A First Anniversary Session at Hotel Emma: John and Jennifer Return to Where They Were Married
A first anniversary is a good reason to go back. This fall, John and Jennifer returned to Hotel Emma at The Pearl, where they were married a year earlier, and we spent part of the day with them.
How We Know John and Jennifer
We did not photograph their wedding, but we were part of how it began. In July 2025 we photographed John's proposal to Jennifer at the Japanese Tea Garden, and we shared a moment from that morning on Instagram. Their first anniversary brought us back together, this time inside the hotel where they said their vows.
A Location With Limits
Hotel Emma sits inside the historic Pearl Brewery building, and in our experience the hotel does not allow interior photography for people who do not have a wedding booked there or another connection to the property. John and Jennifer had that connection. They were married at Hotel Emma, and John has stayed close with the hotel's event coordinator since the wedding. That relationship is what made it possible for us to work inside.
It is not something every couple can count on, which is why it is worth saying plainly. If you would like an anniversary session at a hotel, the answer to whether you can shoot inside usually comes from the venue's events team, and the earlier you ask, the better.
Inside Hotel Emma
We worked in three places: the Library, a hallway just off the lobby, and John and Jennifer's suite. Photographing indoors in a hotel like this means working with the light that is already in the room and keeping to the pace the hotel sets. With no schedule pressing on the afternoon, John and Jennifer could simply be in the places they had been a year before, and we followed along.
Why Go Back to Where You Were Married
A wedding day moves quickly. An anniversary session is slower. Returning to the place where you were married gives a couple room to see it again without a timeline, and a year in, the photographs reflect two people who have lived in the marriage rather than two people about to begin it. It is also a way to mark the date with something that is not dinner.
Planning an Anniversary Session
If you are thinking about going back to your wedding venue for an anniversary session, a few things help:
Contact the venue's events team early and ask about interior access, any approvals needed, and the times that work best.
If you built a relationship with the venue during your wedding, use it. It made the difference for John and Jennifer.
Tell your photographer about any restrictions before the day, so the plan fits the rules.
We photograph anniversary sessions for couples whether or not we were there for the wedding. If you would like to talk about one, you can reach us through our contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you take photos inside Hotel Emma? In our experience, the hotel limits interior photography to couples who have a wedding booked there or another connection to the property. Confirm with the hotel's events team before planning a session.
What is an anniversary photo session? It is a session that marks a wedding or relationship anniversary, often at the place where the couple married, proposed, or met.
Do you photograph anniversary sessions for couples you did not photograph at their wedding? Yes. We did not photograph John and Jennifer's wedding, and we were glad to be part of their first anniversary.
For a different side of Hotel Emma, see Carl and Emily's sunset proposal outside the hotel.
