Alicia + Peter's Summer Wedding at The Establishment Barn, With Mini Donkeys

Summer at The Establishment Barn is lush. The lawn is deep green, the oaks are full and the gray barn wall stays cool and shaded through the afternoon. We started with Alicia and Peter walking together along the side of the barn toward the sun, so the light wrapped around them from behind instead of hitting them in the face.

That is the trick to a Texas summer wedding: use the shade the property gives you. The side of the barn, the tree-covered grove and the covered pavilion all keep faces soft while the open field is still too bright.

Then the guests of honor arrived: two mini donkeys with cream blankets, white flower garlands and wicker saddle baskets packed with drinks. They wandered the lawn with their handler, nosed at the bouquet, leaned into Alicia's gown and made everyone laugh, Peter included.

Animals are the best way we know to get real smiles out of a couple. Nobody poses with a donkey trying to eat their flowers. You just react, and the photos show it. If you are thinking about live animals at your wedding, plan them for the shaded lawn beside the barn, keep the visit short in summer heat, and give your photographer 15 minutes with them before the ceremony.

Behind them, the ceremony grove was set with rows of wooden benches under tall trees and strings of café lights. It is shaded for most of the afternoon, so it stays cooler than the open lawn and photographs with soft, even light.

We made the couple's portraits right at the edge of the grove, with the donkeys still in tow. Peter in a gray suit and plum tie, Alicia in an off-the-shoulder satin gown, and a lot of laughing.

Alicia and Peter walked in together under the covered timber pavilion off the barn, with guests gathered on both sides. The pavilion is open-air but fully shaded, which makes it a natural choice for a summer ceremony and an easy rain plan any time of year. The open sides let in plenty of daylight, so we photographed it without flash.

Inside, the barn's shiplap walls and French doors gave the reception a warm, natural look, with round tables and cross-back chairs. As the sun went down, the bridesmaids in plum gowns and the flower girl came out for a few night portraits beside the barn.

The night ended on the gravel drive. Guests lined up with sparklers, and Alicia and Peter drove off in a white vintage car, waving from the back seat. Sparklers need full dark to really glow, so we plan the exit at least 45 minutes after sunset.

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