Why Dresser Mansion is Tulsa’s Best Venue for a Whimsical & Cinematic Wedding

Aubrey & Jeremiah kiss in front of the mansion’s iconic teal front door at dusk.

The Dresser Mansion, isn’t just a wedding venue, it’s an experience.

With its 1920s Italian Renaissance architecture, Dresser Mansion brings a destination-wedding feel to the heart of Tulsa. From my experience photographing there, the architecture and the interplay of natural and artificial light create an old-world, painterly backdrop that beautifully elevates every love story.

Beyond aesthetics, when deciding what makes a great venue great, diversity of spaces, good lighting and privacy are top factors for me. Let’s break it down:

Diversity of spaces: You want diversity of spaces so you can have more background options, simple as that, it makes for a more interesting, more beautiful and diverse gallery, who wants to take all their photos in the same spot? amirite?

Good lighting: This is such a crucial and often overlooked factor for brides when choosing a wedding venue, specially for the ceremony spaces! The dresser Mansion has a sweet little corner in their courtyard for outdoor ceremonies, it’s shaded so even when you are getting married during the day, you (the couple) are in a photogenic light that will look very good. I believe the study would also be a great area to host a small and intimate ceremony.

A little pocket of shade for their outdoor ceremony

Some of the best photo spots at Dresser Mansion:

Above:

1) Jeremiah and his brother posed in front of the north facing entrance which has adorable arched doors, this was a great spot for family/bridal party portraits.

2) Aubrey writes down her vows on the whimsical canary-yellow bridal suite. Such a cute spot for getting ready photos as well.

3) The grand staircase was such a special place for this bridal shot, you could also do first looks here as well as couples photos, what a vibe!

4) The dining room area was moody and had gorgeous cinematic lighting. Made for great dinner shots.

5) One of the many gorgeous terraces at the mansion, a must for bridals or couples photos!

6) The front entrance, also a must, look at the details! … And the pop of color! so stylish.

Lighting tip:The sun sets of the Arkansas river and this is the best time to do photos, specially couple’s photos, it can be tricky to make this happen but it pays off!

The natural flow: I think italians are known for being some of the best hosts around. So when designing their homes, a smooth flow for family and friends to move around the space was of outmost importance. The mansion, in its true italian style is no different, so whether you are having 50 people at your wedding, or 250 guests (their limit) it feels comfortable, cozy and chic.

Here are a few more photos I shot here where you can see these features in action:

If you are planning a wedding at Dresser Mansion and want a photographer who knows every nook and cranny and specializes weddings at historic homes, I’d love to chat.

Send me an inquiry right here!