austin wedding venues
When I first moved to Austin in 2014, the thing I was most excited for was the beautiful wedding venues. Some of these are new since I moved here, some are as old as the city.
As a wedding photographer, I look at venues differently. I see the way light does (or does not) enter the room. I look at how spacious or crowded that room is. I notice the color of the walls & ceiling. I look for side aisles in the chapel. I look at where the sun sets & judge where it will be during photos. I look at the landscape.
Secondly, I look at the spaces available & the versatility. While I will always pray that each of my brides have perfect weather for their wedding day, I know that chances are someone will get rain. Picking a venue that allows you to easily move your entire wedding indoors takes a huge burden off that you probably didn’t know you were carrying. Picking a venue with a gorgeous inside option is even better. Pick a venue that’s beautiful on its own & you don’t have to decorate it. But extra flowers never hurt. ;)
To me, the best wedding venues have beautiful large windows, light colored walls, beautifully landscaped lawns (on the other hand, controlled overgrown fields are just as photogenic), & plenty of space to move around both inside & out.
So, I’ve pulled together a list of wedding venues in & near Austin that check a lot of my boxes & have captured my attention.
A few of these have designated indoor wedding chapels, while some of them feature large enough halls to accommodate ceremonies if they need to move indoors.
Some of these venues are smaller, catering to the intimate weddings that are quickly becoming more popular. Some are on the grander side & allow plenty of space for social distancing.
Some of these offer on-site lodging for the honeymoon or for larger parties.
Some of these wedding venues are in Austin proper, some are in the hill country & offer amazing views.
All gorgeous & would photograph like a dream.
estate wedding venues
These types of venues make my heart go pitter patter. From New Orleans, I love these types of historic homes. I love the history, I love the preservation, I love how they’ve been modernized, I love how romantic they feel.
The Allan House is a Victorian-style home built in 1883 & features open courtyards.
Barr Mansion is an 1898 farmhouse. In 2000, an 18th century artisan ballroom was shipped from New York to complete the property.
The Grand Lady was originally built in 1881 as a wedding gift. The home was moved to Manor & currently resides on 20 acres of land.
Kendall Point was built in 2011 in the Antebellum-style architecture. This enormous white mansion features a grand ballroom.
Woodbine Mansion is a Texas historical landmark built in 1900 & features a large white mansion with gorgeous landscaping.
european-style wedding venues
Who doesn’t want to get married in Europe?? These venues transport you to a different world! Now if only we could have the low humidity levels that Europe has…
Hotel Granduca // old-world Italy
Laguna Gloria // an Italian-style villa
Ma Maison // French-inspired
Villa Antonia // a Mediterranean villa
hill country wedding venues
All of these venues were built with weddings in mind & feature hill country views. While each venue has an outdoor ceremony option, most have an indoor (or covered outdoor) ceremony space, while a few have large enough reception halls that could hold your ceremony if needed. Don’t miss the bridal suites! Every bride deserves to get ready in a room like one of these. Each one is jaw dropping!
lake front wedding venues
One thing Austin has that I love is waterfront views. These venues don’t disappoint! Both on the Colorado River, they each have their own unique setting & style.