Swallows Eve Fredericksburg Texas Wedding

Weddings

A joyful Fredericksburg wedding with a golden hour ceremony and packed dance floor

From her very first inquiry, Shannon’s words made me pause (in the best way) and was immediately excited to shoot her wedding at Swallows Eve in Fredericksburg:

“I love the style of your work! I want our special day to be real, candid, and capture the beauty! Just really want to vibe with the person who will be photographing our big day! I want to trust that they will get the type of shots I’m looking for and capture the emotion and beauty of the day.”

And from the beginning, Shannon and Austin trusted me to do just that—to see the beauty in the in-betweens. To hold space for their truth and to photograph it all as it unfolded: quiet, loud, sacred, and joyful.

They exchanged vows at the stunning St. Mary’s Catholic Church downtown—followed by portraits with golden hour light pouring through stained glass windows. After that truly magical quiet moment together, they then hosted the ultimate partyyyy at Swallows Eve, just outside the city. 

Shannon and Austin sharing an intimate moment sitting in the pews at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fredericksburg, with golden hour light glowing through the stained glass windows.
Shannon and Austin standing together in the center aisle of St. Mary’s in Fredericksburg Texas, embraced in the peaceful afterglow of their ceremony.
Romantic close-up of Shannon and Austin under her veil during golden hour portraits inside St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
Reception table setup inside the barn at Swallows Eve, gold accents, candles, and elegant floral centerpieces for a candlelit dinner party atmosphere.
Exterior view of the barn at Swallows Eve in Fredericksburg Texas, a refined Hill Country wedding venue surrounded by agave plants and oak trees.
Ceremony florals and entrance setup in the Fireside Courtyard at Swallows Eve, featuring greenery and blush-toned blooms against the stone fireplace backdrop.
Wedding party seated and standing in the courtyard at Swallows Eve, dressed in elegant black and champagne tones, posed in soft natural light.
Evening reception table details at Swallows Eve, glowing with taper candles, champagne glassware, and floral arrangements for a warm, romantic feel.
Shannon and Austin dancing during their grand entrance at Swallows Eve indoor reception barn, surrounded by guests and big cutouts of their dog’s face.
Flash flatlay of late-night reception details including disco balls, matchbox favors, a slice of cake (with a dog figurine stealing a bite!), and Shannon’s silk clutch—capturing the playful energy of their Fredericksburg wedding celebration.

Swallows Eve: A Fredericksburg Texas Wedding Venue

Just a few miles outside downtown Fredericksburg, Swallows Eve is nestled on 35 acres of Hill Country beauty. Shannon and Austin chose this spot for their celebration, and it was the perfect backdrop for their elegant, candlelit dinner and epic dance party.

The Barn, with its soft gray exterior and grand doors, hosted their indoor reception. Inside, the tables were dressed in cream and light sage linens, adorned with gold taper candle holders and lush florals, creating a warm, glowing atmosphere that felt like an elevated dinner party. The Fireside Courtyard, with its southwest-inspired fireplace and surrounding oak trees, served as the setting for wedding party portraits and cocktail hour, offering a relaxed space for guests to mingle and enjoy the evening.

Wide view of the gray barn at Swallows Eve in Fredericksburg, Texas—a refined Hill Country wedding venue with white barn doors and surrounding agave landscaping.
Personalized welcome sign for Shannon and Austin’s wedding day at Swallows Eve, styled with romantic blush and peach florals.
View of the back of the barn at Swallows Eve with open-air stairs leading down to the Fireside Courtyard, surrounded by large oak trees and soft natural light.
Outdoor lounge area in the Fireside Courtyard at Swallows Eve, with white modern seating and a fire pit—perfect for cocktail hour mingling under the trees.
Stone fireplace in the courtyard at Swallows Eve adorned with cascading greenery and blush-toned florals, one of the couple’s romantic ceremony and photo backdrops.

Getting Ready at Swallow’s Eve Outside Fredericksburg, TX

The day began at Swallows Eve, tucked in the hills just outside Fredericksburg. Shannon made sure I had all her details set aside for flatlays—which meant I had so many gorgeous details to play with for photos—and it was the perfect slow start to the day. This venue is such a calming space to begin a wedding day, with so much natural light and room to breathe.

Shannon’s lace bridal gown hanging on a custom wooden hanger with pearls and ivory satin bow accents, captured inside the getting ready suite at Swallows Eve.
Flatlay of Shannon’s wedding details at Swallows Eve featuring her invitation suite, heirloom gold ring tray, floral accents, and velvet vow booklet.
Full view of Shannon’s elegant lace wedding gown with sweetheart neckline hanging on a black barn door inside the Swallows Eve bridal suite.
Close-up wedding flatlay of engagement ring and wedding bands nestled in a velvet ring box, styled with fresh florals and sage green linen at Swallows Eve.
Minimal ivory reception dress hanging beside wood-paneled walls—Shannon’s chic second look for her Fredericksburg Texas wedding celebration.
Detail flatlay of floral-covered photo album, fresh blooms, and rings—styled on a green linen background in the getting ready space at Swallows Eve.
Shannon and Austin sharing their first look in the Fireside Courtyard at Swallows Eve, standing in front of the stone fireplace adorned with florals and taper candles.
Shannon and Austin smiling at each other during their Fredericksburg Texas wedding first look, framed by soft sunlight and romantic greenery.
Golden light portrait of Shannon and Austin holding hands outdoors at Swallows Eve, surrounded by oak trees with her bouquet in warm, peachy and sage green-toned florals.

We also carved out time for some wedding party portraits before heading to the ceremony, and they ended up being some of my favorites. Everyone was relaxed and having fun, and the mix of standing and seated poses felt really natural. You could feel how excited they all were to celebrate their people.

Full wedding party portrait in the Fireside Courtyard at Swallows Eve, with Shannon and Austin centered and their crew posed naturally around them in black and champagne tones.
Shannon and Austin standing together with their wedding party at Swallows Eve, surrounded by soft light, florals, and oak trees in Fredericksburg, TX.
Black and white candid of the wedding party cheering for Shannon and Austin, captured during portraits at Swallows Eve’s southwest-inspired courtyard.
Playful wedding party moment as Shannon and Austin smile at each other, with bridesmaids seated and laughing nearby—captured outside at Swallows Eve.

Ceremony at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fredericksburg

St. Mary’s Catholic Church is one of the most beautiful cathedral-style spaces in the Hill Country—especially when the light hits just right through the stained glass. Shannon and Austin’s ceremony was heartfelt and sacred, with loved ones filling the pews and light streaming in from every angle.

Some of my favorite shots from the whole day came from above during the ceremony—quiet, reverent frames that captured the moment without interrupting it. There was so much peace and tenderness in the room.

Exterior stone bell tower of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fredericksburg, Texas, captured against a clear blue sky.
Interior view of the cathedral-style sanctuary at St. Mary’s, with guests seated and warm light filtering through the stained glass windows.
Full view of Shannon and Austin’s wedding ceremony from the back of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, with the altar and vaulted ceilings in frame.
Twin steeples and limestone exterior of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fredericksburg, a historic and iconic Hill Country wedding ceremony location.
Shannon and Austin walking up the aisle together after saying “I do” at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, beaming as newlyweds.
Candid moment of Shannon and Austin kissing at the end of the aisle with golden light streaming in from the windows right after the ceremony at St. Mary’s in Fredericksburg.
Black and white portrait of Shannon and Austin smiling together post-ceremony, Shannon with bouquet in hand, Austin holding Shannon's train, and both full of joy.
Romantic portrait of Shannon and Austin kissing outside the entrance of St. Mary’s, sunlight glowing through her veil as guests cheer nearby.
Full group photo of Shannon and Austin with all their guests in front of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fredericksburg, celebrating in the golden afternoon light.

Breathtaking Golden Hour Portraits in the Church

After the ceremony, we stayed back in the church for a while longer for their couples portraits—and I’m so glad we did. The sunset pouring in through the stained glass turned the entire space golden.

Shannon posted on IG:

“Still can’t get over our sunset photos in the church. The moment felt like such a blessing – quiet, sacred, and full of peace.” 

And I couldn’t agree more. Sometimes the best portraits come from simply pausing. It was such a beautiful moment of just the two of them. ♡

Shannon and Austin sitting close together in a wooden pew inside St. Mary’s Catholic Church, wrapped in golden sunset light filtering through the stained glass.
Close-up portrait of Shannon and Austin sharing a quiet moment in their pew, framed by soft evening light inside the Fredericksburg church.
Shannon resting her head on Austin’s shoulder during golden hour portraits inside St. Mary’s Catholic Church, bouquet in hand and veil draped softly.
Sunset-lit portrait of Shannon and Austin holding each other at the altar inside St. Mary’s, warm light filling the cathedral-style space behind them.
Black and white portrait of Shannon and Austin in a pew in front of a stained glass window and Austin kissing Shannon's forehead.
Romantic full-length portrait of Shannon and Austin standing in the center aisle of St. Mary’s during golden hour, her veil trailing down the aisle in glowing light.
Black and white portrait of Shannon and Austin embracing by the stained glass windows in the church, showing the quiet and grand nature of the moment.

The Partyyyyy Back at Swallows Eve

Dinner by candlelight & dancing into the night

By the time we arrived back at Swallows Eve, the sun had fully set—and the entire reception took place by the glow of candlelight and one epic celebration. Shannon and Austin’s dinner felt like an intimate evening gathering with their favorite people: soft cream and sage linens, gold taper candles glowing down long tables, and florals everywhere you looked. It was elegant and cozy all at once.

Then the dancing began—and let me tell you, everyone partied. Even the grandparents were out there on the dance floor, waving glow sticks and smiling under the lights. There were big face cutouts of their dog (who absolutely stole the show), and I’m still laughing at the way he made his rounds during the group dances. Later that night, we pulled out some of their reception details and captured a few fun flash flatlays: little disco balls, their matchbox party favors, Shannon’s silky bridal clutch, and a photo of their cake featuring the cutest dog figurine sneaking a slice. Every bit of it felt playful and joyful and so them.

Group of wedding guests cheering and dancing with Shannon and Austin on the Swallows Eve reception dance floor, kicking off the evening celebration.
Black and white photo of Shannon and Austin dancing in the center of the crowd, surrounded by loved ones under glowing reception lights.
Shannon and Austin smiling at each other at the head table during their candlelit wedding dinner at Swallows Eve, floral centerpieces in view.
Long dinner table glowing with taper candles and florals at the Swallows Eve wedding reception, with guests enjoying a seated meal together.
Shannon and friends snapping selfies and laughing together with a flash camera on the dance floor at the Swallows Eve wedding reception.
Guests of all ages—including grandparents!—waving glow sticks and dancing late into the night at this joyful Fredericksburg Texas wedding.
Shannon dancing with friends at the Swallows Eve reception, smiling and hyping each other up under colorful party lights.
Austin and Shannon holding up a large face cutout of their dog during the dance party—one of the most fun and memorable moments from the night.
Austin twirling Shannon on the dance floor at Swallows Eve, her hat and gown catching the reception lights as guests cheer them on.
Flash flatlay of Shannon’s bridal clutch, wedding rings, matchbook favors, and disco balls—styled with cake slices and heart sunglasses for a playful, late-night reception look.
Close-up flatlay of cake slice with a dog figurine “sneaking a bite,” surrounded by disco balls and bridal accessories at this Fredericksburg Texas wedding.
Creative flash flatlay of Swallows Eve wedding reception details, including mini disco balls, heart-shaped sunglasses, matchboxes, rings, and pearl accessories.

Favorite moments on film

Flatlay of Shannon and Austin’s wedding rings, soft peach florals, and velvet ring box—captured on 35mm film for a timeless detail moment.
Candid 35mm film photo of Shannon getting her makeup done the morning of the wedding, wearing a striped button-up and smiling softly.
Close-up 35mm portrait of Shannon’s lace gown and pearl bridal clutch, highlighting the texture and delicate details of her wedding day look.
Shannon and Austin sitting on the steps outside St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fredericksburg, sharing a quiet post-ceremony moment on 35mm film.
Timeless seated portrait of Shannon and Austin outside the church, captured on 35mm film with soft tones and natural light.
Romantic 35mm image of Shannon and Austin sitting side by side during their candlelit ceremony, light glowing through her veil and stained glass behind them.
Fredericksburg wedding photographer, Kari, sharing a sweet moment with Shannon while she was getting ready for her Swallows Eve wedding

“The photos are INCREDIBLE 😭🤍✨🫶 thank you so much for capturing such a special day. It really felt we relived the entire day going through all of them. You’re so talented!!! thank you thank you thank you!!!!!!” -Shannon

Shannon and Austin, thank YOU for trusting me to document your day. You were the kindest souls—so grounded, so joyful, so present—and I’ll never forget the way you made me feel seen and appreciated while I was documenting you.

Your love is full of light. It was an honor to capture it.

♡ With joy, Kari

The Wedding Vendors

Portrait of Kari standing along a classic Texas Hill Country cedar fence in Fredericksburg Texas

Planning your own Fredericksburg Texas wedding?

Whether you’re getting married at Swallows Eve or somewhere else in the Texas Hill Country, you can count on me to capture the honest moments, the in-between magic (like those golden hour portraits), and all the joy as it unfolds around you! I would love to celebrate and document your day.

Reach out to me here.

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