Downtown San Antonio Rooftop Engagement Session
Bri & Ed are one of my sweet San Antonio couples getting married this fall in the heart of downtown San Antonio. With their ceremony at the Chapel of the Incarnate Word, they decided to host their reception at Devils River Distillery. So when it came to choosing the perfect San Antonio engagement location, Devils River Distillery was a no brainer. Their Devils River Distillery engagement photos had it all – cozy speakeasy vibes, vintage urban charm and stunning rooftop views.
Watching my couples dance and pop champagne on city rooftops is my new love language.
The Engagement Session Details
Inside the Devils River Distillery
Originally built in 1919 as a department store, the historic Burns Building is now home to the industrially elegant Devils River Distillery. Nestled just a block from the Alamo and the San Antonio River Walk, it was the perfect location for Bri & Ed’s downtown San Antonio engagement session.
The Distillery has three floors – the basement speakeasy lounge, the main floor Tasting Room, and the Mezzanine. And, we had so much fun exploring it all! While the guys are usually more hesitant about a big photo session, Ed enjoyed grabbing a couple drinks with Bri. He even got behind the antique bar at one point!
Engagement Session Tip #1:
Taking engagement photos at your wedding venue is a great way to get a feel for the space before your wedding day.
I love when my couples choose to shoot their engagement photos at their wedding venue. It’s a great way for us to explore the space and brainstorm allll the ideas. For example, Bri & Ed’s wedding ceremony is taking place in a historic chapel (with minimal natural light). When we were exploring the Distillery, we fell in love with the bright, open space on the 4th floor. I immediately saw it’s potential, and we’re now going to take their wedding party portraits there instead of the chapel. Envisioning where all their special moments would take place made us all giddy with excitement for their day!
Rooftop Engagement Photos
Glam Views of the San Antonio City Skyline
After exploring inside, it was time to pop some champagne on the Devils River Distillery’s rooftop. Bri rocked the whole session in a bedazzled dress, which looked stunning as they danced and toasted amongst the rooftops of downtown. We had an absolute blast, and it was beautiful seeing their love play out above the vibrant streets of downtown SA.
Engagement Session Tip #2: Taking engagement photos at your wedding venue is a fun way to mirror special moments.
One thing I love about couples photography is how it captures your love story throughout every chapter – the surprise proposal, the engagement joy and the wedding bliss. One really fun reason for having your engagement session at your wedding venue is how easy it is to incorporate that storytelling aspect. Having them in the same place allows you to create a moment during your engagement session that you can recreate on your wedding day. For Bri & Ed, they decided to recreate the rooftop champagne moment on their wedding day. I can’t wait to see those photos living side-by-side!
A LOVE NOTE FROM BRI:
“Omg I’m crying! Thank you SO much for the amazing photos. I love them so much!”
Bri really wanted a fun, glitzy vibe for their Devils River Distillery engagement photos, and it was so much fun capturing them among the stunning architecture of the venue and the epic rooftop views of downtown San Antonio. If you’re looking for more downtown San Antonio ideas or locations in the surrounding area, I’ve also curated a list of the Best Texas Hill Country Engagement Session locations.
Looking for a San Antonio wedding and engagement photographer? I love exploring the hidden gems – and rooftops! – of San Antonio with my couples!
Let’s grab a coffee and chat about your love. You can get in touch with me here.
