Brianna & Tom *
The Barn at Blackstone National, Sutton, Massachusetts
June 20th, 2025
I'm a sucker for a good story on a wedding day and, honestly, that's one of the toughest challenges I face when I decide to second shoot for some of my photographer friends. No matter how fun the couple is, I only see them for a few hours on their wedding day and then never again. I almost never get to learn their story.
That's one of the biggest things I loved about shooting Brianna and Tom's summer wedding at the Barn at Blackstone National in Sutton, Massachusetts. Despite only being a second shooter for my good friend Jessica Hosey that day, Brianna and Tom's entire wedding was centered on their story and it's a good one: When Tom needed Brianna to be her strongest as he went to serve our country overseas, she did. And their love endured and got stronger.
And the wedding day? it was a beautiful testament to that love and a reminder that when you've found your person, they are with you regardless of where you are and I, for one, found that incredibly inspiring ... on a day full of beauty, hope, love and inspiration.
* These photos were taken as part of my work as a second photographer for Jessica Hosey Imagery
and are presented here strictly for portfolio/display purposes.
My time with Brianna and Tom started about an hour before their ceremony and I'm grateful it did as this bride and groom had a lot of fun stuff to shoot before they walked down the aisle. In addition to grabbing some basic detail shots of their beautiful venue, I was tasked with capturing some groom prep photos of Tom and his guys.
These can always be awkward for me when I'm a second shooter as I go from introducing myself to the groom to photographing him within minutes but Tom was a great sport and rolled with the punches beautifully.
Perhaps most importantly, the Barn at Blackstone National was a gorgeous spot to do some basic groom prep photos with a rustic vibe, which fit this wedding to a tee.
I was also lucky enough to capture some photos of Brianna pre-ceremony as she had a special first look with her father. I'm always thrilled when I get to meet the bride before a ceremony as a second shooter and while I didn't have a ton of tie with her before she walked down the aisle, it was nice to break the ice before she said "I do."
Breaking the ice was also the main objective I had with Tom and his guys as we took care of some of his formal photos with his side of the family and his groomsmen before the ceremony began. I have to give credit to Tom and his guys. It was WARM out and they were great to work with, barely breaking a sweat (which is more than I can say for myself on this hot and humid June afternoon.)
Tom and Brianna's wedding ceremony was outdoors on the Barn at Blackstone National's dedicated ceremony location. I've shot a couple of weddings there now and while it is a challenging spot to get around in as a lead photographer, I actually loved shooting Brianna and Tom's ceremony as a second shooter as I had more freedom to do what I wanted to creatively.
That meant shooting alternative angles of the bride walking down the aisle and, of course, getting Tom's reaction with their son as Brianna walked toward him. Talk about a sweet moment.
Because Tom and Brianna had previously eloped together prior to their June wedding itself, this ceremony was less about stress and more about celebrating their love together and I adored that for them.
Brianna and Tom's ceremony was a relaxed one but one that really meant a lot as the pair dove into the mutual sacrifices they've made over the last few difficult years and how they've come out stronger because of it.
Add in some nice, beautiful sunny weather (A true rarity this wedding season) and Tom and Brianna's ceremony was a lovely one to watch ... and an even better one to photograph.
After Tom and Brianna sealed their love with a kiss and ran off to take formal photos with Jessica, my job was to capture candid photos of their friends and family members during cocktail hour and shoot the last of the detail shots now that the reception room was finalized and ready to go.
I truly loved how Brianna and Tom chose the decor for their wedding. The Barn at Blackstone National is an exceptionally gorgeous venue for couples looking for that rustic barn vibe on their wedding day and Brianna and Tom kept the theme going with some nice, simple blue colors as well as natural centerpieces and arrangements.
I think the only time I was worried during Tom and Brianna's entire wedding day was at the start of their reception as the Barn at Blackstone National had an amazing room to hold your reception in but, it can be incredibly difficult to light if the sun doesn't cooperate.
Thankfully, Brianna and Tom began their introductions at the perfect time and we didn't have to deal with any weird sunspots or shadows on the dance floor for their first dance.
And, speaking of their first dance, it was one of my favorite moments of the entire wedding day. I love shooting reception formalities in a good barn and they don't get much better than this one.
Remember earlier when I said Tom and Brianna's love story was on full display on their wedding day? Well, it was no more front and center than following their first dance as the newlyweds had four great speeches with their closest friends/family members explaining in great detail how much their love story matters.
I love a good series of toasts at a wedding and the four Tom and Brianna had perfectly walked the line between sweet and sentimental and outright hilarious and that set the perfect tone for the rest of the night.
Following dinner, Brianna and Tom kept the rest of their reception pretty low key ... at least while I was still there.
The pair had two parent dances to open up the back half of their night and each one was special in its own way. I loved the way Tom and his mother made each other laugh during their mother-son dance but I think Brianna's dance with her father was one of the best I've seen this year as Brianna's dad "handed her off" to Tom midway through the dance, bringing a loud and well-deserved "Awwwww" sound from the crowd in attendance. Talk about a moment.
I knew heading into Brianna and Tom's wedding day that I was unlikely to still be there for the start of the open dance floor but, honestly, I didn't mind as that meant I would cap my night with Jessica and I taking a golf cart with the bride and groom to a special location on the Barn at Blackstone National property for sunset photos.
As I missed their previous bride and groom formals, I was thrilled to finally get some posed shots with Brianna and Tom and I couldn't ask for better lighting or a better backdrop.
In my previous weddings to this venue, I had never been to this particular location on the property but now? It's a must visit anytime I'm on site. Talk about a stunning golf course vibe.
My time with Brianna and Tom came to an end shortly after their sunset photos and, honestly, I can think of no better way to have capped coverage of their special day.
I love discovering new things about some of my favorite venues and I know anytime I'm shooting a wedding at the Barn at Blackstone National, I'll think of Brianna and Tom and the summer day they said 'I do," not just for the lovely location we took their formal photos but for the vibe and energy of the day as a whole.
So, thank you Brianna and Tom for allowing me to play a small part in the documentation of your wedding day. I hope it was everything you dreamed it would be and more and I wish you luck as you begin this new chapter of your lives together as husband and wife.
-Paul J. Spetrini
