Wedding at Barr Mansion in Austin

Shela and Mike had their wedding at Barr Mansion just outside of Austin. They had a classic yet modern vision for their day, which defines them perfectly. This venue has the most beautiful property, a historical house where they got ready, and the newer building where they partied all night. Shela and her group enjoyed champagne as they helped each other get ready, while Mike and his group of friends hung as they got ready in a relaxed fashion. It was important to them that they had breathing room in their day, to let their quiet moments unfold without a rush through such a meaningful day.

As guests approached the venue to prepare for the ceremony, they enjoyed the beautiful sounds in the wind by the Sienna Strings Quartet. People who hadn’t seen each other in a while laughed together and embraced, giving hugs of varying lengths. The sun shone through the 120-year old Pecan tree where they shared beautiful vows as their friend made jokes with a sentimental tone as he married them. You could hear more about their amazing story of how they met in college, and where Shela annoyed Mike by mixing him up with two friends who were also from his hometown. One night while transferring music from her laptop to his iPod, she looked over at him and thought he was really cute. She went in to kiss him, and the rest was history. You hear more nuances and details during the ceremony, but their origin story is one for the books!

Cocktail hour took place during the most beautiful golden hour. Friends and family stood together enjoying cocktails and eating fresh food seared from the grill. We actually ran into a friend who went to high school with Shela, but we have known him through our brother-in-law! The energy was vibrant as everyone caught up for the first time in a while, or even for those who see each other often.

As the reception began, lion dancers kicked off the party with an incredible performance while totally surprising everyone! Screams of joy and laughter echoed the room while the talent of the lion dancers brought a type of celebration that was so unique and memorable. On top of this, as the evening unfolded throughout dinner and speeches, there was one more surprise. About an hour into the dancing portion of the evening, Shela and Mike surprised everyone with their own DJ set! They both DJ and Shela has started to become a big name around the Austin area. With their unique set, they got everyone completely hyped. It was the perfect way to add another personal touch to their day.

There was a cool breeze in the evening and the energy that was collectively shared throughout the day was truly perfect. As the night wound down, they had an after-party with their closest friends and pulled an all-nighter to remember. We truly adore Shela and Mike, as we have become friends with them since our first consultation. When you meet people who are into the same niche music as you and who are honest, good people, you hold them close. And this feeling is what all their friends and family held in their hearts, with their history and memories shared with these two.

Venue: Barr Mansion
Photographer: Stephanie Rogers Photography
Coordinator: Twenty Two Weddings
Florist: Lavender and Lily Floral
Ceremony Music: Sienna Strings Quartet
DJ: Saint at Premier Austin DJ’s
Catering:Barr Mansion
Photobooth: Premier Events
Lion Dancers: Summitlddt

In Their Words:

“Honestly beyond words to describe how happy we are with Stephanie and Bradley for our wedding and engagement photos. They took great care in getting to know us and what would feel like “us” while somehow also making us feel like the coolest and most beautiful versions of ourselves. They truly have a knack for capturing the moments, candid, fun, moody, playful, posed. At this point they truly feel like friends of ours that celebrated our wedding with us and I would definitely hire them again for future photography needs! Their work speaks for itself.”

Wedding Tip:

We recommend taking your group photos before your ceremony. This will give you the time and space to celebrate with your loved ones and join them for cocktail hour without breaking up the exciting energy of just getting married.

When you have breathing room in your schedule, more real moments can happen, and you can be a part of it!