A Black Tie Fall Wedding | St. Mary’s Fredericksburg | The Inn at Hill Cottages | Fredericksburg Wedding Photographer

This St. Mary’s Fredericksburg wedding day was so special! Rachael and John, with the help of their families and friends (and the lovely Taylor Bible of Taylor Bible Weddings) planned the most exquisite black tie fall wedding. The ceremony was held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fredericksburg, Tx., and the reception was at The Lodge at Hill Country Cottages just down the road!

It was a big priority for Rachael and John to say their vows in a church, and there is truly nothing like the splendor of St. Mary’s Fredericksburg! It is absolutely stunning. It is a gorgeous church and it made for very timeless ceremony and portraits. The fun part about Rachael and John’s day is that since they had two locations, they got to get photos at two locations! I really love the classic look of the church portraits, but the photos we took during golden our at the venue are so fun and beautiful, too! Rachael and John love the hill country, so it was important for us to make time to take advantage of their venue’s expansive views of rolling hills in Texas. Their cocktail hour on the bulb-light framed outdoor patio was held snuggly in place by the property’s gorgeous oak and pecan trees. Bright choruses of laughter and joyful greetings from guests could be heard from inside the stunning reception hall where the florals couldn’t help but almost steal the show! Beth at Exquisite Petals did such an incredible job – I just loved the rich fall tones in Rachael’s bouquets, and she was even able to incorporate some unique rustic touches with some perfectly placed pheasant feathers.

This day was also so packed full of special, heartfelt touches and interactions between loved ones. Rachael’s absolutely stunning engagement ring is a loving ode to generations past, as the center diamond is a family heirloom passed down from Rachael’s grandmother. The moments of high emotion might be some of my favorites, like Rachael’s first look with her dad and grandmother. He was so ready to see her in her gown, and his reaction is truly what every daughter hopes for on their wedding day. Rachael’s bridesmaids also did not disappoint, and be sure to look for Rachael’s best friend and maid of honor, Bailey, breaking into such heartfelt tears!

It’s almost time for me to let you scroll through this really beautiful fall wedding, but I can’t let you go until I prep you for the ceremony! John and Rachael’s reactions to seeing each other for the first time was so sweet. Not only that, but it’s very clear that everyone else there was feeling it big time, too! There are some moments when the groomsmen and Rachael’s brother peer down the line of groomsmen to steal a glance at John as he sees Rachael come through the church doors, and it is absolutely priceless. There’s another moment where Rachael is halfway down the aisle and she’s so close to breaking into tears as she looks at John, and meanwhile her sweet dad is on her right, looking just past the camera, eyes locked on Rachael’s mom with a tearful smile. It is an incredibly sweet moment. Those are some of my favorite ceremony shots of all time! The last photo I want you to be on the lookout for is the very last photo of Rachael getting into the getaway car. It is so classic and beautiful with dappled sunlight reflecting on the family’s vintage Stingray (another incredibly fun and unique touch to this day!), and if you look closely you can see Rachael’s dad in the reflection taking photos of their exit on his phone. So sweet! That is one of my favorite shots, ever!!!

Okay, as you may have guessed I could gush and gush about this wedding and this couple, but as usual the photos will speak better for themselves, so I’ll let them do the rest of the talking! Rachael and John – I’m so honored that I got to document your beautiful wedding day. It was such a joy and you two are just my favorites!! Enjoy the blog post of your St. Mary’s Fredericksburg wedding!

Vendors ||

Photography – Emily Boone

Planning – Taylor Bible Weddings

Ceremony Venue – St Mary’s Catholic Church Fredericksburg

Reception Venue – The Lodge at Hill Country Cottages

HMU – Lux Beauty

Florals – Exquisite Petals

Invitation Suite – Studio W Designs

Band – T. Cole and The Austin Party Band

Bridal Salon – Signature Bridal Salon

Ceremony Live Streaming – Cordially Invited 

Bride’s Ring – Center diamond is a family heirloom from the bride’s grandmother. Avant Garde Jewelers reset the diamond.

Catering – Feast and Merriment

Rentals – Class A Rentals