Bride and groom exchange vows at elegant indoor wedding ceremony with large windows and lush greenery backdrop.
Four bridesmaids in pajamas celebrating on a bed with champagne and confetti during a bridal party getting-ready session.
Bride in lace wedding gown stands at arched window as bridesmaid fastens her dress in elegant rustic venue.
Bride in beaded gown with veil and groom in black suit hold hands at elegant ivy-covered wedding venue.
Bride and groom exchanging vows by large black-framed windows, bride in white gown with veil, groom in dark suit holding vows.
Romantic wedding photo of bride and groom kissing as flowing veil billows in the foreground.
Elegant outdoor wedding ceremony in ivy-covered venue with string lights, guests seated in rows facing bride and groom at altar.
Bride and groom sharing first kiss in white ballgown and black tuxedo before ivy-covered venue entrance.
Bride and groom stand beneath floral arches with roses in an elegant hotel corridor with chandeliers.
Wedding party posing together, bride in white gown with bridesmaids in blush dresses and groomsmen in black suits.
Rustic tiled wall fountain with blue mosaic patterns, draped in lush green ivy, surrounded by tropical plants in a garden setting.
Bride and groom share a romantic kiss outdoors, bride wearing a beaded gown, veil, and tiara.
Bride in white gown and veil stands with groom and officiant during outdoor wedding ceremony at rustic brick venue.
Smiling bride in beaded gown holds grooms hand walking outside historic stone building on wedding day.
A man in a black suit escorts an older woman in a black lace gown at a formal wedding ceremony.
Bride and groom share a romantic kiss beneath a flowing white veil at their outdoor wedding ceremony.
Bride and groom share a romantic kiss during a sparkler send-off surrounded by wedding guests at their reception.
Bride and groom stand in a sunlit courtyard with a grand white historic building backdrop at golden hour.
Cheerful waiter in vest raises fist triumphantly behind bar with wine glasses on wooden shelves.
A middle-aged man in a dark suit adjusts his cufflinks by wooden doors with warm golden light.
Black and white photo of a bride and groom sharing their first kiss at an elegant ivy-covered wedding venue.
Bride and groom pose in an urban plaza with a historic white building backdrop on their wedding day.
Guests enjoying wine at an elegant wedding reception dinner with candlelight and floral centerpieces.
Bride and groom share an intimate first dance at their wedding reception, surrounded by guests in elegant attire.

Katie & Erik’s Wedding at Hotel Emma

Katie and Erik were married on October 6, 2024, at Hotel Emma in San Antonio, Texas, and this was one of those venues that seemed to have something beautiful around every corner.

The lush greenery, historic details, and warm atmosphere gave us so many incredible places to photograph throughout the day. Hotel Emma already has so much character of its own, which made it the perfect backdrop for a wedding that felt elegant without ever feeling stuffy.

The Sweetest Library First Look

One of my favorite parts of the day was Katie and Erik’s first look in the library.

There was something about having such a quiet, intimate moment surrounded by books and all of those beautiful details that made it feel especially romantic. Before the ceremony, the guests, and everything else that comes with a wedding day, they got a few minutes that were simply theirs.

Those little pockets of quiet are some of my favorite things to photograph.

The nerves settle for a minute, everything else fades into the background, and you get to watch two people realize, we’re really doing this.

A Venue Full of Beautiful Details

Hotel Emma gave us so much variety throughout the day. Between the greenery, architecture, intimate indoor spaces, and all of those little textures and details, we could create polished portraits while still letting the wedding itself unfold naturally around us.

It’s exactly the kind of venue where you don’t have to search very hard for a beautiful backdrop — you just have to pay attention to what’s already there.

And Katie and Erik made the whole place feel even warmer.

Ending the Night With Sparklers

Their sparkler exit was the perfect ending.

After an entire day of celebrating, everyone gathered together to send them off underneath a tunnel of lights. Sparkler exits are always a little chaotic, very fast, and so much fun to photograph — which is probably exactly why I love them.

Seeing Katie and Erik surrounded by all of their favorite people as they ended the night felt like the perfect final chapter to the day.

And One Very Important Wedding Gift…

I also left this wedding with one of the cutest gifts a photographer could possibly receive.

Katie and Erik gave me a coffee mug designed to look like a camera lens, and yes, I absolutely loved it.

It was such a small, thoughtful surprise, and it’s one of those things that still makes me think of their wedding whenever I see it.

Katie and Erik’s day was elegant, emotional, intimate, and filled with the kind of little moments that make every wedding completely different from the one before it.

And getting to photograph it at such a beautiful San Antonio venue made it even more special.


Planning a wedding at Hotel Emma?

Whether you’re celebrating at Hotel Emma, somewhere else in San Antonio, or anywhere across Texas, I’d love to photograph your day in a way that preserves both the beautiful portraits and all of the moments happening in between.


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