The Veranda Wedding Photos
Nestled in the heart of Castle Hills lies a quaint wedding venue, chock full of historical charm. From the cute little patio to the spacious front yard filled with majestic oak trees, The Veranda is a venue with photo opportunities at every turn. Journey with me now as I share with you Daisy and Jordan’s The Veranda wedding photos in today’s blog post.
Meet Daisy and Jordan
How They Met
Let’s start today’s post with an introduction to the happy couple, Daisy and Jordan. For all of you gamers out there, this is the love story for you. Here is Daisy telling how she met Jordan. ‘We met online while playing a video game – Valorant – during the height of COVID. he thought I was a guy, and I thought he was a girl.’
‘We instantly clicked, became in-game friends, played some more together, and then began talking outside of the game. It wasn’t long until we realized both that 1) we were wrong about each other’s gender, and 2) we really liked one another. We decided to meet in person about three months after meeting, moved in together in Florida after a year, and then moved to my home state of Texas a year and a half after that. We then got married in December 2023.’
The Proposal
So how did the proposal happen? Again, Daisy retells the tale: ‘We had many marriage conversations before the official engagement and even ring-shopped together. So, our proposal moment was really just a private conversation while we were visiting his family in Kansas.’
The Veranda Wedding Photos – Mother-Daughter Moments
Daisy and Jordan’s wedding – or should we say, re-affirmation of vows since they were already officially married – took place on May 25th with a guest count of 65. I was hired for four of photography.
My first task of the day was to take getting ready moments between Daisy and her mother in the bridal suite. Unlike many hidden closets that normally serve as bridal suites, the bridal suite at The Veranda is a cozy space with lots of light. Mirrors along the main wall offer great photo opportunities. Note, however that there is a lot of furniture in the room and the light overhead is quite low hanging. The space is tight, but if you open the door and shoot from the hallway in, you will have plenty of room. Other than size constraint, the suite is a great space for small group portraits.
The Veranda Wedding Photos – First Look with Dad
After the getting ready photos between Daisy and her mother, it was time to bring dad into the picture. We staged his first look indoors so that no one had to start sweating before the ceremony. Daisy was on the stairs, and her father was brought into the main vestibule area. We had him turned around and on the count of three he saw her bathed in beautiful sunlight. It was a truly magical moment.
First Look Practical Joke
Daisy wisely chose to get all of her portraits out of the way before the ceremony. So, after her first look with her father, it was time for her first look with her groom. But first she decided to play a bit of a practical joke. One of the couple’s best friends decided to make the ceremony extra special by jumping into a dress and stealing a bit of Daisy‘s thunder for her first look. In this photo we get to see Jordan‘s first reaction. Isn’t she lovely?
And this is Jordan‘s reaction when he gets to see the real Daisy in her wedding dress.
The Veranda Wedding Photos – Bride and Groom Portraits
Despite the humidity, we soldiered on and continued to take photos of the bride and groom outdoors. I switched it up between photos inside the house and the outside gardens. But being forced indoors is not a problem at all at The Veranda.
The inside spaces at The Veranda offer many photo options if inclement weather is in the cards. There is a beautiful fireplace for family portraits. There are also lots of windows and French doors bringing in plenty of light.
The stairwell just outside the bridal suite, however, is the true architectural gem of the building. The light streaming through the windows is beautiful. I used this space for portraits of the bride, with the parents, the bridal party, and of course, the bride and groom.
Reception Details
The newest addition to The Veranda is the reception space, located just off the patio. It is more of a warehouse space, but it can decorated to any client’s tastes. Here are some details of what it looked like all dolled up for Daisy and Jordan’s reception. Dinner was served buffet style, and the menu focused on Mexican specialties. I took some of the tasty treats home and I can vouch that the food at the veranda is delicious.
Ceremony
The ceremony was held outdoors at the side of the house. Daisy and Jordan chose to have guests face the house with a view of the vines creeping up the exterior. This is in keeping with the botanical theme of their wedding.
In terms of lighting, there are pros and cons to the choice of where you have your guests seated during an afternoon ceremony. For Daisy and Jordan‘s wedding on May 25th at 6 PM, the sun was setting at 8:25 PM. This meant, unfortunately, that guests would be facing direct sun during the ceremony. However, the roof fully covered the bride and groom in consistent shade. Speaking as the photographer, this is the ideal situation.
In comparison, if the bride and groom had been at the other end of the yard, the guests definitely would have been more comfortable. Conversely, the bride and groom would have been in dappled, direct sunlight. This means the bride and groom’s photos would have harsh highlights and inconsistent lighting throughout. This scenario is a nightmare to photograph.
My sympathies with the guests because they were no doubt extremely hot during the ceremony. If The Veranda is going to be your wedding venue in late summer, that I might recommend handing out fans as Daisy and Jiordan did for their guests.
The Reception
After a cocktail hour on the patio, guests enjoyed themselves at the reception. The space has windows on nearly all sides. Daisy and Jordan had made sure to decorate even the rafters with vines to continue the botanical theming. While the ceilings are high, and the centerpieces were low, the space felt totally filled with warmth.
About The Veranda
If the venue looks like a converted house, then you would be correct. The space is actually the former home of oil baron Chester Slimp and his wife Helen, a prominent local artist. The home was built in 1931, and was designed by architect Ralph Cameron. Cameron was also the architect of the Emily Morgan Hotel in downtown San Antonio. This home was nicknamed the ‘castle on the hill,’ and is actually the home for which the Castle Hill neighborhood is named.
Enjoy the images, and I’ll have more photo adventures for you next week!
Vendors
- Venue: The Veranda
- Catering: Spice of Life
- Florist: Rose of Sharon Flowers
- Cake/dessert: The Cake Shop
- Bride’s dress: I Do the Dress I Do (dress), A Cherie Couture (alterations)
- Bride’s hair stylist: Mistique Makeup
- Groom’s attire: Men’s Warehouse
- Bridal party attire: Azazie
- Rings: Zales
- Special jewelry: Ayselia Jewelry
- DJ: Four Star Entertainment
- Officiant: Rev. Jesse Ferraro, Texas Wedding Ministers
- Event Coordinator: Wedding Whisperer
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If you find this article on ‘The Veranda Wedding Photos’ useful, then check out these articles:
- A Beautiful Boerne Backyard Wedding
- How to Select the Perfect Wedding Venue
- How to Get a Marriage License in San Antonio
Looking to say ‘I do’ in San Antonio? Drop me a line and let’s chat about how I can help you. I have hourly rates, and all photo shoots include editing and high-resolution files.
To view more images from my wedding photography portfolio, please visit my website – KellyWilliamsPhotographer.com
