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!

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 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!

Say Hello

Blissful Hill Wedding Photography

We love this couple and their unique style! Their wedding looked like something from a fairy tale, and when we heard their love story, we were blown away. We don’t hear many like this. Amanda and Michael have actually known each other since childhood. They met when they were in high school at age 15, and Michael says that he knew he loved her after an AOL Instant Messenger conversation. He saved it, entitled, “I Love This Woman.”

Although their relationship has grown and changed over the years since that first IM conversation, their endearing, silly side still remains. When we saw the way the communicated without even saying a word and the way they teared up over the same parts of their vows, there was no doubt that this special marriage was years in the making. They are just perfect for each other, complementing each other in all the right ways.

The personalized aspects of their wedding day made it all the more special. The jacket was a gift from the groom. It fit her just right and looked so cute with her wedding dress since there was a slight chill in the air. They also hand crafted their wedding bands, making them one-of-a kind and so special, just like their relationship.

The wedding was held at Blissful Hill in Spicewood, Texas (right outside of Austin) on the peaceful Pedernales River. The rolling hills and sprawling trees make it one of the most sought-after, intimate venues in the area. It truly is gorgeous.

Also, we were so excited to see and revisit one of our previous couples as we photographed the best man and his wife Anabel’s wedding a couple of years ago! The lovely surprises just kept coming. We loved every minute of Amanda and Michael’s wedding day – capturing moments and memories like these is why we went into photography!

Forget sparklers. To end their epic wedding celebration, a firework show lit up the night sky above the hills – amazing! Congratulations, Amanda and Michael.

The Addison Grove Wedding Photography | Christina & Sean

We truly love and value our clients. We enjoy getting to know them as we would true friends so we can provide the best photography possible to fit their visions and personalities. Relationship building is one of the best parts of the job for us! Sometimes, we will connect with a client, and it will seem like we’ve been friends for ages. The conversation comes naturally, and the we easily find a photography groove.

About this special day

Christina and Sean were one of our favorite couples we’ve worked with to date! They just felt like old friends. We connected during their engagement session, and we realized that we have a quite a bit in common. They had such a positive, carefree outlook throughout their wedding day, which was so refreshing and made the pictures flow naturally. We love how all of the candid, in-the-moment photos turned out!

They got married at one of our favorite venues: The Addison Grove in Dripping Springs. It’s a gorgeous, luxury wedding venue nestled in the breathtaking Texas hill country. We absolute adore the spacious bridal cottage and the rustic, yet modern, barn for the reception. The style for the wedding—from the décor to the attire—was flawless! Christina looked stunning in her incredible lace dress the reflected her own personal sense of style. And Sean did the same. He looked handsome in his emerald green suit—so unique! They really looked fantastic together.

The ceremony was so heartfelt. I might’ve shed a tear when they exchanged vows underneath the large oak trees. Their reception was definitely an evening to remember. Smokey’s Mobile Cigar Lounge was a fun and unique treat—and it smelled amazing! And we can’t forget to mention Hey Cupcake’s awesome sweets truck! Delicious! Outdoors, they had lawn games and drinks, and later everyone headed inside for dancing, food, and toasts!

We loved getting to work with the amazing coordinator Heather of Vintage & Lace for their big day!

Congrats, Christina and Sean! We wish you the very best!

Canyonwood Ridge Wedding Photography | Caitlin & Troy

Texas may not have four distinct seasons—mostly just summer and cold-ish—but that doesn’t limit its beauty. We are so in love with the Texas hill country that we couldn’t leave and decided put down roots. The rolling hills, rocky cliffs, wide-open sky, and unique vegetation make it a sight to behold. And in the wintertime, you can still count on quite a few mild, sunny days.

About this couple

Caitlin and Troy planned a winter wedding, and Texas did its part in giving them perfect weather, bright sunshine, and the most incredible view. They chose one of our absolute favorite photography locations: The Chapel at Canyonwood Ridge. The sought-after wedding venue completely epitomizes its name—the chapel sits up high on a ridge surrounded by breathtaking shade trees, overlooking the rocky terrain. The chapel is lined with windows all around plus floor-to-ceiling windows at the altar, which lets in plenty of natural light. You don’t even feel like you’re inside, and it can seat up to 300 guests. They even offer a beautifully design reception hall as well as areas for the bridal party to get ready. Can you tell we love this venue?!

The couple’s first look inside the chapel was so sweet and special as they shared an intimate moment before the rest of the big day began. We’re a huge fan of first looks because they are the perfect opportunity for a few romantic shots, and they give couples a chance to relax and calm their nerves.

When it was time for the ceremony, their son stood at the altar, and he stayed by their side until their first kiss, making for some really special photos. Afterward, they were ready to celebrate! Until the bride and groom arrived, people chatted and relaxed outside under the trees. We love the new lawn game trend—and so do guests! After Caitlin and Troy made the big debut into the hall, lots of dancing, eating, laughing, and toasting ensued. We thought their exit at the end with “snow” being tossed into the air was the perfect send off for a winter wedding. Congrats, you two!

The Secret to Beautiful Wedding Photos

Hello gorgeous!

Congratulations on your engagement! I’m Caryn, with The Bird & The Bear Photography & Films. I’m a professional photographer with many years of experience, and I want to let you in on the secret to beautiful wedding photos! When planning your wedding, there are a few key things to keep in mind to be sure you will have gorgeous photos to look back on for a lifetime. An experienced professional photographer will be able to guide you in all sorts of ways regarding your photos, but sometimes these decisions are already made before you’ve even THOUGHT about hiring a photographer! I want every bride and groom to have the photos they’ve always dreamed of. The following are just a few of the many tips I would LOVE to fill you in on, starting at the very beginning of your wedding planning process!

1. Choose Your Venue Wisely

Choosing a date and venue are often the first steps in your wedding planning process. When you are venue hunting – look around and think about photo locations. For example, if you love string lights hung outdoors for reception photos – a hotel ballroom may not give you what you’re looking for. Ask your venue director where the sun sets in the afternoon, and try to think about how that will impact your favorite photo locations (for a beautiful, luminous look, you want the sun to be behind you). Ask the venue coordinator how the foliage typically looks there around the time of your potential wedding date! April, May and October are usually the most popular months of the year for weddings – for good reason! 🙂 Lastly, while no one wants to think about the possibility of rain on your wedding day – be sure your venue has a good rain plan! Do you love the way the inside looks, as well as the outside? In the event of rain and your photos having to be taken all indoors – make sure you’ll be just as happy! 🙂

2. Plan Your Timeline with the Best Light in Mind

Beautiful light makes such a huge difference in photos! Find out the exact minute of sunset on your wedding day, and plan around that. The hour before sunset is called the “golden hour” for a reason – it is just so warm and flattering on everyone. Taking photos outdoors in the middle of the day can often leave little shade, causing you and your bridal party to squint! If you are not planning to do a First Look and portraits before the ceremony, we suggest a ceremony start time of 2 hours before sunset.

3. Add Extra Time to your Schedule

On your wedding day, don’t be surprised if everything takes a little longer than you think it will! Unexpected traffic, hair and make-up delays – you name it, it could happen! Tiny little delays can snowball into knocking everything off track. One of the first things that is always cut is the bride and groom portrait time! Having 50% more time than you originally expect for other pre-ceremony details will help make your day more relaxed and keep you on track for perfect portraits.

4. Consider Scheduling a First Look

Want to do your portraits with the freshest hair and make-up when you know you look your best? Scheduling to do them pre-ceremony may be a great idea for you! Also, if you or your groom don’t want to miss out on cocktail hour, schedule a First Look before the ceremony and do a majority of your bride and groom portraits then! Even if you schedule a First Look for earlier in the day, for great photographs we still recommend 15 extra minutes during sunset (that beautiful light is so worth it)!

5. Make Note of your Priorities

Think about the photos you know you’ll really love, and be sure the key people involved know that those things are a top priority. If you know that the bride and groom portraits are most important to you – be sure to let your photographer and coordinator know! This will ensure you have plenty of time for them at the most ideal time of day for flattering light. Also, when you make your family formal list, ask yourself “Will I or my parents actually frame this?” and if not, it may be one you can skip! Trying to cram in every combination of aunts/uncles and family friends may seem like a great idea, but it may leave you and your spouse exhausted (with tired faces) by the time you finally get to the photos of just the two of you. If you aren’t planning to do a separate bridal portrait session, and having a few amazing portraits of you alone is important to you, be sure to plan for that in your pre-ceremony time (after the ceremony, you and your spouse will probably want to get to your guests as soon as possible)! Let your photographer know a few things that are most important to you – and trust them to do the rest! A great photographer will be able to quickly look around the venue and know the best locations for photos, so after you let them know the areas you personally love, ask their opinion and trust their expertise.

6. Work on that Body Language!

It can feel super awkward – but practice a bit of posing in the mirror before your big day! You’ll find your best angles, and know ahead of time what you feel looks great on you. Here are a couple of quick posing tips. Remember to have great posture – it is so slimming and makes you look confident. Don’t squish your arms to your side, and remember to subtly lengthen your neck. Walking down the aisle can be an anxious moment – but try to remember to look up and smile! Be sure your shoes (and your bridesmaids shoes) are easy to walk in (even in grass) so that you don’t have to look down while processing – it’s your moment to shine! Later, if you feel self-conscious with people watching you cuddle on your new spouse during your couples portraits, be sure to let your photographer know to politely shoo them away! A little bit of privacy can go a long way to getting natural, relaxed couples portraits. While you want to feel and look comfortable, a little bit of posing guidance from your photographer will make a world of difference, so be sure they’re skilled in helping place you in the most flattering angles!

vintage bride and groom at sunset at the winfield inn in kyle tx

7. Choose the Best Photographer For You

– Look around and do your research as early as possible. Lots of amazing photographers are booked a little over a year in advance. Check out their website to be sure you like their work. To make the most of your time and investment, see if they happen to offer any of the other services you might need (videography, photo booth, engagement photos, display prints, etc.)!
– Pricing varies hugely based on experience, location and the type of coverage they offer. In Austin, for example, talented and dependable photographers have wedding day packages begin at around $3,000 and go up from there. If you find a phenomenal deal that seems too good to be true – sadly, it just might be! You may luck out with a gem who is just starting out and does great work – but that is a risk you’ll have to consider.
– When you contact potential photographers, talk to them about the style of photos you like (Outdoors with natural light? Indoors with dramatic flash lighting? Or strictly photojournalistic with no posing at all?). Let them know what’s most important to you, and a trustworthy photographer will tell if you if that’s something they can do, or they will refer you to someone else they think may be a better fit.
– Ask for recommendations from your friends and wedding coordinator or venue contact. If you find a photographer you like but your coordinator doesn’t know them, you can always ask for references or links to reviews! All wedding vendors want their couples to be happy. A good reference from someone else in the wedding industry tells you that they are professional, prompt, easy to work with and leave their couples happy! You want to be just as excited AFTER the wedding (to get your photos and videos back) as you are in the months leading up to it! 🙂
– Trust your gut! Bottom line – do you like their photos and videos, and do they make you feel happy? If you’ve fallen in love with a photographer’s photos and you love the work they produce – go for it!

Want to know more? We are a husband and wife wedding photography and videography team based in Austin, TX and we’re here to help! Contact Us!

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Ireland Wedding Photographer

Searching for an Ireland wedding photographer? You’ve come to the right place! We are a husband and wife wedding photography and videography team. We are destination photographers that have been lucky enough to travel the world with our cameras in hand, including Ireland! We fell in love with the country, the people, and Caryn’s heritage (if ya can’t tell from her hair, she’s as Irish as they come)! We would love to hear from you and photograph your wedding in Ireland – wherever it may be! We have specially discounted packages for Irish weddings, too! 🙂

Check out our portfolio and if you like our work, contact us!

This fall, Bryan and I traveled through Ireland. Check out a few of our travel photos below. Who knew Ireland was always so warm and sunny?? 😉