Kayla & Jon Paul
The Barn at Wight Farm, Sturbridge, Massachusetts (Ceremony & Reception)
October 26th, 2024
It might sound counter-intuitive to say this but I've often found that the love a bride and groom have for each other on a wedding day isn't found in the big moments (And, yes, I know a wedding day itself is a big moment) but, instead, is seen in the less obvious moments inside the moments.
It's the way a groom wipes away a tear as he sees his bride for the first time. Or the way a bride comforts her soon-to-be husband with a hand on his chin. Or a laugh the newlyweds have at a joke no one else hears or gets.
It is, by sheer definition, the blink-and-you'll-miss it split seconds of communication between two people that few notice but even fewer remember and that, to me, was never any clearer this year than when Kayla and Jon Paul said “I do” at the Barn at Wight Farm in Sturbridge, Massachusetts.
Perhaps the most adorable couple I worked with this year, Kayla and Jon Paul were masters at communicating their love and affection for one another in ways no one around them would even notice. Hell, maybe the couple themselves didn't even notice.
But as the guy with the camera being paid to document these moments for them? I noticed. And I'm so glad I did because the story these two told is everything I love about love and then some.
My time with Kayla and Jon Paul started with an abbreviated, but fun, bridal prep session for Kayla herself.
While I was initially worried about whether or not I'd have enough time to capture some great prep photos for the bride since her hair and makeup were done off site, those worries were immediately thrown aside when I got to the property and saw how excited Kayla was for her special day.
And whether it was capturing her beautiful dress with the barn in the background or seeing the huge smile on Kayla's face as she got zipped up in her dress for the first time, I could tell this was a bride who was not only ready to say "I do" but eagerly looking forward to it.
The first item on Kayla's wedding day itinerary was a first look with her dad, something she told me in our initial consults would be a highlight for her on this day and, boy, was it ever.
I loved seeing how genuinely moved Kayla's dad was when he turned around and saw her in her wedding dress for the first time and I think that moment set the tone for just how emotional and special this afternoon would be for both the bride and the groom.
Speaking of the groom, while I didn't handle any of groom prep, I was fortunate enough to take some photos of Jon with his family before the wedding ceremony so I knew how nervous he was heading into the day. None of that mattered, though, when he took his place at the front of the ceremony space and waited for Kayla to walk down the aisle to him.
I've shot a lot of weddings this year but few grooms have been as emotional as Jon Paul was prior to he and Kayla's ceremony and I could feel my heart melt as I watched him wipe away tears not once, not twice but three times as Kayla made her way to the front of the altar area to begin the proceedings.
Kayla and Jon Paul said "I do" at the Barn at Wight Farm's indoor ceremony space and, as I've said often when speaking of this room, it's one of the toughest spots I've ever had to take ceremony photos in. The room is laid out weird and there's no ideal spot for off-camera lighting but none of that mattered on the day Kayla and Jon Paul were wed as the technical photography skills were secondary to capturing the love and affection these two had for one another.
Kayla and Jon Paul had one of my favorite ceremonies of the entire year and it was FULL of little moments that showed everyone in attendance just how happy and in love these two were. I especially loved watching Kayla put her hand on Jon's chin as if to say "I'm here for you."
It was a beautiful display of emotion that said so much without saying a single word and by the time these two shared their first kiss, it was clear they had committed themselves to spending the rest of their lives together long before they set foot in this room. Talk about a beautiful love story.
Following their ceremony, Kayla and Jon made their way outside for their official formal photos and this, to me, is where this couple shined.
First up, we knocked out the remaining family photos. But after, the bride and groom's personalities really came to life as we welcomed their wedding party to the front of the camera and with good reason.
Kayla and Jon are a fun couple and the people they chose to stand by their side on this special day were not only down with that but encouraged them to be themselves and enjoy every second of the day and I loved that so much.
Whenever I sit down to talk with a prospective couple to talk about my “style” of wedding photography, one of the themes that comes up time and time again is the idea that I don't want to do anything that feels generic or “cookie cutter.” Yes, it's sometimes challenging because no matter how creative or unique you think you are as a wedding photographer, you still have a certain set of “must have” poses and photos that you lean on from couple to couple.
But where I think I thrive is in the photos BETWEEN those poses. The ones where a couple can be themselves and be fun and, in many ways, Kayla and Jon Paul personified that. Even though Kayla and Jon Paul's photos were taken in a beautiful fall backdrop of lovely foliage and plenty of sunlight, what shined brightest was the weird and kooky silliness these two brought to their bride and groom portraits. There was an air of “This is fun, let's have fun” and, honestly, you can't put a price tag on how special that is as a wedding photographer who tries to bring out the “real” side of his couples.
Seriously though. Look at these two skipping and being fun in a field behind their reception venue. Tell me that doesn't look like something they'd just be doing regardless of whether or not I was there.
To me, that's the sign a couple is having fun and Kayla and Jon Paul sure were enjoying every single second of their special day.
With their formal photos in the bag, Kayla and Jon Paul made their way back to the bridal prep area to get ready for their reception and I took some time to look around and see if there were any details I missed because these newlyweds spent a lot of time and effort on the little decor of their day and I didn't want to miss a thing.
I especially loved the personal little nod Kayla and Jon Paul had to the groom's community theater background with a seating chart and table decorations themed with some of the most popular and well-known plays on Broadway.
Speaking of Jon Paul's theater background, I can't think of a better way he and Kayla could have kick-started their reception than by dancing their first dance to an original song he created. It was such a nice and sweet touch to a day that felt super personal and you can see how much it meant to both of them by the way they held each other and were so focused on one another's eyes that it felt like there wasn't a single other person in the room.
To be fair, that's kind of how all of the formalities of Kayla and Jon Paul's reception felt. Whether it was Kayla's super sweet and emotional dance with her dad — where he looked on the verge of tears the entire time — of the crazy fun way Jon Paul and his mom rocked out for their parent dance, all of the moments of this reception felt well thought out and written with the people exclusively to honor the people in the center of that dance floor.
I think that's why I loved the last little formalities on Kayla and Jon Paul's itinerary because the focus shifted back to them. Jon Paul and Kayla each had a toast in their honor by the best man and maid of honor and that led perfectly right into dinner. Following dinner, with almost all the formalities out of the way, the pair quietly cut their wedding cake and got ready for the night's biggest and most looked-forward-to aspect of the wedding day: The party.
Now, if you've followed my work or this blog long enough, you know I love a good wedding reception. And what makes a good reception? To me, it's when every single time you look around, everyone around you is having a blast.
I genuinely can't think of a single person I saw at Kayla and Jon Paul's reception that wasn't having a great time from the moment the house lights came down and the partying started and I think that says a lot about the bride and groom at the center of this celebration.
Perhaps most importantly, every time I looked around, Kayla and Jon were somewhere close together, in each other's arms and having a great time.
I loved this so much for them and was having almost as fun at this reception as the bride and groom were. Whether it was a silly bouquet toss or the moment where Kayla's dad broke out in a giant dance number, it was clear to me that this would be a night neither the bride, groom nor I soon forgot.
As my time with Kayla and Jon Paul came to an end, and thus my October wedding season concluded, I couldn't help but smile thinking about just how sweet and sentimental their day was.
I always love leaving a wedding knowing it went exactly as a bride and groom dreamed it would and I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that Kayla and Jon Paul's day was everything they could have asked for and much more.
So thank you Kayla and Jon for allowing me to document this special day for you and I wish you all the best as you embark on this new and exciting chapter of your lives together as husband and wife. :)
-Paul J. Spetrini
Check out more of my most recent wedding blogs:
The Vendor List:
Photographer: Paul J. Spetrini, Paul J. Spetrini Photography; Bride's Hair and Make-up: Sharon Sanchez from Made by Mack; Bride's Dress: David’s Bridal; Florist: The Bride’s Bouquet; Ceremony and Reception Venue: The Barn at Wight Farm, Sturbridge, Massachusetts; DJ: Brian Plouffe of Champagne Toast; Cake: Cake Shop Café; Videographer: Kristin Griffin of Kristin Griffin Photography.