Bridal portraits are the perfect opportunity to prepare for your wedding day and ensure you’ll feel beautiful and confident as you walk down the aisle. They give you time to try your hair and makeup, slip on your stunning wedding gown, and see the entire look come together without the pressure of your wedding day.

I also love taking bridal portraits because it allows the bride time to slow down and enjoy a session dedicated to capturing her beauty and all the intense emotions leading up to the big day. It’s a special time that often gets overlooked in the whirlwind of planning and preparation but deserves to be remembered and appreciated.

Beautiful bride surrounded by greenery in the courtyard at Thistlewood Manor in Kyle, Texas

Bride during her bridal session at Thistlewood Manor in front of the expansive fountain surrounded by greenery

Bride during her bridal session running in the ballroom for a creative photo at Thistlewood Manor and Gardens

Bride sitting on a bench at Thistlewood Manor and Gardens with the Manor in the background

I recently had the opportunity to photograph a beautiful bride at one of my favorite luxury venues, Thistlewood Manor and Gardens in Kyle, Texas. And now that she’s officially a Mrs., I can share her stunning bridal portraits with the world.

Thistlewood Manor and Gardens is ideal for dreamy and ethereal bridal portraits because it offers a French-inspired aesthetic with neutral indoor and outdoor spaces. The venue itself is expansive with so many photo-worthy spots to explore and the property as a whole is gorgeous. It’s a popular choice for grand weddings between San Antonio and Austin, Texas because it offers so much to its guests.

Bride on staircase in the ballroom at Thistlewood Manor in Kyle, Texas by Lois M Photography

Bride in the gardens at Thistlewood Manor by Lois M Photography

Bride during her bridal session sitting in the ballroom at Thistlewood Manor

Bride on beautiful staircase in the ballroom of Thistlewood Manor during her bridal session

The manor’s grand staircase and the lovely water feature in the main gardens were some of our favorite places for Alyssa’s bridal portraits. These spaces perfectly complemented her hair, makeup, bouquet, and magazine-worthy wedding gown.

During the session, I focused on taking both traditional, posed photos as well as photos that truly captured Alyssa’s bright and bubbly personality. Bridal portraits are meant to highlight the bride, and so I believe it’s important to encourage movement, fun, and creativity.

Elegant bridal session photo of bride wearing her veil at Thistlewood Manor

Bride in the Courtyard by blue door at Thistlewood Manor and Gardens

Bridal session at Thistlewood Manor in Kyle, Texas

Elegant bridal portraits of bride with floral arrangement outside in the Courtyard by the French inspired fountain at Thistlewood Manor and Gardens

If you’re in the midst of planning your dream wedding, but you want to take some time to yourself (and maximize your time with guests on your wedding day), consider booking a bridal portrait session. We can find a gorgeous location that perfectly suits your vision and aesthetic and allows you to capture these once-in-a-lifetime memories.

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Elegant Bridal Portraits at Thistlewood Manor And Gardens

Bride in courtyard during bridal session by blue door at Thistlewood Manor and Gardens

the latest

If you’ve spent any amount of time in San Antonio, Texas, you’ve been to Pearl. The vibrant and lively community is filled with people who love to create and share with everyone around them. Every time I’ve been to Pearl, I’ve been impressed—from the beautiful buildings, talented artisans, and well-maintained public spaces to the high-end, quality feel. There’s always somewhere to see and something incredible to experience at Pearl, which made it the perfect place for an engagement session with a very San Antonio feel.

Engaged couple infront of Hotel Emma at the Pearl

Romantic photo of couple embracing near Hotel Emma and Supper for their engagement photoshoot

Misty engagement session at the Pearl with beautiful greenery

About The Historic Pearl

Couple dipping in the rain at the Pearl with the magestic Hotel Emma in the background.

Engagement photo session at the Pearl, couple wears neutrals on a misty morning by Lois M Photography

Pearl was founded in 1883 and has been a beloved place to visit in San Antonio ever since. One of the best reasons to visit Pearl is that there are so many different things to see and do that you’ll always have a new experience every time you visit. The property offers a little of everything—stunning living spaces, amazing food, creative retail shops, overnight accommodations like Hotel Emma, and a gorgeous weekend farmers market. You’ll never run out of places to go.

One of my favorite restaurants to visit is Brasserie Mon Chou Chou; it’s the number one French restaurant in San Antonio, and offers a peek into the romance of wandering around a European city while enjoying quintessential French comfort food.

I love Pearl as a setting for engagement photos—not only for the special feeling you get as you walk through the streets, but because there are so many places to visit and explore. Wandering through the different buildings and businesses is ideal for a session that feels like we’ve captured a day in your lives together; one that you can look back on fondly for many years to come.

About The Session

My sweet couple, Lars and Lauren, were looking for casual yet romantic engagement photos to preserve this special time in their lives. The weather was calling for rain, but they wanted to move forward with their session, which created a moody, intimate vibe in their photos. The mist in the air felt so serene, and added to the emotion in each photo.

Lars is originally from Europe and he’s a very stylish guy, so he decided to coordinate their outfits for their engagement session. The result was beautiful, with neutral outfits that complimented each other and showed off their style. They looked absolutely adorable together and were truly the perfect match! The colors Lars chose were great for a photo session with many different backgrounds featuring all of the different architecture and areas at Pearl.

Romantic misty engagement session in the city at the Pearl downtown San Antonio by Lois M Photography

Photo of engagement ring during a romantic engagement session at the Pearl

Couple dancing in the rain during their engagement session at the Pearl

To end their engagement session, Lars and Lauren decided to head over to Larder located within Hotel Emma for a coffee date. Larder is an artisanal shop featuring groceries and housemade food patrons can enjoy on their patio. It was the perfect finale to their session as they were able to cuddle up at their table, sip coffee, and enjoy each other’s company while I captured it all on camera.

Romantic engagement photoshoot at the Larder coffee shop

A romantic misty morning coffee date at the Larder in San Antonio

If you’re interested in booking your engagement photo session at Pearl in San Antonio, Texas, let’s chat! We can discuss the vibe you want for your photos, talk about the logistics of planning your perfect session, and book your session date on my calendar.