John and Julia’s Texas destination wedding weekend took place just north of San Antonio at The Lost Mission and was captured by Katrina McArdle Photography. John is originally from Houston, while Julia and her entire family traveled in from Michigan. Together, they wanted to fully lean into Texas vibes, choosing a vintage-inspired mission venue that would give their guests an authentic Hill Country experience. Surrounded by oak trees, a winding creek, and blooming bougainvillea framed by mission-style architecture, the venue – with planning by NRG Wedding Planning – set the tone for a full weekend of celebration.
Princess-inspired natural glam
Julia wore a timeless A-line wedding dress with a V-neck and satin train. Princess-inspired waves and natural glam completed the look.
Soft rose bridesmaid dresses
The bridesmaids wore soft rose dresses and carried bouquets filled with textured white, pink, and lavender florals with pops of deep purple.
Style twist: dark pocket squares
The groom and his groomsmen were outfitted in classic black bowtie style with statement-making dark pocket squares.
Ceremony: The Lost Mission chapel
John and Julia’s ceremony took place in front of The Lost Mission chapel with natural shade and dappled lighting. The florals by Botanika were autumn jewel tones, mostly maroons, pinks and whites. In honor of a loved one, there was a presence of tiny butterflies throughout the decor.
Golden hour post-ceremony portraits
During their golden hour portraits with Katrina McArdle Photography, light streamed through the oak trees across the property, creating a gorgeous backdrop along the creek. The setting felt practically out of a storybook!
Cocktail hour: beer burros
During cocktail hour, beer burros from Big City Farm wandered through the crowd delivering drinks and drawing plenty of “awwwws” from the crowd.
You may also like
A colorful, wildflower-filled wedding in the Texas Hill Country
Charming blue and white farm wedding in Texas Hill Country
A romantic English cottage-inspired wedding in Texas Hill Country
Always unpredictable: the best man’s speech
After dinner, the best man delivered a speech that was both hilarious and slightly cringey (in the best way!), nearly causing the groom to disappear into his seat. It was perfect for setting a joyful, lighthearted tone for the rest of the evening. Another round of “Thunderstruck” soon followed, prompting a full-room eruption when Julia landed on the longest turn of the game.
Princess-inspired pearly gown
Later in the night, Julia changed into a form-fitting pearly gown fit for a mermaid princess. The moment was especially fitting after her father’s speech, in which he shared how much she LOVED Disney, and she always reminded him of the Little Mermaid.
A focus on flash photography
The couple wanted to lean into real moments and documentary photos with Katrina McArdle Photography, so with their love for flash photography and film, there was a good mix of fun film images to choose from in their gallery!
