Spring is a trendy time for weddings. About 11% of weddings nationally occur in May, but Texas spring weddings tend to take place a little earlier. A wedding photoshoot can take on a life of its own during late March and early April in Texas. In the Austin area, late March weather is warm and sunny, with temperatures in the upper sixties and lower seventies. Flowering trees are in bloom, as are Yucca plants, aloe, and other native plants. With the temperate weather, sun, flowers, and springtime birds, spring is the perfect time for Austin photography.
So, almost one year later, this happy couple met for a post-wedding photoshoot.
Meet The Happy Couple
Erica and Kevin are the beautiful couple in this spring wedding photoshoot. Like many COVID-19-era marriages, they had an interesting backstory and had to get creative with their wedding. Erica and Kevin got married at the very beginning of the pandemic on 4/25/20. Local lockdown had just begun, so they kept their wedding extremely small. It took place in a field behind my house and was just them and their boys. Erica’s brother officiated it via Zoom, and their family joined in on the Zoom call. You can see photos from their tiny, adorable ceremony here.
As beautiful as Erica and Kevin look in their ceremony pictures from one year ago, those weren’t the original outfits they had picked out for the wedding. Erica’s wedding dress and Kevin’s suit were in quarantine at their tailors. They loved their little ceremony, but they always wanted to do another wedding photoshoot to wear their original outfits. And who can blame them? Don’t they look lovely?
Their Relationship Story
Before we get to the “newlyweds” and their story, let me say that Erica is a gem. She has a heart of gold, and she has been one of my best friends for the past several years. We are both love CrossFit and met while working out.
Funnily enough, Kevin also enjoys doing CrossFit! Ever since the beginning of lockdown, both of them have worked (and worked out) from home. Life is pretty blissful for them.
A mutual friend who works with Erica introduced her to Kevin, and I cannot be happier that she has finally met the love of her life.
This is both Erica and Kevin’s second marriage, and it just clicked for both of them (and their boys). Kevin popped the question when she and Kevin were on a skiing vacation with their boys. I can’t think of a more romantic place than the ski slopes. I adore their kids, their dog Macy, and their beautiful life they’ve begun together.
The Greenhouse Austin: Wedding Photoshoot
To make up for the issues caused by the pandemic, we did a post-anniversary photoshoot this year (2021) on March 25th. Rather than returning to the field behind my house for a photoshoot, they picked a new spot to showcase their gorgeous outfits.
They settled on The Greenhouse at Driftwood in Driftwood, Texas. This lovely and totally unique little spot is just a hop and a skip away from Austin, Texas, but it feels like a completely different world. I’ve been to many different spots that make great photo spots for brides and grooms. However, I wouldn’t be doing this place justice without saying that it is incredible at The Greenhouse.
The Greenhouse at Driftwood has several different options for shoots, including a tropical greenhouse, cactus greenhouse, and plenty of spots to take outdoor wedding photos. I particularly loved how the open field shots came out, and I was in love with the pretty light filtering through trees.
The session at The Greenhouse was small. It was just the two of them — their kiddos stayed home — me, and our friend Cally. Cally was perfect for keeping morale high during our photo session. She was their #1 hype girl.
More About The Vendors
There are many vendors to thank — all of whom made this photoshoot more enchanting than any of us could have imagined. First, the venue was The Greenhouse at Driftwood, one of the most stunning places for a wedding photoshoot in any season, but especially in the spring. The Greenhouse at Driftwood was originally built in 1970 as a house with a two-story greenhouse. Its become a popular destination for Austin weddings ever since.
Le Fleur Floral Design provided the flowers for the photoshoot. The baby pinks and soft greens and whites made a gorgeous addition to the already lush set.
I absolutely adored the hair and makeup crew at Sharon Marie Makeup. They did such a fantastic job on the bride and the groom. Much like the incredible plants in the greenhouse, the couple’s hair and makeup looked manicured and natural all at once. It was stunning.
Blue Bridal Austin made wedding dreams come true with Erica’s fairytale-like wedding dress. I’ve never seen one quite like it, and it suited Erica’s personality and beauty to a T.
And, of course, photography credits go to Jen Rizy (me) at Hello Photography.
More From The Wedding Photoshoot
Check out some more photos from this beautiful wedding spot, including a few of the “newlyweds” popping some bubbly in celebration!
And to one of my most favorite couples — Erica & Kevin — happy one-year anniversary to you both. It is an honor and a privilege to have you two as my friends. Thank you for letting me take photos at your beautiful ceremony, and thanks for including me in your wedding photoshoot a year later.
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