What It’s Like to Photograph a Wedding at The Veranda in San Antonio
Some venues ask a photographer to work around them. The Veranda does the opposite. The light, the architecture, and the layout of the grounds all work in favor of the photographs, and the day moves easily because of it.
We have photographed several weddings at The Veranda, and this guide pulls together what we have learned about working there: where the light is soft, where the photographs tend to happen, how couples use the spaces, and what is worth asking when you tour.
About The Veranda
The Veranda sits on the grounds of a historic mansion at 1746 Lockhill Selma Rd in San Antonio. It is an intimate property with classic architecture and mature trees, and its scale suits couples who want a considered, personal day.
Light Under the Oaks
A large canopy of oak trees filters the light across the grounds. That gives us plenty of indirect light for portraits and for the photographs of the day as it unfolds, and it makes the light easy to work with. The ceremony space photographs well in every season, which you can read more about in our month-by-month guide to getting married in San Antonio.
Where the Photographs Happen
Most of the posed photographs happen near the ceremony area and at the front of the venue. The architecture of the building gives couple portraits and posed photographs a timeless, elevated backdrop. Between those moments we stay back and photograph the day as it happens.
Spaces That Work the Way You Plan
The Veranda has several distinct spaces, so couples have real options when they plan. We have seen a custom cigar bar and a whiskey tasting set up in the cottage, and we have seen the same area used for the guys getting ready. How each space is used depends on what a couple plans and how they want the day to feel. If a cigar bar is on your mind, our post on why cigars are returning to weddings has more.
A Ceremony Space That Adapts
The ceremony space is intimate and versatile, with a timeless look. It also lends itself to a plan B if the weather changes, which makes the day easier to plan with confidence. Our guide to having a rain plan for your San Antonio wedding photos explains how to set one up.
Dinner and Catering
With onsite catering by Spice of Life, The Veranda offers buffet style or dinner service, depending on how elevated a couple wants the atmosphere. That choice shapes the pace of the evening, so it is worth deciding early. It lets us build the timeline around it.
A Day That Stays Close Together
Everything at The Veranda is close together, so the logistics of the day are simple. There is little travel between the different parts of the day, which leaves more of it for the moments themselves.
Weddings We Have Photographed at The Veranda
Planning Notes for Couples Considering The Veranda
Tour at the time of day you plan to hold the ceremony, so you can see how the oaks shape the light.
Decide early how you want to use the cottage and the other spaces.
Ask the venue how its plan B for the ceremony works.
Choose between buffet style and dinner service early, since it affects the evening timeline.
Share your timeline with your photographer before the day. Our guide to how many hours of wedding photography you need can help you decide on coverage.
If you are considering The Veranda, we are glad to talk through how your day could work there. You can learn more about how we work on our wedding photography page, or reach us through our contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is The Veranda in San Antonio? The Veranda is a historic mansion venue at 1746 Lockhill Selma Rd in San Antonio, in the Castle Hills area.
What is the light like at The Veranda? A large canopy of oak trees filters the light, which gives plenty of indirect light for portraits and for photographs throughout the day.
Does The Veranda have a plan B for weather? The ceremony space is versatile and lends itself to a plan B if the weather changes. Confirm the details of the venue’s plan with them directly.
Does The Veranda offer onsite catering? Yes. Onsite catering offers buffet style or dinner service, depending on how elevated a couple wants the atmosphere.
Venue: The Veranda, 1746 Lockhill Selma Rd, San Antonio, TX
