedding dinner soundtrack” that fills the space without taking it over.
Speeches from both of their brothers added some heartfelt texture to the meal, with the music weaving in and out between moments.
First Dance, Hora & Opening the Floor
At 7:45, we invited everyone back to the dance floor for Ilana and Patrick’s first dance: “You Make Loving Fun” by Fleetwood Mac. We performed it live with a slightly slower BPM and a shortened arrangement — just enough to keep it sweet and tightly paced.
Right after, the room erupted into an energetic hora, which brought both sides of the family into the center of the tent — exactly the joyful kickoff the couple was hoping for.
A Packed Dance Floor Until the Last Note
With the photographer scheduled to leave at 9:00, the couple had one very important request: before break, we needed to bring the room to its absolute peak with “Livin’ on a Prayer.” Not only is it a crowd-pleaser — it was also a family moment. The groom, Patrick, jumped on bass, and his brother, Michael, joined on guitar. It was electric. The band held down the core performance while Patrick and Michael took the spotlight, and the tent absolutely exploded.
From there, the setlist leaned heavily vintage — just as the couple requested:
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We Are Family
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Brick House
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September
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Signed, Sealed, Delivered
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Superstition
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Valerie
Their “no-go” list was crystal clear (no line dances, no modern pop, no country), so the night stayed firmly in the world of funk, soul, disco, and classic feel-good hits.
For the finale, we brought everyone back together for a huge, exuberant singalong to “Shout,” which ended the night on exactly the right note — high energy, full tent, and a room full of people dancing like they never wanted the night to end.
A Beautiful Night at Mt. Hope Farm
Cove Cabin is one of the most peaceful and scenic venues in Rhode Island — a place where everything feels a little softer and more intentional. Ilana and Patrick filled the entire space with love, family, and genuinely joyful energy. From their water-side ceremony to the full-on dance party under the tent, the day unfolded effortlessly.
Ilana & Patrick — thank you for having East Coast Soul be a part of your celebration. Nights like this remind us why we do what we do.
