Taking engagement photos is a great way to capture the excitement before marrying your soulmate. These sessions give you and your significant other an opportunity to get to know your photographer, loosen up in front of the camera and practice some fun poses before the big day. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite places to take your engagements.

Check em out! 
 

#1 Your venue:

Why not make the most of this special spot by snapping your engagement photos at your venue! (Photocred: Misty)

#2: Your property: This couple decided to shoot on Lake Travis. It was unique, intimate and you can't beat that sunset! (Photocred: Steve)

#3 An Open Field: We love a simple, natural open field. With no distractions, this choice makes for romantic and fun shots! (Photocred: Misty)

 #4 The Sekrit Theater: This location is super trendy. The glass conservatory makes for awesome shots and the bus is so unique! (Photocred: Ashley)

#5 The Palmer Event Center: This location is a go-to. With it’s large trees, water and skyline this makes for a diverse shoot! (Photocred: Aleisha)
 

#6 Mayfield Park: Who wouldn't love to be photobombed by a gorgeous peacock? This location has a gorgeous stoop, flowers and lots of greenery. Not to mention it is around the corner from #7 Mount Bonnell! (Photocred: Aleisha)

#7 Mount Bonnell: Met your significant other in Austin? Head over to one of Austin’s famous landmarks. The view is amazing! (PhotoCred: Keira)

 

Last DancePrivate Last Dance

We are talking about a private last dance. This is a scheduled last dance for only the newlyweds.

This is the way it works best:

1. Your coordinator will ask everyone to exit the building for your grand exit, including all staff and family.

2. The DJ will start the song you have previously chosen, and leave the room as well, but stay within hearing range and return at the end of the song. At this point in the night you will both probably be a little tipsy, and will love dancing to your song together. 

3. Meanwhile, your coordinator will get everyone in place to for your Grand Exit. Most of the time the bride and groom are just waiting for their coordinator to get sparklers in the hands of your your 100 +, probably intoxicated, friends and family. While this is super entertaining to watch, it is not the best way to use the time you spent so much money and energy planning. 

4. You will enjoy this (possibly first) moment alone as newlyweds. No cameras, no distractions, just the two of you. 

5. When the song is over, your DJ will return to change the song and announce your exit! You will be whisked away to spend your lives together!!

So tell your coordinator that you want to add this into the timeline, you'll be so glad you did. 

It was a pure and simple reception that focused on celebrating with family and friends, good food and drinks. They got married outside, and it was a perfect day for it. It was sunny with a breeze, and we watched groups of spring breakers float the river while we setup. The coordinators at Hideout said it is hard to watch some weekends lol! When the sun went down it was a lovely night, not too hot to dance. The bar was stocked with more than any wedding could finish in one night, so we hope there was an after party too!

 Amber and David are a beautiful couple, and it was an honor to be a part of such a special day in their lives. Here are a few of our favorite photos from the day. 

Amber and David, 

At Toast, we don't always get to work together, so we are always excited when a bride books multiple services from us. We had a blast working together for your wedding! Thank you for booking Toast Entertainment!

I hope you both had as much fun as we did, and that you are enjoying life as newlyweds. It will still be some time before your full gallery is finished, but we can't wait to send you the rest of your photos!

Sincerely, 

Hunter, Aleisha, Olga, Wes, Melissa, and all of us with Team Toast. 

Andres and Vanessa have a love story fueled by fate. Their wedding was held at Remi's Ridge at Hidden Falls. Which is one of our favorite venues for their gorgeous chandeliers and of course, the waterfalls at the ceremony site! It was perfectly romantic. We loved being a part of their wedding. Here are a few of our favorite photos from the evening. 

Hidden Falls That Chandelier! One more reason to LOVE Hidden Falls

This is the best first dance photo you can ask for.Pro tip: Don't talk! Just enjoy being together in your first dance like Vanessa and Andres

.  Getting ready at Hidden Falls Getting ready at Hidden Falls Getting ready at Hidden Falls

#BridesmaidSwag Brides take note, your girls want a gift they can use at the reception.

Get Away Car

Vanessa and Andres, 

Thank you so much for choosing Toast Entertainment to provide DJ and Photography services at your wedding this past weekend. We wish you both nothing but the best in your future together. 

Annette and Luis got married just before Christmas. It was an elegant and romantic event. Our favorite detail was the thank you ornaments:

So practical!

The best way to get cute happy dance photos like these is to choose songs that are up beat and remember not to talk through the whole song. Your first dance might be the first time you can really speak to each other, so it is tempting to spend that minute and a half telling each other how excited you are to be married. Instead, focus on having fun and impressing the crowd with your moves.

Old San Francisco Steakhouse Old San Francisco Steak House

The Old San Francisco Steakhouse is so versatile! We love this theme there and the San Antonio vibe. It is always a pleasure to have an event with them. 

#CustomCakeTopperThe custom cake topper!

It was a pleasure to be a part of this beautiful holiday themed wedding. One of our favorites this season!

Makeup: Maddie Thompson with Lash and Lip Makeup

Maddie Thompson with Lash and Lip Makeup Maddie Thompson with Lash and Lip Makeup Maddie Thompson with Lash and Lip Makeup

Maddie did such a good job creating this look! We gave her very minimal instruction and she absolutely killed it. She went way out of her way to do makeup on location and stayed to help with posing and keeping the look fresh throughout photo shoot. THANK YOU MADDIE!

Hair: Lizz Persons

Hair by Lizz Persons Hair by Lizz Persons

Lizz took on this job last minute and was extremely accommodating. The hairstyle lasted for over 12 hours, which was not an easy feat considering our model's hair is typically fine and whispy. She was able to create the perfect style for our hairpiece, even though she had never actually seen it. Thank you Lizz, we couldn't have pulled this off without you!

Maddie and Lizz work as a team for brides often. It was nice to have a cohesive team working together to create the look we were hoping for. If you are still looking for your hair and makeup team, consider these ladies. We were extremely happy with their professionalism, flexibility, and skills.

Floral: Wow Factor Floral

Wow Factor Floral Wow Factor Floral Wow Factor Floral

Wow Factor Floral generously provided the flowers for our shoot. We cannot express our appreciation enough! Again, we gave next to no direction, only a few inspiration photos, and they nailed it. It would not have been the same without these floral masterpieces. We would absolutely recommend Wow Factor Floral to all of our brides. 

The Dress: Once Upon a Bride

Once Upon a Bride Once Upon a Bride Once Upon a Bride

Tabitha at Once Upon a Bride allowed us to borrow one of her dresses for our shoot. Her boutique has a wide variety of dress styles and sizes. All of her dresses are priced in an affordable range and clearly marked. She has everything from brand new, to gently used, to vintage dresses. We didn't see anything that we would not have worn! Also, if you are considering selling your dress, the consignment policy is more than fair!

We also want to thank our Toast Entertainment photographers and videographers who dedicated their time and resources for this photo shoot. #ToastPhotography

We are thrilled to have the opportunity to begin this journey with Events at Cedar Bend. If you are interested in seeing Events at Cedar Bend, we are hosting a happy hour on January 14th from 2-5PM. We will be serving complimentary spiked cider, hot chocolate, and s'mores. Come see us for a tour! We will even give you a $15 gas card to cover your gas!

#TheDress

With the perfect balance of rustic charm and modern elegance, Brodie Homestead is the ideal south Austin wedding venue. Brittany and Taylor's style was perfect for it.

#BridalSuite couples portraits, sneak peek Wedding JewelryWe are in love with these unique earrings.

Brittany and Taylor, we wish you a lifetime of happiness together. Your wedding was lovely and we are honored to have been a part of it. 

Makeup by Mary Martinez - Before Makeup by Mary Martinez - After

This wedding was put together by some of the best vendors in the Austin area. The High Ball provided dinner, Blue Note Bakery provided dessert, and Garmil Land who styled the bride's hair, to name a few. 

The Dance Floor

Having your guests already in the Halloween spirit is a definite bonus, so you know your dance floor will be popular all night. There was an epic flash mob that took the party to the next level. This was a first for us, so keep that in mind if you are looking for a way to surprise your guests with unique entertainment!

#FlashMob Choreographed by Tara Alperin

#Decor

It wasn't all spooky. There were plenty of moments like this too:

We are in love with the black veil!

Congratulations Helen and Paul! Thank you for trusting us to be a part of your wedding. We wish you all the best in your future together. 

Happy Halloween!

We are excited to share this sneak peek of their wedding gallery

The Oaks at Boerne is a beautiful wedding venue with their massive oak trees and restored barn on a scenic hill country ranch. We love the detail that they put into every facet. It is truly the perfect setting to marry the one you love.

Here is a look at some of the amazing floral that we captured. It was picture perfect!

One of the most ROMANTIC moments of any wedding, The First Look:

These two cuties took advantage of the adorable country swing at The Oaks

We are honored to have been a part of this true love story.

Thank you to The Oaks in Boerne for having us, we look forward to working with you again in the future.

Congratulations Charity and Nicholas! We can't wait to share the rest of your gallery with you!

The Alter

It was stunning. With cascading petals and an asymmetric shape, it is almost like it became naturally.

The Mantle

It was unbelievable. Everyone was impressed with how enormous this arrangement was. 

The Bouquets

They were, in our opinion, perfectly sized and complimented the dresses beautifully. 

The Table Runners

They were elegant, and did a lot to transform the space for each guest individually. The greenery was the perfect compliment. 

The Signs

The bar menu, and signs in general had a floral theme. Complimented by greenery and little arrangements, they were incredibly cute. 

Hats off to Petal Pushers Event Floral Design, we are all incredibly impressed by the work you did for Avery's wedding at The Creek Haus. 

Being on time to the shoot is very important! Especially for outdoor sessions as the light is the key to great images! You don’t want to show up late and have to rush through you session as this will show in the final images. Sunset and sunrise are the best times to shoot

Tip# 2 Location Location Location 

The location you chose will greatly impact the final outcome of your images. When picking your location consider the theme of your wedding, what you enjoy doing together, where he proposed, your hobbies and what type of look you want. A great way to communicate what you like is through Pintrest! You can send your photographer images so they can get a better idea of what you are wanting out of your session. ( keep in mind, photography is a type of art, each photographer has a unique style. The images you send to your photographer wont be identical but rather an inspiration for your session.

Tip#3 Coordinate! 

When picking out your attire for the shoot you should both look like you are headed to the same place. Avoid a lot of patterns, prints and logos. Keep it balanced, if one decides to wear a pattern top have the other wear a solid. 

Tip#4 Hair and Makeup 

It is important that you apply more makeup for the photoshoot than you normally would. Even if you are going for a subtle look. Makeup does not show up the same in camera, light bouncing off of the makeup changes the way it looks and can make it less dramatic. I would recommend hiring a professional for both hair and makeup 

Tip#5 Be yourself!  

Your photographer will worry about posing, You just focus on being in the moment and having fun! The last thing you want is to look tense and uncomfortable. The best images are those where the couples are relaxed and in the moment.