Wedding, Family, & Engagement Photography Blog

Texas Wedding: Susannah and Nick

07.19.22

Susannah and Nick’s Texas wedding at Rambling Rose Ranch was unique and fun. And absolutely perfect!

Their Love Story

“We had a romance of the times! We met on OKCupid and were a 99% match. Pretty soon after meeting, we used to joke that we should write OKCupid a ‘thank you’ letter.

Our first date was at a tapas restaurant – we closed it down, and ended up kissing under a streetlight in the snow. After all the dating and emotional drama of our 20’s, it finally felt like coming home and finding peace.”

She Said Yes!

“We decided we were each other’s person a long time ago. Despite the raging pandemic, Nick secretly flew to New Hampshire (where I am from) while I was there visiting my mother. I was under the impression that he was visiting his cousin and had no clue he was in town. He purchased a beautiful and unique ring from a family friend, and flew back to North Carolina.

Nick knows I have a Christmas heart – so he proposed on Christmas morning. It was simple, intimate, and real – just what I wanted.”

Texas Wedding

Susannah never really cared about a formal wedding. But something changed when they moved from Boston to North Carolina. They “started their wonderful, rich, and happy life there. And because of the pandemic, it became important to formally commit to one another, surrounded by their loved ones.”

Having connections in and a love for Austin, wanted When they heard about and saw photos of Rambling Rose Ranch, they knew it was the venue for them.

And now the day is finally here and it couldn’t have been more perfect!

Texas Wedding at Rambling Rose Ranch | Austin TX

How beautiful and fun is Susannah’s untraditional green Tadashi Shoji gown?

And I am kind of obsessed with Rambling Rose Ranch’s new bridal suite!! It is the absolute best place for the ladies to get ready.

Wedding Ceremony

Susannah and Nick’s wedding ceremony was made personal by having Susannah’s twin brother greeting their guests and their good friend officiating the ceremony itself. And a song was created and played by another good friend for the bride for when she walked down the aisle.

As part of the ceremony, they incorporated the Quaich ritual. “It comes from the Scottish Highlands and islands as an offering drink in wedding ceremonies. The quaich’s unique handles symbolize the trust and friendship between fellow drinkers.

It represents the cup of life, and the act of sharing is a symbol of the life you will share together.”

I love these two’s sense of humor! Nervous and excited Susannah ended up chugging and finishing the contents of the Quaich after allowing Nick to have his sip.

Formal and Couple’s Photos

Rambling Rose Ranch Reception

Susannah’s twin brother had the pleasure of introducing the newly married couple:

Wedding toasts were full of emotion. There wasn’t one dry eye in the crowd, but it was such a great mix of laughter, happy tears, and everything in between.

The bride serenaded her husband in a song in which her sister played along. Following that, both her sister and Nick’s father played and sang songs to the happy couple. Needless to say, both sides of the family are very talented musicians!

The newlyweds first dance as husband and wife:

Party time!!!

And cake-cutting:

Followed by games of ping pong and a lot more dancing!

What an amazing celebration of two beautiful souls.

Wedding Vendors:

Wedding Venue: Rambling Rose Ranch ♥ Wedding Dress: Tadashi Shoji ♥ Hair and Makeup Artist: All Dolled Up ATX ♥ Photographer: Sweet Memories Photography ♥ Floral Company: Wild Bunches ♥ Catering: Urban Cowboy ♥ Band: Prodigy Music Group ♥ Wedding Cake: Robert Mayberry

Bull Creek Park Maternity Session

07.11.22

There isn’t anything more beautiful than a pregnant woman and her changing body. Well, maybe that and this Bull Creek Park maternity session.

Small World

A few months ago, I received an email from Sarah. I remember thinking, “she has the same name as my friend in Virginia.” When she responded to my email saying she was that Sarah, I was thrilled! It’s been a long time.

Once upon a time, we worked together at Cinema Cafe. We instantly became friends and she was actually one of my first models when I started my business (10+ years ago).

Now, she and her significant other are living in Dallas and expecting their first child together. Thanks to Facebook, she had seen that I, too, had moved to Texas and reached out.

It’s crazy how when we first met, we were just teenagers. And now here she are adulting, and she’s expecting a baby girl!

Bull Creek Park Maternity Session

Sarah and Brian wanted to do their maternity session while on their babymoon. Not wanting to go too far, having always wanted to visit, and wanting photos taken by someone they were familiar with, they decided Austin was the perfect babymoon spot!

When Sarah mentioned she wanted some place with water, I knew just the location. So I recommended doing a Bull Creek Park maternity session. They loved the idea and, later, loved their photos!

On April 12th, just weeks after our session together, they welcomed baby Peyton into their world!

Want to schedule a maternity session and need help planning and prepping? Reach out and let’s talk!

Laguna Gloria Engagement Session with TJ and Shelby

07.07.22

This Laguna Gloria engagement was perfect! Not only were Shelby, TJ, and their fur-babies beautiful and fun to work with, but we couldn’t have asked for a better day. The sun was shining, it wasn’t too hot, and Laguna Gloria is always a pleasure to visit!

Shelby and TJ

These lovebirds met through a mutual friend while TJ was going to school in College Station. Shelby instantly had a crush on him. They hung out one time and unfortunately, it didn’t go anywhere. I guess it wasn’t their time … yet!

Fast forward to six years later, when she walked into her marketing class. She saw a guy who looked like “TJ College Station.” When the professor took role, she called his name. Sure enough, it was her TJ!

During a short break, Shelby was walking back from the restrooms when TJ stood up, and gave her a hug. Shelby, very coolly, said,

“You remember me, wow!” 🤣

TJ texted her that night and they made plans to grab lunch. About a month later, they were officially dating. Now, they’re engaged and planning their wedding!

Laguna Gloria Engagement

This 1916 Italian-Inspired Lakeside Villa & Gardens venue is located five miles from downtown and right on Lake Austin. With its contemporary outdoor sculptures, stunning natural landscapes, and historic ties to Texas culture, it’s the perfect spot for a proposal, engagement, wedding, or just to visit!

So it’s no wonder that Shelby and TJ were adamant about having their engagement photos taken here!

From The Couple

“I knew exactly the look and vibe I wanted for our engagement photos. A very elegant, timeless, romantic look. Nothing cheugy or basic. I was able to achieve that look with the help of TikTok and, most importantly, Naomi!

The day of our engagement shoot was so special. I had a makeup artist come to my house. Dressed and ready to go, Tj and I headed to Laguna Gloria with our puppies in tow.

Naomi arrived early to scope out the place and get us checked in. She made us feel instantly comfortable and our dogs loved her, which was very important to us.

We booked an hour shoot and it flew by. That being said, we were still able to get shots in two different looks, a variety of locations, and poses.

TJ and I made a whole date day of our engagement shoot. While in downtown Austin, we had a lunch date with Grace and Katie (our furbabies). While sitting on the patio at Perlas, we enjoyed delicious seafood and talked about how excited we were to get the photos back. The whole day was perfect.”

Christine Roberts’ Branding Session at Rambling Rose Ranch

06.28.22

I love a good branding session. Being a business owner myself, I know the importance of doing these, and keeping them updated. A branding session is not just a headshot or casual photo of you. It’s the face, the person behind your business … a reflection of who you are.

In reality, it’s someone’s first impression of you.

As a professional, you want to create connections and build relationships. The best way to do this is to be authentic, show who you are and what your business represents, and build trust.

Show the world the real person behind your business and passion!

Christine Roberts

This beautiful lady and I met in 2017. Her marketing team hired me to photograph her branding session. At the time, Christine and her family were embarking on a journey across the U.S. together and stopped in Florida for a quick session.

Christine was working hard on her passion: being a life coach and helping others live purposeful lives. And she continues to do so! She is “energized more than ever to inspire other women to change their mindset and make their personal goals a reality.”

Four years later, Christine was coming to Dallas to be a key speaker. She reached out to me to coordinate a branding session at one of my favorite venues, Rambling Rose Ranch.

Branding Session

We chose Rambling Rose Ranch for its vast variety of backdrops, privacy, and beautiful lighting. Our goals: to capture Christine’s upbeat, motivating, warm, loving, and strong personality.

It’s crazy how time flies! When she arrived onsite, Christine looked the exact same. But then her daughter opened the car door … and it felt way more than four years ago! Out popped a teenager who is learning to drive. I mean, whaaaaat?! This little girl is not little anymore!

Christine’s daughter is now a young lady and had come to support her mother in her business and branding endeavors, as well as to do a girls’ trip. So, of course, we took a few moments out to photograph this mom-daughter duo!

Ingenhuett on High Wedding in Comfort, TX

06.21.22

This Ingenhuett on High wedding is a long time coming. Like so many, AJ and Ryan kept pushing plans for their wedding due to Covid-19. But everything works out exactly as it should when it should, and they were able to have their dream wedding with all of their family and friends.

AJ and Ryan

Ryan, an ultra runner, and AJ, a dancer and engineer, love the great outdoors, playing games, watching movies, and sharing some good bourbon together.

They originally met nine years ago at a 5k race in Philly. These two dated long distance for two years before Ryan accepted a job in Austin, Texas. Two years later, they bought a home together. Shortly after, Ryan proposed to AJ while on a riverside jog during their Thanksgiving vacation in Philly/New Jersey. And, of course, AJ said, “yes!”

And although they had to plan their wedding four times over the course of 4 years … the process brought them even closer and stronger as a couple. They ended up having an intimate ceremony in New Jersey in 2021. A year later, they’re celebrating their big Ingenhuett on High wedding.

It was a blessing to have been a part of their reception and love story. These two have such big hearts and so much love they share and give, all which was reflected in their big day. It was such a joy to be able to capture all of it!!

Ingenhuett on High Wedding

Because AJ wore her wedding gown when they eloped, there was no need for a first look. So we went straight into their couples’ portraits:

Anyone else so obsessed with this venue?! Plus, how beautiful is this koi pond?!

Formal portraits:

Once upon a time, this venue was “a vital part of the town of comfort as a general store, bank, John Deere dealership, and post office. Traces of the past, such as the bank vault can still be found in the venue. It is the uniqueness of Ingenhuett that truly sets it apart from other venues.”

AJ and Ryan chose to do things a little differently. They wanted to mingle with their guests before directing everyone for a quick vow renewal. So they spent this time greeting their guests with hugs, drinks, and hors d’oeuvres.

Everyone was directed to the ceremony site where the couple’s officiant blessed them again, one year after he married them in their New Jersey elopement.

Reception Time

AJ, being a professional dancer, and Ryan wanted to surprise their guests with a tango. They succeeded in surprising everyone when AJ met Ryan on the dance floor in a fiery red dress and they rocked the tango!