Commodore Perry Estate Weddings in Austin

I photographed bridal portraits at Commodore Perry Estate years before Auberge restored the property, during a period when the historic estate sat mostly empty. Even then, I loved photographing there. The formal gardens, old stonework, historic architecture, and little corners throughout the mansion made it unlike anywhere else in Austin.
So I was genuinely excited when I heard Auberge was coming in to restore the property and turn it into a boutique hotel.
Today, Commodore Perry Estate is one of my favorite Austin wedding venues to photograph. There is an incredible amount of variety throughout the property. The mansion, suites, formal gardens, Chapel, Sunken Garden, Lutie’s, courtyards, and interiors all give us something completely different to work with.
For couples who appreciate beautiful design and enjoy being photographed, there are few venues in Austin that offer this many possibilities without ever leaving the property.

A Full Wedding Weekend at Commodore Perry Estate

Commodore Perry is especially well suited to a multi-day wedding.
Guests can stay on property, gather for a rehearsal dinner or welcome party, spend the wedding day throughout the estate, and continue the celebration with an after-party without everyone constantly getting in cars and moving around Austin.

Lutie’s is particularly fun for a rehearsal dinner, welcome gathering, or late-night event. I love the green interiors, wallpaper, hanging plants, and intimate feeling of the restaurant. Green is my favorite color, so I have always been drawn to that space.
A wedding weekend also changes the way I photograph the wedding itself. Spending time with the couple, their families, and closest friends beforehand gives me a chance to learn who everyone is and understand the relationships around them. By the time the wedding day begins, I already recognize the people who matter and can pay closer attention to the interactions happening around the room.
That is an important part of my documentary approach. Knowing the people makes it easier to anticipate the moments.

Getting Ready at Commodore Perry

One of my favorite things about photographing here is that the suites do not all look alike. Each one has its own color, wallpaper, furniture, and light, so getting-ready photographs can feel completely different depending on where the couple is staying.
I photograph bridal parties most often in the Mr. and Mrs. Perry Suite. It is large enough for everyone to get ready comfortably, has beautiful natural light, and gives us plenty of room without the photographs feeling crowded. I especially love the pink bedroom for portraits and the quieter moments before everyone heads downstairs. It’s also a great spot for a Khatuba signing ceremony at the dinning table.

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I have also photographed both brides and grooms in the Magnolia Suite. The botanical green wallpaper and window light give it a completely different feeling and work beautifully for portraits. Anna and Mark’s wedding is a good example. Mark got ready there, and the room gave us a strong setting for groom portraits before the day began.

The LaVerne Suite is still on my wish list. I love the rich textures and maximalist pink wallpaper and would be very happy to finally photograph someone there.
For a bride or couple who enjoys fashion and portraits, the interiors at Commodore Perry are hard to beat.

Portraits Throughout the Historic Mansion

There are so many places to create portraits inside the mansion that we never need to rely on one obvious location.
I love the main staircase for a portrait of a bride walking down. The shape of the stairs creates beautiful movement, and the architecture does most of the work without needing a lot of direction.
The small common space at the top of the staircase has also worked beautifully for first looks.

Then there is the mansion bar, library, and study.

The bar works beautifully for relaxed indoor portraits, especially later in the day. The library and study have a moodier, old-estate feeling that is completely different from the gardens. During the day, the light in the library can be especially beautiful and quiet.

There is a slightly aristocratic, Saltburn-like mood in those rooms that I love when a couple wants something more cinematic or fashion-focused. It is also the kind of place that makes you want to linger over a drink late into the evening.

That range is one of the reasons Commodore Perry works so well for couples who enjoy portraits. We can move through several completely different environments without turning the wedding into a long photo shoot.

Where I Photograph When the Austin Sun Is Bright

Knowing the property also means knowing when not to use certain areas.
The Sunken Garden can be extremely bright during the middle of the day. I prefer it later, once the light has softened and the garden begins to photograph the way people imagine it will.

Earlier in the afternoon, one of my favorite locations is the walkway between the mansion and the Chapel. Magnolia trees create shade there, and the light is consistently flattering. It is a great location for a first look or portraits while the gardens are still too bright.

There are also plenty of shaded areas around the mansion and beautiful interior options, so we can work with the light rather than forcing the wedding schedule around one particular photograph.
Later in the evening, I love returning to the gardens when everything feels softer.

Dinner in the Sunken Garden

Outdoor dinner is one of the things Commodore Perry does particularly well.

The formal gardens, stone balustrades, architecture, and landscaping give the estate a European feeling without needing to manufacture that atmosphere with decor. An outdoor dinner here can feel polished and formal while still being relaxed enough for guests to linger at the table.

I especially love a tented dinner in the Sunken Garden. It gives guests the outdoor experience while creating a more intimate environment for dinner.

One of my favorite ways to use the property is dinner beneath the tent followed by dancing or an after-party inside the Chapel. The evening changes character without asking guests to leave the estate.

You can see that garden setting in Jordan and Sam’s elegant dinner at Commodore Perry Estate.

What Happens If It Rains?

A rain plan does not have to ruin the experience at Commodore Perry.

For a Sunken Garden wedding, the practical solution is usually to tent the garden and use umbrellas for the short transitions between the tent, mansion, and Chapel.

I have photographed that setup before, and it works really well. A tented dinner can actually feel especially cozy on a cold or rainy evening.

Anna and Mark’s February wedding is a good example. Their celebration moved beneath a large Sperry tent with heaters when Austin turned unusually cold. We still had plenty of places around the estate for portraits and were able to use the property without fighting the weather.

Intimate Weddings Work Here Too

Commodore Perry does not only work for large tented celebrations.

One of the most memorable weddings I photographed here had only about 15 guests. It took place during the period when gatherings were still very small, and the couple held their ceremony at the estate followed by dinner at Lutie’s.

Because the property had only recently reopened, it felt especially private.

The smaller guest count meant everyone could sit together for dinner and actually spend time with one another. It was a completely different use of the estate than a large black-tie wedding, but it worked beautifully.

See more from this intimate Commodore Perry Estate wedding.

Real Weddings at Commodore Perry Estate

Photographing Your Wedding at Commodore Perry Estate

After photographing portraits at Commodore Perry before the Auberge renovation and then returning for weddings, dinners, corporate events, and celebrations throughout the restored estate, I know the property extremely well.

That experience helps me decide where to photograph based on the light, weather, schedule, and how you actually want to spend your day.

Sometimes that means portraits beneath the magnolias instead of in the bright garden. Sometimes it is a quiet first look inside the mansion. And sometimes it means slipping into the library for five minutes before returning to the party.

The goal is never to turn your wedding into a photo shoot. It is to know the property well enough that we can create beautiful photographs efficiently and leave you plenty of time to enjoy the celebration and the people who came to be part of it.

Planning a wedding weekend at Commodore Perry Estate?