Wedding, Family, & Engagement Photography Blog

Mansion at Colovista Wedding

12.27.23

After two years of planning, Aylene and Brian finally celebrated their Mansion at Colovista wedding in Bastrop, Texas. And it was well worth the wait!

A+B

Aylene and Brian were set up by co-workers. And, no, their co-workers don’t co-work with one another. Aylene’s co-worker was dating Brian’s and they decided that Aylene and Brian just had to meet. They were right.

The couple hit it off right away, as if they were two connecting pieces of a puzzle.

So when the time came, Brian knew that no regular ring was going to right for Aylene. He had one custom designed for her.

The day he picked it up from the jeweler, he was so excited. So excited that he couldn’t wait to show it to her. He asked Aylene if she wanted to see it. It was an obvious, “of course!” … and she hasn’t taken it off since.

Mansion at Colovista Wedding

You may remember this engagement session from early 2021: Aylene and Brian’s Shiraz Garden Engagement Session. If not, I suggest clicking on the link to hear about how we first met and a little more details on Aylene and Brian’s love story.

After a few bumps along the wedding planning way, they secured their dream venue: the Mansion at Colovista. Once this was set, it was all smooth sailing!

On June 24th, 2023, the two were ready to say their vows and spend the rest of their forever together.

Mansion at Colovista Wedding | Bastrop Photographer

I am absolutely obsessed with the huge bridal suite at the Mansion at Colovista. It is a bride’s dream with tons of natural light, two separate rooms with a bathroom across the hall, and a plethora of mirrors.

A sweet moment between Aylene and her daughter:

After all the emotional moments, a shot was necessary!

Meanwhile, upstairs, Brian, his son, and their dog, Kratos, are getting ready:

Aylene had the sweetest surprise waiting for Brian …

Charms with his parents’ photos to keep close to his heart.

First Touch

The pair wanted to have an intimate moment with just the two of them.

Summer Ceremony

On a sweltering 98 degree day, Aylene and Brian said their “I do’s.” Because of the heat and their ceremony being outdoors, they provided fans for their guests and made the ceremony itself a quick 15 minutes. But who can blame them for wanting to have their ceremony here? Have you seen those views?!

The Sienna String Quartet provided beautiful music as their guests made their way to their seats.

Who’s that handsome man??

Oh, hey! That’s MY husband!

Fun fact: my husband used to be a pastor in his “past life.” So, he is, in fact, legally ordained. He is also one of Brian’s close friends so it was extra special that he got to officiate their wedding, while I photographed it!

Per the request of the bride, we lined up all of their family and friends into the shape of a heart:

Although the Mansion has such beautiful views of Bastrop, my favorite spot was right by this tree:

Heading up to the 18th hole …

Having a little fun with Aylene’s train:

Who says that the girl is the only one who gets the twirl? I think it’s only fair that Brian got a spin in, too!

It’s Party Time!

Because, these two are messy eaters LOL!

A sweet first dance:

Followed by the father-daughter dance …

And Brian’s own personal father-daughter dance.

After toasts were done, this group was ready to party!

And what’s an ending to an epic day without sparklers, followed by a golf cart exit?!

A beautiful wedding for some of my favorite people. Congratulations to Aylene and Brian on their wedding and future adventures together.

Wedding Vendors

Ceremony Venue: Mansion at Colovista ♥ Reception Venue: Mansion at Colovista ♥ Wedding Dress Boutique: The Bridal Rail ♥ Groom’s Suit: Indochino ♥ Hair and Makeup: Turquoise Salon ♥ Ceremony Music: The Sienna String Quartet ♥ Photographer: Sweet Memories Photography ♥ Florals: Brenda Abbott ♥ Catering: Bryan’s Catering ♥ Cake: Cakes Rock! ♥ DJ: Abel Gonzalez

Family Photo Shoot in Austin

10.31.23

This family photo shoot in Austin was so much fun! I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Sarah and Brandon, and their fur-baby, Groot!

Meet the Fam

Sarah and Brandon have been married for ten years. They had an intimate ceremony that required them to hike to a waterfall in their wedding gear. If you know me, I’m a big supporter of a good adventure elopement (a personal blog post will happen soon with details of our own ceremony), so we instantly clicked.

In 2015, about two years after they got married, their family grew. Sarah surprised Brandon with the greatest gift: Groot. Although, he was not the 230-pound hunk of love that he is now.

Anniversary

For their 10-year anniversary, Brandon wanted to give Sarah something special. One thing that she had been wanting was a photoshoot. She was “less than thrilled” with their elopement photos and they hadn’t had professional photos taken since. Brandon told Sarah to find a photographer and that he would, despite hating having his picture taken, participate in a family photo shoot in Austin.

Lucky for me, Sarah found me on Google and we started planning her family session. And when she mentioned bringing Groot and warned me of his weight, my response was literally,

“YES, PLEASE!!!!! The bigger the dog, the better!”

Family Photo Shoot in Austin

It was a hot day. Summer in Austin, Texas is no joke. But this family were troopers. And they came prepared: Groot had on a special cooling vest and we all brought treats, water, and a water bowl for him.

Of course, none of us even thought to bring any of that for us 🤣 #truedoglovers

Despite the heat, it was a beautiful and fun session. Brandon and Sarah were so go-with-the-flow and Groot did Groot … just was his sweet and chill self.

family photo shoot in Austin | Texas photographer

Despite being prepared, it still got to be too much for Groot. So Sarah and Brandon turned on their car and A/C and let him chill in the cool car while we finished our session together:

family photo shoot in Austin | Texas photographerfamily photo shoot in Austin | Texas photographer

Happy 10-year anniversary to this couple! And thank you so much for letting me play and love on Groot!!!

San Francisco Destination Wedding: Shelby and TJ

10.25.23

This San Francisco destination wedding was a dream! You may remember Shelby and TJ from their engagement session in 2022. Well, now they’re ready to tie the knot in sunny California!

Wedding Planning

Shelby had a vision for her wedding and nothing in Austin quite captured the aesthetic of what she envisioned. They researched online, called some venues, and even did walk-throughs, but nothing felt “right.”

But when this bride-to-be stumbled upon San Francisco City Hall on Instagram, it was everything she pictured, and so much more! So this Austin couple got to work on planning their dream destination wedding.

The Big Day

After almost a year of planning, Shelby and TJ’s wedding day is finally here!

San Francisco Destination Wedding | Photographer

And Shelby’s bridal suite was absolute perfection. Not only was it spacious and beautiful, but that view is everything!!

The most calm bride ever:

I love the sweet little moments between Shelby and her mother.

TJ’s mom popped in to get ready with the ladies:

The bride and groom really wanted to enjoy the celebration with their guests and utilize all the photo opportunities, so they opted to include a first look on their wedding day at the Fairmont.

Shelby also wanted as much color and greenery as possible in her photos. Luckily, the Fairmont has the most beautiful and lush rooftop garden:

San Francisco Destination Wedding | PhotographerSan Francisco Destination Wedding | Photographer

Going to San Francisco City Hall

Shelby and TJ rented transportation for their wedding party and their guests. This made it super convenient for everyone to enjoy themselves without the stress of driving in the city, finding parking, and avoiding drinking and driving!

Once we arrived, we had some time for more photos. Just look at the elegant architecture! This is a photographer’s dream!

To say I’m obsessed would be an understatement…

As guests started to arrive, that was our cue to get set up for ceremony.

Last minute change: instead of going down the aisle, Shelby and TJ made a grand entrance down the steps of city hall!

They are officially married, y’all (we may be in California but you can’t take the Texas out of us🤣)!

The ceremony was followed by family formals:

And then the couple’s first dance as husband and wife:

Then, of course, more photos:

Time to Eat!

The newlyweds and their crew headed out on their shuttle to the Waterfront Restaurant. And the shuttle was a blast! Everyone was in celebration mode!

At the restaurant, they enjoyed some good food, great conversations, fun and sweet toasts, and cake-cutting.

After dinner, Shelby and TJ surprised their guests by taking them to the Presidio of San Francisco…

To get a view of the Golden Gate Bridge and some photo opportunities.

Then we ended at the Top of the Mark for their after-party, but not before another chance to take photos in the streets of San Francisco. The one below is one of my favorites. Not only is it cute, but you can even spot a trolley in the background (to the right of Shelby)!

At Top of the Mark, the newlyweds enjoyed drinks, some dancing, and wedding gifts:

Originally, these two wanted photos on the beach, with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge. However, they were exhausted, it was super windy (hello, mouthful of sand), and didn’t want to stray far from their hotel. So instead, we went back to their hotel for some final couple’s photos before ending my night with them.

TJ is a romantic and even picked a flower for his bride:

I absolutely adore the hotel series below:

Congratulations to this amazing couple. I so enjoyed spending the day with you two and capturing all of your beautiful moments! And maybe we can even do a little trip back to San Francisco one day …. 😉

San Francisco Destination Wedding Team

Getting Ready Location: Fairmont Hotel ♥ Ceremony Venue: San Francisco City Hall ♥ Reception Venue: The Waterfront Restaurant ♥ After-Party Venue: Top of the Mark ♥ Wedding Planner: Magnetic Magnificent Events ♥ Wedding Dress Boutique: a&bé Bridal Shop ♥ Wedding Gown Designer: Alyssa Kristin ♥ Hair and Makeup: House of Glam ♥ Photographer: Sweet Memories Photography ♥ Florals: Love These Flowers ♥ Catering: The Waterfront Restaurant ♥ Cake: Susie Cakes Bakery

Dripping Springs Wedding: Meredith and Charlie

10.16.23

Meredith and Charlie’s Dripping Springs wedding was one for the books. It was the perfect representation of the couple themselves, as well as their love for one another.

About the Couple

These two met in high school at the age of sixteen. Charlie was in a band with one of Meredith’s friends. It was when Meredith and some of her friends went to see the band perform that the two started talking. About a year later, the two became official!

Fast forward a few years, Charlie and Meredith were on vacation at Big Bend. During sunset, they took a walk through some beautiful gardens. As they were walking and talking, Charlie asked her to marry him.

Meredith says, “I knew it was coming, or at least I was hoping it was. I could see the ring box in his pocket and he kept nervously touching it, making sure it was still there.”

Now, these Taurus’s who love playing Nintendo Switch, going thrifting, and watching “Masterchef” are ready to tie the knot at their Dripping Springs wedding!

The Big Day

Meredith and Charlie’s big day all took place at Rambling Rose Ranch.

Dripping Springs wedding at Rambling Rose Ranch | Austin and Drippings Springs Wedding Photographer

The bride’s dress was missing a little UMPH when she put it on. She couldn’t quite figure out what was missing or what needed fixing. That is, until she accidentally tried on the dress backwards. She realized she loved the plunging neckline.

So her girls came to her rescue and got to work. With just a little snip here and a little snip there, they were able to make it into a gown that Meredith felt beautiful in!

Meredith could barely hide her excitement before the first look. So much so that she practically sprinted and jumped on Charlie!

The below photo is one of my favorites. It’s when Meredith tells and shows Charlie her modified dress:

Wedding Ceremony

A beautiful, but short ceremony and the two are married!

One of my favorite things about Rambling Rose Ranch are the animals onsite. Like myself, Meredith and Charlie are huge animal lovers. So we went to the back of the venue where the animals are and captured some moments interacting with them.

The horse loved Meredith so much …

That he started to nibble on her gown 😂

And the goat was not shy at all, willing to be in any and all of the photos!

Just having these moments with the newlyweds was my favorite part of the day! They were so easygoing and were fun to photograph!

Rambling Rose Ranch Reception

The boys had worked hard to set up the reception area. And I think they did such an amazing job, with the help of their planner, Jesse!

My favorite dessert bar ever! Not only was it filled with yummy desserts, but it was SO Meredith and Charlie! Not only did it have churros, brownies, cake pops, and cupcakes, but, most importantly, it had a colorful alien cake and cat napkins!!!

Sound Sight Tarot also made an appearance at their Dripping Springs wedding to give readings to the couple and their guests:

Then Meredith’s Dad gave a toast:

Followed by Charlie’s dad:

And ending with the couple’s siblings:

Before kicking off the party, Meredith and Charlie shared their first dance.

Then they invited their parents on the dance floor for the father-daughter, mother-son dance:

By that time, everyone was ready to get their party on!

Congratulations to the most fun couple on their marriage! May your lives be blessed with all the love and fun adventures!!

Dripping Springs Wedding Vendor Team:

Ceremony and Reception Venue: Rambling Rose Ranch ♥ Wedding Planner: Fresh Capsules ♥ Hair and Makeup: Blush ‘n Bangs ♥ Photographer: Sweet Memories Photography ♥ Catering: Tacoman 512 ♥ Cake: Cake Llama

Vishakha and Jay’s Engagement Session | ATX Photographer

10.09.23

As an ATX photographer, I have the pleasure of meeting some of the sweetest couples, like Vishakha and Jay who just got engaged!

Covid-19 Perks

I know, it’s like he-who-shall-not-be-named, but with an “it” instead of a “he.” Although Covid-19 hit us really hard in all aspects of life, it also had some positive impacts.

For example: Like a lot of couples, these two met amidst Covid-19. Initially, they started talking online, but after a few conversations, they decided to meet in person.

At a local coffee shop, Vishakha and Jay couldn’t stop talking. It was an immediate connection and they both knew they had found “the one.”

Within a few months, Jay proposed to Vishakha and, of course, she said “YES!”

ATX Photographer

Vishakha found me through “Brides of Austin” (now “Wed Society.”) She was so excited about her upcoming wedding and was on a time crunch. Their Austin engagement party was just around the corner, with their Indian wedding just a few months after that.

So we got to planning their session at Brushy Creek Lake Park. This location is one of my favorites for many reasons:

The golden light here is gorgeous! And can be manipulated to either be diffused using the trees or straight on for more of a “bright and airy” look.
Even if it’s not sunny, it’s a beautiful park. Overcast, it still looks amazing, and sometimes I even prefer it this way for its even lighting!
It’s such a large park, which means, even though it’s popular amongst us photographers, there’s so much land and space that we aren’t bumping into each other and getting into each other’s spaces or shots.
There is a wide range of backdrops: bridges, meadows, trees, playgrounds, lake, etc. And the plants and foliage vary depending on the season. This location is a major attraction during bluebonnet and wildflower seasons. But, as you can see below, these lovely purple flowers (called Anise Hyssop and no, I didn’t know that until I Googled it 😂) and Black-Eyed Susans (the yellow ones) are in full bloom in late May.

Engagement Session

After meeting this couple, I simply adore them. I mean, how could I not?! Not only are they as sweet as can be, but they are such a good balance for each other. Vishakha is bubbly and outgoing. Jay is a bit more reserved and more analytical. And their love for one another is just an honor to witness.