zz Skylar & Cyrus: A Modern Wedding with Bold Color

In the era of Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok, there is a never-ending stream of wedding inspiration for engaged couples to sift through. There are literally thousands upon thousands of wedding ideas out there, from a modern wedding design to a boho, rustic, or classic one. Although all of these styles are extraordinarily beautiful, we’ve seen how the infinite possibilities can lead to decision fatigue and make wedding planning harder. That’s why we encourage you to lean into your own personal style, even if it breaks the mold. We here at The Bird & The Bear have been an Austin wedding photography and videography team for years, and we love seeing our couples’ unique styles and tastes, especially when they think outside the box! So let us be the first to embolden you and give you the reassurance you may need to do things your way at your wedding, even if it differs from the weddings you see on social media.

One of our beautiful couples, Skylar and Cyrus, achieved this with their modern wedding. They leaned into their personal affinity for bold colors and contemporary flair, mixing it up with their attire, timeline, and even their wedding date! We found through working with them that these fun details definitely align with their lighthearted and excitable personalities. The joy they felt throughout their modern wedding lit them up from within, making for radiant photos that are as vibrant as they are.

After viewing their modern wedding film and gallery in this post, we hope you’ll be inspired to also design a wedding that feels true to who you are. No matter what your personal wedding style is, we’re here to support you and capture every beautiful moment.

Austin Wedding Details

Skylar and Cyrus’ modern wedding took place at Austin’s South Congress Hotel, a boutique hotel set in the heart of downtown. We started the day shooting the laidback fun that Skylar and her attendants had while getting ready. As LUX Beauty & Bridal did Skylar’s hair and makeup, we captured detail shots of the couple’s aqua and blush invitation suite, surrounded by effervescent floral in fuchsia, tangerine, orchid, and peach. These details set the stage for this modern wedding day, as these hues were woven throughout their wedding design.

During this time, we also photographed Skylar in her sleek, cowl-necked wedding gown. Clean and crisp, her gown had spaghetti straps and buttons all down the back with the satin fabric pooling at her heels.

When her bridal look was complete, we did a first look with Skylar and her dad. In this special moment, Skylar’s dad greeted her with a smile and open arms. After a moment, his eyes pricked with tears, emotion breaking through.

Pre-Ceremony Happy Hour

When Skylar and Cyrus’ guests arrived to their modern wedding, a pre-ceremony happy hour began at the lobby bar. This was everyone’s first sign that Skylar and Cyrus were doing things differently for their big day! Friends and family got the chance to mix and mingle while enjoying light bites and drinks, provided by the hotel’s catering team. The happy couple themselves even joined in on the fun!

This didn’t mean that Skylar showed off her bridal look just yet though! For these welcome drinks, Skylar changed into a strapless white cocktail dress that had cascading tiers of ruffles. It exuded bridal vibes, but also a feeling of fun and carefreeness, which made it perfect for this happy hour.

Modern Wedding Ceremony at South Congress Hotel

Guests then transitioned into the hotel’s Event Space for Skylar and Cyrus’ modern wedding ceremony. There, they found a white, stone fireplace mantel from Loot Rentals set against a white brick wall. Bricolage Curated Florals set a lush floral arrangement on top of the mantel, bursting with fuchsia, magenta, orange, and blush blooms interspersed with wild natural greenery. A smaller version of this arrangement lay inside the mantel. Soft candlelight lit up this entire display, as the floral team scattered various hurricane candles across the altar, some on top of the mantel and some on wooden crates on the ground. They finished off the ceremony design with a bright red, tribal rug.

The emotions that shone through during this modern wedding ceremony were as raw and pure as it gets. Skylar was already tearing up as her father walked her down the aisle with heavenly harp music by Austin’s Harpist filling the air. It was also plain to see that Cyrus couldn’t believe his luck that he got to marry the love of his life. One of their good friends officiated the ceremony and had the privilege of pronouncing Skylar and Cyrus as husband and wife on that gorgeous, colorful day.

An Outdoor, Modern Wedding Reception

When the ceremony concluded, Skylar and Cyrus’ wedding planners, Heavenly Day Events, facilitated the chair flip. This meant that their team moved all the chairs from the ceremony to reuse them in the reception space. They also repurposed the ceremony candles and floral while guests snapped pictures at the Polaroid station and simply enjoyed each other’s company. The Heavenly Day team managed the chair flip feat in no time and that’s when they invited guests to sit down to dinner.

Held in the hotel’s outdoor Courtyard, this modern wedding reception featured long king’s tables, set with white linens and dusty blue gauze table runners. Bud vases with colorful floral stems lined the center of each table and acrylic painted table numbers showed guests where to sit. This couple also arranged a kids’ table with seagrass cushions and fun activities and games.

Skylar and Cyrus’ sweetheart table overlooked it all! It was a black pedestal table with a stormy blue runner and larger than life flowers in various shades of pink and orange. Two gold-lined accent chairs sat behind the table and a patterned rug lay at its feet.

A blue neon sign bearing the newlyweds’ initials greeted everyone upon arrival and a corresponding neon sign displayed their wedding hashtag, “#KeepSkyrusWeird.” After a wonderful dinner by the hotel, their team brought out a surprise dessert for Cyrus because it was not only his wedding day, but also his birthday! Everyone sang “Happy Birthday” to him as he blew out his candles, making this day that much more special.

Dart Collective then started the party back in the main Event Space, where Altared Weddings strung Edison bulb light strands across the ceiling. White paper lanterns also hung down over everyone’s heads, creating a dreamy atmosphere, accentuated by the bold pink uplights around the room. It was here that Skylar and Cyrus shared their first dance to “Time In A Bottle” by Jim Croce and where Skylar did a bouquet toss with a special bouquet made of lettuce leaves, another example of this bride’s creativity!

Skylar, Cyrus, and all their friends and family members made amazing memories on this modern wedding day, and we feel grateful and honored to have been a part of all the fun!

Cheers and congratulations to you, Skylar and Cyrus! Thank you for inviting us to be your Austin wedding photographer and videographer for your incredible modern wedding. It was our pleasure to get to know you and partake in all the fun! We wish you a lifetime of happiness and good fortune!

Let’s Capture Your Big Day!

The Bird & The Bear is a boutique, award-winning studio that offers both Austin wedding photography and videography! We are a one-stop full-service studio that loves to create beautiful photos and films of our couples – all with our signature, playful style.

We would love to capture all the candid, intimate, and fun moments of your special day, just as we did for Skylar and Cyrus. If you’re ready to check off both photo and video from your to-do list, reach out today and let’s make it happen!

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zz Kelly & Connor: A Timeless, Dusty Blue Wedding at Villa Antonia

Here at The Bird & The Bear, we strive to strike the perfect balance between photographing the highlights of your wedding while also capturing every authentic emotion and special, candid moment in between. We have been a top Austin wedding photographer and videographer for years and we know that your wedding isn’t one long photo shoot. It’s an unabashed and unfiltered celebration of your love and the journey you took to get to the altar. That’s why we always aim to make the day revolve around you and your loved ones, not around the photos and video. We’re simply there to document all the love and beauty of the day!

This is exactly what we did for the beautiful, dusty blue wedding of Kelly and Connor at Villa Antonia. We had the great pleasure of photographing this special couple, from their engagement session all the way until they said “I do.” We view our couples as our friends, and with Kelly and Connor’s easygoing, upbeat personalities, it wasn’t hard to do!

We’re thrilled to share our favorite moments and images of their love story with you! In this post, you’ll discover the wonder of Villa Antonia, the timeless design details you can incorporate into your own wedding, and the beauty of Kelly and Connor’s love, forever captured in their wedding film and photos.

Special Moments Before the Wedding

We had a blast getting to know Kelly and Connor in the months leading up to the wedding and it only made us more excited for their dusty blue wedding day! When the big day finally arrived, the air was filled with tangible anticipation. We kicked off the day by capturing getting ready shots with Kelly and her 10 bridesmaids, all dressed in matching pajamas with feather trim. We then captured shots of Kelly and Connor’s gorgeous dusty blue wedding details, including their custom invitation suite and ring box.

On this dusty blue wedding day, Kelly’s mom helped her slip into a strapless white gown with a trumpet-style skirt. It was clean, sleek, and effortlessly elegant, just like her! We know that many mothers dream of helping their daughters get ready for their wedding, so we always intentionally build this moment into the photo and film timeline.

After Kelly was all dolled up, we did a first look with her bridesmaids. This is definitely one photo trend that we can get behind because it’s a chance to have a special moment with your closest friends. Plus, it never fails to produce the best authentic reactions!

Kelly also held a first look with her dad. Clutching her white bridal bouquet provided by Embellished Event Floral, she smiled brightly as her dad turned around and saw his little girl as a bride for the first time. It’s safe to say we were all holding back tears!

Getting Married at Villa Antonia

Kelly and Connor’s dusty blue wedding ceremony took place on Villa Antonia’s grand outdoor terrace. It overlooks the entire hill country, creating a breathtaking backdrop. Blue and white floral arrangements in gold fluted vases lined the aisle and similar arrangements topped two ivory stone pillars that framed the altar.

While the ceremony site couldn’t have been more beautiful, Connor only had eyes for Kelly when she walked down the aisle. Escorted by her dad, she was a vision with her cascading blonde waves and the colorful floral scarf wrapped around the stems of her bouquet. Including sentimental details, like Kelly’s scarf, in your wedding is a wonderful way to hold the loved ones who couldn’t be there close.

Kelly and Connor became husband and wife under the vast Texas sky that evening. When officiant Scott Davis pronounced them officially married, cheers pierced the air. They did it!

Wedding Photos at Villa Antonia

At the outdoor cocktail hour, the team at Drink Slingers served guests the newlyweds’ custom cocktails: spicy margaritas and ranch water. During this time, we shot family combinations, wedding party pictures, and newlywed portraits. We love making the most of all the natural scenery Villa Antonia has to offer, so we captured photos at the ceremony site with the hills in the background and on nearby stone terraces with the Italian architecture as a backdrop, among many others.

A Dusty Blue Wedding Reception

Kelly and Connor’s dusty blue wedding reception actually started before heading into the main reception space. It began with their first dance in the adjacent outdoor courtyard under the soft glow from the twinkle lights strung overhead. Surrounded by the Mediterranean-style architecture and the smiling faces of their friends and family, the new Mr. and Mrs. swayed in each other’s arms, drinking in the moment.

The father/daughter and mother/son dances followed suit and then, it was time to start the party! Kelly and Connor’s wedding planner and coordinator, Norma with Embellished Event Planning, ushered everyone into this dusty blue wedding reception space. There, they found guest tables dressed in white linens, soft aqua napkins, and blue and white floral centerpieces. A natural greenery garland ran down the center of the 35 person head table, interspersed with floating candles and floral arrangements perched atop open, gold frames. Kelly and Connor’s half-moon sweetheart table overlooked it all with blue and white floral, aglow with candlelight.

Courtney’s Catering served a delicious buffet dinner that was perfectly complemented by Whisk & Twirl’s wedding cake for dessert. Kelly and Connor chose a 4-tier blue and white cake, accented by fresh floral buds.

Afterwards, Texas Capital DJ got everyone on the dance floor for one epic party! Everyone donned sparkly cowboy hats and waved glow sticks in the air, dancing and jumping to express their excitement of the day.

When the festivities reluctantly wound down, the newlyweds shared one last private dance before taking the final walk at their wedding through their loved ones holding sparklers. After sharing one last dip kiss, they hopped into their getaway car provided by MS Luxury VIP Transportation and drove into the next chapter of their lives together.

Congratulations Kelly and Connor! Your dusty blue wedding at Villa Antonia was downright gorgeous, but nothing was more beautiful than witnessing your love for one another. We enjoyed getting to know you both immensely and wish you all the love and joy in the world!

Let’s Work Together!

We would love to capture all the candid, intimate, and fun moments of your special day, just as we did for Kelly and Connor. If you’re ready to check off both photo and video from your to-do list, reach out today and let’s make it happen!

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tt Jordan & Garrett: A Garden-Inspired Spring Wedding at The Arlo

As a top Austin wedding photography and videography team, we have found that the most emotional and meaningful weddings are the ones that master the art of storytelling. A wedding isn’t just a pretty party or a milestone to check off a list. It’s a beautiful depiction of your love story and a chance to celebrate every part of it. When every detail of the wedding reflects your journey and personalities, it not only creates visual appeal for your guests, but it makes the day truly and uniquely yours.

Jordan and Garrett’s spring wedding at The Arlo perfectly exemplifies this, as they infused significant personal details throughout their big day. From their music choices to their garden-inspired color palette to the way they included their family throughout the day, every element reflected Jordan and Garrett’s personal tastes and shared values. The result was a bright and joyous spring wedding day, where everyone – including us! – couldn’t help but smile from start to finish.

This spring wedding at The Arlo serves as major inspiration for a botanical garden wedding or a hill country wedding! It also illustrates unique and creative ways to put your personal stamp on your wedding to show your guests that you’ve truly thought of everything.

We invite you to relive Jordan and Garrett’s spring wedding with us in the hope that you leave more inspired than before!

Spring Wedding Design Details

What’s a spring wedding without an abundance of florals? Jordan and Garrett wanted to create a lush, garden feel for their wedding at The Arlo, so they worked with their wedding planner, Uptown Events, and wedding florist, Wild Bunches Floral, to plan a multitude of vibrant, organic florals. Their color palette consisted of magenta, blush, peach, ivory, and pops of orange.

Their ceremony took place inside The Arlo’s Storie Hall, where gold, geometric frames stood at the altar, accented by blooming floral sprays. Two twin pillars with colorful floral arrangements framed the top of the aisle and ivory rose petals lined either side of it. As an Austin wedding photographer and videographer, of course we love natural light and Storie Hall allows for plenty of it! The altar features a picture window with similar windows surrounding the entire room. It doesn’t get any better than that!

Jordan and Garrett held their reception in The Arlo’s main ballroom, where both round and rectangular tables draped in ivory linens awaited guests. Every table featured pink and ivory floral arrangements interspersed with floating candles. A gold fluted charger sat at each place setting with a dusty blue taffeta napkin tucked underneath it.

The newlyweds’ sweetheart table stole the show though! Uptown Events and Wild Bunches repurposed the ceremony floral to decorate this focal table, creating a picture-perfect spot for the new Mr. and Mrs.

Getting Ready to Say “I Do”

On the morning of their spring wedding, Jordan and Garrett enjoyed time with their wedding party respectively in The Arlo’s bride and groom suites. Mistique Makeup helped get the ladies all dolled up before slipping into their gowns and when it was time, Jordan donned a white Allure wedding gown with crystal beading cascading down from the bodice. It had beaded spaghetti straps that criss-crossed in the back and a long, flowing train that twirled oh-so-perfectly throughout the day!

Garrett looked just as good in his navy blue suit and white tie, which he accented with his Texas Tech pin and class ring. When they were both ready, they started the day’s festivities with a first touch and vow exchange. We love that they stayed true to who they are by keeping this moment private and sacred. As they stood back-to-back reading their vows to each other, they both shed some tears and shared bright, excited smiles.

After some bridal portraits on The Arlo’s manicured lawn, Jordan did a first look with her dad and then her Grannie. We may have shed some tears of our own during Jordan’s moment with her grandmother! We wish we could bottle the unbridled and authentic joy that radiated from them in this moment. Family is so important to Jordan and Garrett, and holding these first looks was a truly special way to show them how much they care for them.

A Spring Wedding Ceremony at The Arlo

At last, the time came for Jordan and Garrett to tie the knot! When the first notes of “Here Comes the Sun” floated through the air in Storie Hall, the processional began. Both Jordan and Garrett’s grandparents and parents walked down the aisle followed by the 16 members of their wedding party. The 7 bridesmaids and bridesman each wore a different shade of blue, which beautifully complemented the 7 groomsmens’ and groomslady’s navy blue attire.

When Jordan entered the ceremony on her father’s arm, her smile lit up the entire room and was only matched by Garrett’s equally brilliant smile. You could tangibly feel the love and happiness in the room!

After a heartfelt and emotional ceremony, Pastor Tim Anderson declared them husband and wife! Jordan kissed her new husband for the first time and then they both threw their hands in the air: They did it!

Cocktail Hour at The Arlo

The Arlo’s back lawn is ideal for a spring wedding cocktail hour! There, highboys dressed in pink linens stood in front of The Arlo’s outdoor fireplace and the welcome table featured gold-framed photos of Jordan and Garrett as well as a very unique guest book alternative. In addition to a sign-in guest book, the newlyweds displayed a custom Houston Astros jersey with their last name on the back! They invited their loved ones to sign their jersey in a creative tribute to this couple’s love of baseball. Little Astros pins even scattered the table!

During this spring wedding cocktail hour, PEJ Events served brisket barbacoa tostadas and tequila lime shrimp shooters while guests sipped on specialty cocktails named after Jordan and Garrett’s two dogs. “The Daisy” consisted of vodka with grapefruit and lime flavor notes while “The Raider” featured whiskey and lime. Jordan and Garrett even had custom cocktail napkins that read “all because two people swiped right” in gold, sparkling letters in an elegant tribute to how the two met.

After capturing family formals and couple portraits post-ceremony, Jordan and Garrett enjoyed a private moment in the bridal suite, where they indulged in their appetizers together and soaked in the fact that they were married. We highly recommend building private moments into the timeline like this! With all the festivities of the wedding day, taking time to slow down and celebrate with each other is never something our couples regret.

A Spring Wedding Reception at The Arlo

Then it was time to start the party! Jordan and Garrett’s DJ from Premier Entertainment invited everyone into the reception and the team at Uptown Events helped guests find their seats with the newlyweds’ iconic black seating chart.

After grand entrances, Garrett’s stepdad led a blessing over the newlyweds before the dinner buffet opened. At this point, Jordan and Garret snuck off with us to take sunset photos. Golden hour at The Arlo is pure magic and every Austin wedding photographer’s dream! The dewy golden light made for some of our favorite photos from the entire day! Not to mention that this was another chance for the bride and groom to spend some time alone together.

After a few twirls, lifts, and many kisses, we took the couple back into their spring wedding reception to continue the celebration with their loved ones. Garrett’s best man and Jordan’s best friend each gave a toast, provoking genuine smiles and laughter. Afterwards, the newlyweds themselves gave a thank you speech before kicking off the grand march!

If you haven’t heard of a grand march, it is one of the most fun ways to open the dance floor! All guests are invited to walk, dance, and march around the room in lines, holding each other’s hands and even forming a soul train line! It was a fun, surefire way to get all 178 guests up and onto the dance floor.

They surrounded Jordan and Garrett as they shared their first dance to “Your Everything” by Keith Urban. The parent dances followed this. Jordan’s father/daughter dance was set to “I Loved Her First” by Heartland and Garrett’s mother/son dance was set to “Thought You Should Know” by Morgan Wallen.

Throughout the rest of the night, guests snapped fun pictures at the hedge wall photo booth that Simply Selfies set up. A custom neon sign with the newlyweds’ last name adorned the backdrop. They also indulged in many a sweet treat from the dessert table! Jordan and Garrett aren’t cake people, so they treated their loved ones to mini fruit tarts, cookies, rice krispy treats, and chocolate parfaits.

As their custom sign accurately read, “All you need is love and dessert!”

The Perfect Ending to a Wedding at The Arlo

As this spring wedding drew to a close, 4 Leaf Limo delivered a black, vintage getaway car to The Arlo’s front drive. After sharing a private last dance to “Sure Thing” by Miguel, Jordan and Garrett made their grand exit by walking through their loved ones one last time. Everyone held sparklers to light up the night and the new Mr. and Mrs. shared one final kiss before heading off into their happily ever after.

Congratulations, Jordan and Garrett! We were honored to capture all the joy and fun of your spring wedding at The Arlo and we wish you a lifetime of love together! Cheers to you both!

Let’s Work Together!

We would love to capture all the candid, intimate, and fun moments of your special day, just as we did for Jordan and Garrett. If you’re ready to check off both photo and video from your to-do list, reach out today and let’s make it happen!

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gg Gita & Soham: A Multiday, Southeast Asian Mae’s Ridge Wedding

We believe that the design and vibe of a wedding is undeniably reflective of the couple’s personalities and dynamic, so it’s no wonder that Gita and Soham’s multiday Mae’s Ridge wedding was high energy, joyous, and a true party! These two are nothing but fun, naturals in front of the camera, and have the most infectious smiles. Even though we were working the celebration as their Austin Indian wedding photographer and videographer, we felt like we were taking part in all the fun right alongside everyone!

We had the honor of forming a great relationship with Gita and Soham from the start when we shot their engagement photos. When they told us they wanted to capture their funny, goofy, authentic selves in the heart of downtown Austin, we knew this was the right couple for us. Not every couple would want to order pizza or shoot with a cupcake truck in the background as part of their engagement shoot, but Gita and Soham were nothing but themselves from the very beginning. They carried this spirit of authenticity throughout their entire wedding celebration from that point forward, from the mehndi to sangeet to ceremony to reception.

That’s what sets this Mae’s Ridge wedding apart for us. It wasn’t just the vibrant florals, amazing outfits or even the cool cars, but the personal details weaved throughout that made this multiday, Indian wedding truly one for the books.

Man feeding woman pizza in prep for their Maes Ridge wedding

Bride and groom ordering pizza in prep for their Maes Ridge wedding

Mehndi (Henna Party)

As an Austin Indian wedding photographer, we’ve seen a lot of incredible henna work, but we don’t always get to photograph the intricacies of the mehndi. We were thrilled when Gita asked us to capture hers and we were completely fascinated to watch Henna Arts work, as they applied the delicate and exquisite henna on Gita and her guests’ hands and feet.

For those unfamiliar with a mehndi, it is a henna party that takes place before the wedding festivities begin. It is usually a casual affair held at the bride or a family member’s house, and the bride and all the women closest to her come to get their henna done. The groom doesn’t typically participate in the mehndi, but Soham briefly did by getting Gita’s name inside a heart drawn on the back of one of his hands. A very sweet and special touch!

Bride's henna on arms at her Mae's Ridge wedding mehndi

Sangeet

The next day, Gita and Soham officially kicked off their wedding weekend with a sangeet. It was everything a sangeet should be and more with upbeat music, good food, and extraordinary dance performances by Gita and Soham’s friends and family.

We started the evening by getting great couple’s portraits around property. Gita and Soham wore royal blue outfits with metallic accents that reminded us of stars in the night sky. These colors contrasted nicely with the vivid colors they used in their event design. They hung green and yellow pompom strands over the dance floor, creating a sort of canopy, and some of the desserts they served were equally as bright, but no less delicious!

The dancing that night did not disappoint! Hands were in the air, skirts swished from left to right, and cheers and laughter echoed throughout the space. Gita and Soham had front row seats for the performances in the form of a hanging bench with turquoise pillows and a white, billowy canopy cover. We loved watching their faces light up with every dance number, as they watched their closest people dance for them to celebrate their new marriage.

Before the night was out, they also enjoyed some incredible food, including fried chicken sliders, mango lassi cheesecake, and even hand scooped ice cream. Between the food and the dancing, it was a perfect night, made only more perfect by the fact that Gita and Soham were getting married the next morning!

A Mae’s Ridge Wedding: Pre-Ceremony

Mae’s Ridge is a modern, farmhouse-style event venue in the hill country of Austin, Texas. They offer a few different ceremony sites and while Gita and Soham chose to have their ceremony at the Pavilion, we definitely took advantage of the rest of the sites by getting photos all around property.

Every Austin Indian wedding photographer knows that an Indian wedding day starts with a baraat (groom’s processional into the ceremony). Not only did Soham have a dhol player and mobile DJ provided by Desi Junction DJs for his, but he also rode in a cherry red convertible, which was decked out in sunny yellow garlands. Soham was the essence of cool in his sunglasses and hot rod, and he certainly had a good time dancing and partying up the path with his family and friends. He knew it was his moment and he completely rocked it!

A Mae’s Ridge Wedding: The Ceremony

Cheryl with Glitzzy Events was Gita and Soham’s wedding planner and her eye for design is truly unparalleled! The color palette for this Mae’s Ridge wedding was hot pink, red, blush, white, and gold, which was reflected in the wedding party’s colorful outfits and the striking floral that framed the mandap. These floral sprays by Merveile Events were works of art, as they cascaded down the sides of the wooden arch onto the white stage, where little gold thrones sat, waiting for the bride and groom. The only thing that made the mandap better was the sweeping view of Austin’s hill country in the background.

After the baraat, Gita’s mom greeted Soham as is tradition, and then he walked down the aisle to the ceremony. Gita and Soham wore Indian attire for the ceremony and they had a first look right at the mandap. Their family members held a tapestry in front of Soham and the mandap, and they only dropped it when it was time to reveal Gita in her stunning red and gold sari. The sparkle in their eyes and smiles said it all! Gita and Soham were actually one of our couples whose original wedding was affected by the pandemic, so while they had to wait a little longer than usual for their big day, getting to have a full celebration surrounded by their loved ones was absolutely worth the wait.

The ceremony was made that much sweeter by the journey this couple went on to get down the aisle, and in between each tradition, we caught them sneaking each other a quick smile or loving glance. We could tell that all their guests felt the love too since they wore smiles that were almost as joyful as the bride and groom’s!

A Mae’s Ridge Wedding: Cocktail Hour & Reception Details

Gita and Soham’s cocktail hour was held out on the lawn at Mae’s Ridge, where they brought in a pink and gold lounge furniture setup, tall cocktail tables, and a mobile champagne truck by Champagne Supply Co. The couple also sprinkled in many personal touches throughout the entire wedding’s design. A sign that said, “It’s worth the wait” greeted guests upon arrival, another sign outlining the couple’s relationship timeline was placed at the bar, and guests got to enjoy the bride and groom’s signature drinks from “Buddy’s Bar,” named after the couple’s furry friend.

Inside the Mae’s Ridge wedding reception space, there were a mix of round and rectangular tables, all dressed in white linens with gold chargers, red napkins, gold flatware, and floral arrangements in gold vases. Greenery hung from the chandeliers and the four-tier cake by Michelle’s Patisserie was a simple cream and light gold with the most beautiful of floral accents flowing down one side. But the sweetheart table was definitely the focal point! The table itself had a light pink linen and a magnificent floral arrangement sitting right in front of it. Behind the table was a hedge wall backdrop, complete with a matching floral spray along the top and a neon light sign that said, “I love you so much,” emulating Austin’s famous mural.

A Mae’s Ridge Wedding: The Party

For this Mae’s Ridge wedding reception, Gita and Soham changed into Western attire. Gita’s gown was white and flowy with little beads all over it and Soham’s tux was classic, black, and accented with a bow tie. Once they were all dolled up, we did a first look at a different ceremony site on property, right underneath a simple, golden archway. We then shot some amazing images of them and the wedding party in the hilly landscape of Mae’s Ridge.

Mr. and Mrs. Manari were then ready to take to the dance floor for their first dance! This was followed by toasts, parent dances, a speech given by the newlyweds, a delicious dinner, and the cake cutting. To compliment the cake, Gita and Soham also served their guests donuts by Little Lucy’s, which was an extra sweet treat for everyone!

At one point before the dance floor opened, we snuck away with the couple to get sunset and night portraits. Austin’s Best DJs had installed specialty marquee letter lights that spelled out “Soham & Gita,” so we definitely weren’t going to miss getting shots with that! We also shot some of the best photos of the wedding weekend that night with Mae’s Ridge’s gold, geometric backdrop illuminated by floating candles.

Bride and groom outdoors at a Maes Ridge wedding ceremony

By far though, our favorite part of the reception was when Gita changed into her fun, second dress and everyone hit the dance floor! Her dress was a short, white number with fringe hanging off it, so that with every turn she made, the dress swished right along with her! She even threw on a custom, pearl studded jean jacket with her name on the back. Along with her cream colored Keds, we would definitely say she was party-ready!

As an Austin Indian wedding photographer, we see a lot of good parties, but Gita and Soham’s certainly had the best dance moves! Nobody was shy about having a good time, as they danced all night, even busting out ribbon wands for everyone at one point.

When it was time for the grand exit, everyone took their wands and lined the outdoor path to the couple’s classic black getaway car, supplied by Austin Classic Limo. The cold sparklers were lit and Gita and Soham left the building, framed by these shooting stars. They were still jumping and dancing as they made their way to the car and with smiles as bright as the cold sparklers, they drove off into the night in each other’s arms.

Wedding rings in boxes at Maes Ridge wedding

Congratulations on a fun and beautiful wedding, Gita and Soham! If you couldn’t tell in this post, we had a blast as your Austin Indian wedding photographer and videographer. It was truly an honor to walk on your journey with you and we wish you all the love and happiness in the world!

Let’s Work Together!

We would love to capture all the candid, intimate, and fun moments of your special day, just as we did for Gita and Soham. If you’re ready to check off both photo and video from your to-do list, reach out today and let’s make it happen!

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tt Tara & Kirk: A Southeast Asian Lakeway Resort Wedding

There is nothing quite like a Southeast Asian wedding. Every time we have the honor of capturing one, we are in awe of the vibrant colors, upbeat dances, and the all-encompassing love that only comes by being surrounded by a true community of family and friends. Tara and Kirk chose to have a Lakeway Resort wedding and as soon as we heard about their plans for a dusty rose, blush, and mauve wedding right on the lake, we knew we wanted to be their Austin Indian wedding photographer and videographer! We were absolutely thrilled when they decided to book with us!

Tara and Kirk are as sweet as can be and they had the brightest smiles on their faces from the start of their sangeet to the end of the wedding reception. The two-day celebration consisted of the most wondrous décor, lakeside sunsets, delicious catering, and lots of dancing! This was quite possibly the most gorgeous wedding we’ve had the pleasure of capturing, so make sure to watch the videos and read to the end to soak up every detail!

A Lakeway Resort Wedding

Tara and Kirk’s wedding weekend was held at Lakeway Resort and Spa in Lakeway, Texas, which is situated about thirty minutes from downtown Austin. It is nestled right on the edge of Lake Travis and is famous for their panoramic lake views from every corner of property. The Vistas Ballroom is their main wedding space with its floor-to-ceiling glass window walls that offer a perfect view of the water for miles.

It’s always a treat for us to work here, especially in the summer, because we get to shoot a lakeside wedding while still being indoors in the air conditioning. Our brides love it too because they get to have a lake backdrop for the ceremony, but they don’t have to worry about the wind messing up their hair, bugs pestering them, or the Texas heat melting their makeup!

As if all that weren’t enough, the Lakeway Resort wedding space has an outdoor, wrap-around terrace, where they hold cocktail hours, and the end of that terrace is THE spot on property for sunset photos. Every time we work here, we just have to build in time for sunset shots with the couple on the terrace, and they always turn out to be the bride and groom’s favorite shots of the day!

An Austin Indian Wedding Photographer’s Dream

Throughout the celebration, we could tell that every décor detail was carefully and purposefully planned out to be both functional and visually striking. The name “Tara” in Hindi translates to “star,” so Tara and Kirk incorporated a star motif in the décor for all their events. Their wedding planner, Cheryl from Glitzzy Events, did a wonderful job subtly and elegantly infusing these stars in the event design, from the sangeet backdrop and welcome signs to the wedding cake and personalized dance floor. She is also a logistics queen, as every event throughout the weekend ran on time to the minute. If you’re looking for an Indian wedding planner, we highly recommend Cheryl and her team!

Yara with Unique Design and Events blew us all away with her handiwork as well. She completely draped the ceiling of the Vistas Ballroom in white, flowy fabric and installed crystal chandeliers for touches of sparkle. Bouquets of Austin completed the design by setting tall floral arrangements along the back of the mandap and short arrangements on both sides of the aisle that would all be later repurposed for the wedding reception.

The mandap itself was truly breathtaking with its white stage, gold seats, and fabric draping in various shades of pink. We loved how the fabric was gathered to create windows, so guests could still marvel at the lake behind the mandap. This also allowed plenty of natural light to illuminate the ceremony space, which made our job as an Austin Indian wedding photographer easy!

Sangeet

Tara and Kirk’s sangeet took place the night before the wedding in Lakeway Resort’s Rio Grande Ballroom. The color scheme for this event included deep purple and peacock blue with touches of gold and silver. The guest tables were dressed in multicolored linens and adorned with floating candles in wine glasses and fun pompom and bead strands. Tara wore an exquisite turquoise and silver sari that shimmered when it caught the light, and Kirk’s sherwani was yellow gold, truly making the pair the stars of the evening.

The sangeet kicked off with dinner provided by Biryani Pot and toasts from the couple’s family. If you’re not familiar with Indian weddings, think of a sangeet like an American rehearsal dinner, except with high energy music and tons of dancing! Our favorite part of any sangeet is when the dancing commences because that is truly when the party starts, and it doesn’t end until the next night after the wedding reception!

Tara and Kirk’s family and friends absolutely killed it on the dance floor, as they took turns performing traditional dances for the couple. DJ Nish kept the music pumping, and it was clear that everyone was overjoyed to be there to celebrate the soon-to-be Mr. and Mrs.

The sangeet was made that much sweeter by Amy’s Ice Cream, who brought in their signature ice cream in a mobile cart for dessert. Henna Arts also set up a mehndi table for those who wanted to get henna on their hands in preparation for the wedding the next day. Overall, the sangeet was a hit with everyone jumping on the dance floor before the night was through. Talk about a great way to start your wedding weekend!

Bride and groom smiling at Lakeway Resort wedding sangeet

Baraat

The next morning, the wedding day festivities started with Tara and Kirk’s first look. As an Austin Indian wedding photographer, we always feel so honored to capture these most intimate of moments and we do our best to stay scarce while still getting the best shots, so as to give the couple as private a moment as possible.

After some couples’ portraits and family formals at the mandap, it was time for the baraat! This is the groom’s processional into the ceremony, complete with celebratory music and more dancing! It’s like a party and parade all in one with the groom and his side of the family dancing their hearts out. Many times, the groom will ride in on an exotic animal or in a fancy car, but Kirk choose to jump right in the fun by walking and dancing alongside his loved ones.

They had a dhol player and mobile DJ accompany the group, as they made their way from underneath the trees at the far side of the resort to the walkway that leads up to the Vistas Ballroom. When they arrived there, Tara’s mom greeted Kirk to welcome him into the family by applying the traditional tilak (ceremonial red dot) to his forehead and performing the aarti (traditional ritual of worship) to stave off evil and bless him.

Everyone then proceeded up the outdoor terrace and into the ceremony space, enjoying a quick mango lassi drink before they sat down. It was turning out to be a warm day, so the mango lassi was a refreshing treat after dancing in the sun!

Groom smiling and dancing at Lakeway Resort wedding baraat

A Lakeway Resort Wedding Ceremony

Then, it was time to get married! As far as Indian wedding ceremonies go, Tara and Kirk’s was on the shorter side, just one hour, but it still incorporated all the traditions and rituals that are significant to their culture. They began by giving each other the richest red and white floral garlands and then went on to pray, recite their vows, and exchange rings. What we love most about Indian weddings though is the inclusion of the bride and groom’s families in the ceremony. Both sets of parents and the wedding party sit on the mandap with the couple in order to pray with them, bless them, and participate in various rites throughout the ceremony. It’s incredibly sweet and humbling to watch, and the love emanating from the entire community is palpable from start to finish.

Bride and groom praying on mandap at Lakeway Resort wedding

Family gathering during Lakeway Resort wedding ceremony

Cocktail Hour

When the ceremony concluded, the guests headed outside onto the terrace for cocktail hour. Typically, a Lakeway Resort wedding in the Vistas Ballroom includes cocktail hour on the outdoor terrace and in the indoor lobby alone, but since this was actually going to be a two-hour cocktail hour, Tara and Kirk chose to also rent the Sunset room and patio. Located just a few steps from the Vistas, this was a smart choice to give guests more room to mix, mingle, and relax. It also gave the Jazz Daddies band the perfect place to play live music for everyone under the trees!

While the guests were eating, drinking, and being merry, our team captured some post-ceremony shots of the newlyweds and their families. We also started shooting what we could of the cocktail hour and reception décor. The rest of the vendor team was utilizing the two-hour cocktail hour to flip the Vistas Ballroom from ceremony to reception, which meant breaking down the mandap, reinstalling the backdrop to be behind the sweetheart table, setting up all the dinner tables, and resetting all the floral arrangements. This is why we always recommend only the best in the business for our clients because while two hours may sound like a lot of time, it can become a blur when you are moving and resetting that many elements.

A Lakeway Resort Wedding Reception

The team actually accomplished the flip of the Lakeway Resort wedding space in just an hour and a half, and we were grateful because that meant we had more time to shoot the reception décor details! The guest tables were swathed in white, sparkly linens, gold chargers, and little Ferrero Rocher chocolate favors. All the ceremony floral was repurposed to the reception tables, including the sweetheart table, and the coolest white dance floor was brought in with a gold star bearing the couple’s monogram. Last but not least, Austin Event Lighting set up two giant screens, one in each corner of the room, so that the evening’s formalities could be broadcasted for everyone to see. This reception was truly the dream of any Austin Indian wedding photographer and we had so much fun shooting every last detail!

For the reception, Tara, Kirk, and their loved ones changed into Western-style attire. Tara’s white gown was sleek with just the right amount of fluff and Kirk looked very dapper in his black tux. They hit the dance floor together to kick off the night and no two people looked happier. As the night progressed, toasts were given, the gold star cake made by Sweet Treets was cut, and dinner was served. We loved that before each table got dinner from the buffet, the guests first posed for a picture with Tara and Kirk up at the sweetheart table. This was such a great way to make sure that the couple got photos with all their friends and family!

While there had already been a lot of dancing throughout the weekend, nothing compared to the party that took place at the reception! Tara, Kirk, and all their guests really let loose and had a good time jumping, dancing, and living it up!

When the night was through, everyone lined the walkway outside for a sparker exit. Every Lakeway Resort wedding comes with a complimentary golf cart departure, and Tara and Kirk took full advantage of that by using the cart as their getaway car. They decorated it with a “Just Married” sign to give it their personal touch and when it was time, they rode off into the night with the biggest smiles on their faces.

Bride getting makeup done at Lakeway Resort wedding

Congrats, Tara and Kirk! We were overjoyed to have been your Austin Indian wedding photographer and videographer. We loved getting to celebrate right alongside you every step of the way, and we wish you nothing but the best in your future together!

Let’s Work Together!

We would love to capture all the candid, intimate, and fun moments of your special day, just as we did for Tara and Kirk. If you’re ready to check off both photo and video from your to-do list, reach out today and let’s make it happen!

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