Rachel
Rachel’s bridal photoshoot at her family friend’s stunning home in Houston, coordinated by her planner, Julie Myers of Keely Thorne Events, was absolute perfection.
I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful muse or a more ethereal setting.
The natural light from multiple large windows, and that incredible chandelier, made for one epic session!
Bridal Photoshoot in Houston
I was blown away by Rachel’s 3-piece Romona Keveza gown, that she fell in love with at Warren Barron Bridal in Dallas. She worked with expert seamstress Lelis Guzman of Lelis Bridal Studio in Houston, to customize it and achieve the exact look she wanted.
Her gown was made up of three different parts – the gown, an overskirt, and a lace bolero. This gave her the ability to achieve different looks without having to change! In Rachel’s words, “You only get to wear a wedding dress once, so I wanted to keep it on as long as possible.”
She and her mom also hand-placed the lace appliqué on the bodice of the gown, and had the bolero made so they could have the lace lay exactly as they envisioned it. Her favorite addition to the gown was a few pieces of lace from her mom’s wedding dress, sewn underneath the skirt.
Why do a Bridal Photoshoot?
A longstanding Southern tradition, “bridals”, or a photo session solely with the bride, completely ready as she would be on her wedding day, is typically done a month or more prior to the wedding. Many families choose to display a framed bridal portrait at the wedding, and then it’s normally hung in her parents’ home afterward.
I love this tradition for a few reasons. One, it’s just fun! What bride doesn’t want to wear her gown more than once and feel like the most beautiful girl in the world?? Two, it gives her the opportunity for a “trial run” with her hairstyle, makeup, dress and shoes, and bouquet prior to the big day. It’s ALWAYS a good idea to get a feel for how it feels to move around in your dress and shoes before the actual wedding. And three…it’s even more memories that you get to keep forever!
And if you’re looking for the perfect venue, oftentimes you don’t need to look any further than your own home! Rachel’s session is just one example, but I’ve done many bridal photoshoots in homes, including this modern one at the bride’s family home in Houston. A home is also a great venue option because, aside from possibly a cleaning service, there are no session fees!
If you’re ready to talk about scheduling your own bridal portrait session, reach out here. I’d love to chat and give you all the details!
For another beautiful bridal photoshoot example, check out Josie’s session here.