Jennifer & Jacob
Dighton Community Church (Ceremony) & Terrydiddle Farm (Reception)
October 12th, 2025
One of the biggest things I still struggle with 15 years into my career as a wedding photographer is knowing when you have to let things go. I want every single one of my clients to have the perfect wedding and, honestly, sometimes Mother Nature has other ideas.
It can be frustrating when every other aspect of a wedding is perfect and the people you're working with are amazing but, at the end of the day, if they leave happy, you should leave happy.
And that was the biggest lesson I learned from Jennifer and Jacob's amazingly fun, but incredibly rainy, October wedding day at Dighton Community Church and Terrydiddle Farm. Jennifer and Jacob were, without question, one of my all-time favorite clients and just amazing people who are a delight to be around and their wedding was one of my favorite days in all of 2025.
These two never let the bad weather get them down because, at the end of the day, all they needed for the most magical day of their lives was each other, their friends and family ... and over-the-top pure silliness.
My coverage of Jennifer and Jacob's wedding day began with the bride's prep and to say this was my favorite bridal prep session in a long time is an understatement. Not only was the music top notch (Jennifer was rocking out to the Hamilton soundtrack, which was an integral part of my entire 2025 season) but the house was a chaotic mess with tons of little kids and adults running around ... and having a blast doing so.
The entire scene was a delight to witness and photographing it was even better.
What I loved about Jennifer and Jacob's wedding day was the mix we'd have between sweet and silly. The risk you sometimes run with "fun clients" is that their entire day will be full of laughs and you don't get to see the romantic side of them that led them to finding their love with their person but that wasn't the case here.
I knew we've have plenty of genuine affection between the soon-to-be newlyweds when Jennifer asked to do a first touch with Jacob before their ceremony. It was a short moment and one that built the anticipation of them seeing each other but it said so much about their love and relationship and was low key one of the best parts of the entire wedding.
Jennifer and Jacob said "I do" at Dighton Community Church and I knew the moment I walked into this church that it was one steeped in history ... both in the region and in their lives together.
This church was veryyyyy old school New England with high box pews shutting patrons in and extended section seating making getting around the church a little bit of a challenge. I have a love-hate relationship with churches like this. I love how old school and historic they love and feel inside. But I'm a guy who likes to move around so it presents challenges.
Jacob and Jennifer, though, picked the perfect place for them and I could tell how much this specific church meant to them as they each had it written all over their face when the bride walked down the aisle.
When I shoot a wedding ceremony, I have a lot of responsibilities. There are a handful of angles I'm supposed to get and I need to nail all the marquee moments.
But, at this point in my career, I can pretty much anticipate all of those things. What the real challenge is, is capturing photos that tell a story without a single word being said and Jennifer and Jacob's ceremony gave me plenty of these moments.
I loved the absolutely undeniable, adorable look each had on their face from start to finish but especially during their vows to one another. It felt like every time I lifted my camera and focused on either of them, they were each on the verge of tears and laughs and I think that's perfect. By the time we got to the end of their ceremony, it felt like they were both thinking "Can we kiss already? Please?" and that feeling resonated with their joy as they exited the church as husband and wife.
On wedding days, I try really hard not to take risks. I prefer, instead, to wait for the right moment for a photo but I had a feeling the right moment for Jennifer's one request on this day — photos in the adjacent cemetery to the church, where her grandmother is buried — would prove untenable.
After their ceremony, I took the couple out for a couple of pictures, hoping the rain would let up enough for us to reach her grandmother's area but it was not meant to be. I did snag one cute photo of them before we all ran back inside though and I applaud Jen and Jacob for at least giving it a go.
While I was incredibly bummed up about our lack of outdoor photo success, Jennifer and Jacob headed into their family and wedding party formal photos with big smiles on their faces, ready to knock out those "must have" shots.
Now, to be honest, shooting family photos in a makeshift community room like we had to because of the weather wasn't ideal but I am so grateful these newlyweds didn't care in the slightest. This session was much more fun than it had any right to be and their wedding parties, in particular, were perfect for the mood of this day.
I really wasn't sure exactly how I'd be able to capture bride and groom portraits of Jennifer and Jacob in this room but, to their credit, these two were down for trying and I loved that. Are these the best shots I've ever taken on a wedding day? Nope. But they fit this couple and the unique circumstances of this day great.
More importantly, we kept up the silly energy throughout and I think that's what really matters because it shows their personalities so well.
I've never been as grateful for a drive from one venue to another as I was following Jennifer and Jacob's bride and groom portraits. As much as I wanted to focus on something else, I couldn't help but fixate on not being able to get us outside for shots and told myself we were going to make it happen at some point on this day.
The drive from their church to Terrydiddle Farm for their reception was the perfect reset for me creatively and, from the moment I walked into the tent for their reception, I knew we were in for a good night.
Jennifer and Jacob shared their first dance to a live version of “Need Someone” by John Shakespear and it was as awkwardly adorable and weird as they were. They had the sweet moments, sure, but they also had a LOT of "What are we doing? OK. Let's go with it!" moments that made it feel improvised, unpredictable for everyone and downright fun.
I don't think Jennifer and Jacob could have picked a better place for their reception. As any longtime reader of this blog knows, I loveeeeee a tent reception and this tent made all of the big moments of Jennifer and Jake's day pop so much.
I especially loved their three parent dances as each one was the right balance of sweet and sentimental but things never got too emotional. The same can be said for the toasts given in Jennifer and Jacob's honor before dinner.
These moments let everyone in that tent know what matters most to this couple and set a beautiful tone for the rest of the evening.
Immediately following Jennifer and Jacob's toasts, I simply HAD to try to take them outside one more time but, alas, we lost the light and missed sunset. Luckily, because it was still raining, we were able to improvise and use our umbrellas for some fun shots in the rain that I thought captured Jennifer and Jacob's spirits perfectly.
While I would've much preferred some traditional photos of the couple, I was willing to take what the universe would give me on this day.
I don't think Jennifer and Jacob minded, either, as we visited one of the horse stalls in a barn near their tent and had silly fun trying to get the horses to participate in a photo.
After dinner, it was time to kick the party off Jennifer and Jacob did that, first, with a bit of an awkward cake cutting and then by opening their dance floor.
Of all the dance floors I had in 2025 — and I had some doozys — Jennifer and Jacob's was toward the top in terms of fun. Kids, young adults, older family members ... it didn't matter. Everyone was rocking out.
Add in some pink fuzzy boas and you've got yourself a jam.
What I really loved about Jennifer and Jacob's reception was how much they balanced time with those around them and sick ass dance moves. There was simply no chance they'd miss the conga line, for instance, and when it came time for folks to lift the groom in the air, of course the bride was right on the side doing her part.
It was the perfect cap to a perfectly imperfect day.
When I got home from Jennifer and Jacob's wedding and scrolled through the photos, I loved what I saw and I still do. But it really ate at me that we didn't have the traditional bride and groom portrait session that they deserved and so, like any good photographer, I begged these two to come back out and try again a few weeks after their wedding.
I'm soooooo glad they said yes, not only because it was great to catch up with the newlyweds after their wedding and talk about their favorite parts of it all but also because we got together on a lovely Saturday afternoon, with no time constraints and finally gave them the couples' portraits I originally envisioned in my head.
For this shoot, Jennifer and Jacob chose to meet me at the Dighton Country Diner, home of their first date and the kind of place where everyone knows who you are. Immediately when we walked in, I could sense the feeling of community in that room and the history between the newlyweds as it's a spot they regularly go to.
So, of course, we simply had to take some photos in their usual booth. It's only right, right?
The reason I wanted a re-do with Jennifer and Jacob for their bride and groom portraits was I wanted a chance to bring their spirit and relationship to life without the worries of the rain ruining our plans but, perhaps more importantly, I wanted to give Jennifer the chance to take the photos in her family's cemetery that I knew were important to her.
We did both on this day and this shoot was, without a doubt, a highlight for me in 2025.
Looking back, I don't know if I loved Jennifer and Jacob's wedding day or their post-wedding shoot more but I know, when taken together, it represents the very best of the love stories I documented in 2025.
I love working with couples who feel like "my people" and Jennifer and Jacob were certainly that ... and that's before we even include the love for Broadway musicals. That just takes them from good to great, to be honest.
So, thank you Jennifer and Jacob for an exceptional wedding that ranks very high on my all-time list. I wish you all the best on this new chapter of your lives together as husband and wife and anytime you want to get together and be weird in front of the camera again, you know how to find me. :)
-Paul J. Spetrini
