Your wedding day is one of the most significant days of your life, so it’s no surprise that finding the perfect place to say “I do” can be nervewracking. Fortunately, the Lone Star State’s capital city is home to many beautiful venues for your big day. Whether you’re looking for an intimate affair or an elaborate celebration, get ready to tie the knot with this guide to the best wedding venues in Austin.
I Do: 7 Austin Wedding Venues Around the City
While there are near countless wedding venues across Austin, consider this your starting list for some glorious wedding day inspiration. You’ll find a couple of hotels, but most are not-so-conventional spots that offer a unique space to get hitched. And since you’ll need to have a rehearsal dinner before the wedding ceremony, don’t miss this guide to the best restaurants in Austin.
The Driskill
604 Brazos St., Austin, TX 78701
No list on the best wedding venues in Austin would be complete without the Driskill. This historic four-star hotel in downtown Austin has been welcoming visitors for more than a century, including local and international dignitaries. (It’s where President Lyndon B. Johnson and his wife, Lady Bird Johnson, had their first date. How’s that for romantic?)
With its marble floors, column-lined lobby, and Texas-inspired decor, this landmark location will make a lasting impression on you and your guests. Choose from several all-inclusive wedding packages that can accommodate hundreds of guests to fewer than 80. For more ideas on hotel wedding options, be sure to check out this guide on 12 top-rated Austin hotels.
Laguna Gloria
3809 W 35th St., Austin, TX 78703
Art lovers, this one’s for you. Part of The Contemporary Austin museum, Laguna Gloria is a historic landmark spanning 14 acres alongside Lake Austin. The dramatic outdoor sculptures, serene natural setting, and Italian villa-style architecture make for a gorgeous backdrop on your big day.
You could also consider the Jones Center in downtown Austin, which has more of a cosmopolitan vibe in the middle of the city, plus the famed Moody Rooftop offering expansive views of the city and Capitol building.
Barr Mansion, Ballroom & Farmstead
10463 Sprinkle Rd., Austin, TX 78754
If you’re an eco-loving history buff who doesn’t want to skimp on modern style, Barr Mansion is the place where your wedding day dreams can come true. Paying homage to history with an eye to the future, Barr Mansion is a zero-waste facility and the first USDA certified organic venue in the United States.
The former farm home (aka mansion) of William Braxton Barr, the property offers plenty of indoor and outdoor spaces for your wedding ceremony and reception, which can be catered with sustainable, seasonally driven, and artfully presented food and drinks. As for that impressive 18th-century ballroom with those beautiful glass windows? According to Barr Mansion’s website, it was shipped piece by piece from New York. Pretty special, right?
Mercury Hall
15 Cardinal Ln., Austin, TX 78704
With a tagline that reads, “A Hill Country feel in the heart of South Austin,” Mercury Hall is perfect for those who want scenic Texas charm without the drive. From the lovely chapel with wood floors and stained-glass windows to the lush grounds surrounded by trees, Mercury Hall is great whether you’re planning an intimate wedding or just want it to feel like one.
You’ll have your pick of outdoor ceremony and reception options as well as dressing rooms for the wedding party. You can also use the event venue’s list of preferred caterers or bring your own.
UMLAUF Sculpture Garden & Museum
605 Azie Morton Rd., Austin, TX 78704
If you love art as much as you do the great outdoors, the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden and Museum could be the perfect venue for you. Located right next to Zilker Park, this destination makes an ideal outdoor wedding that will envelop you and your guests in the splendor of nature and inspiring art.
While you could rent the space for hundreds of guests, if you’re considering a small wedding, UMLAUF offers more affordable options in the garden during normal museum business hours. From the waterfall to the ceremony arbor overlooking the upper pond, there are plenty of beautiful nooks just waiting to be discovered for your “I do’s.”
Allan House
1104 San Antonio Street, Austin, TX 78701
Stunning and unexpected are two words that come to mind when talking about the Allan House. Originally built in 1883, this historic Victorian home in downtown Austin seamlessly merges past and present.
Towering live oak trees, native Texas flora, and an exquisitely preserved home combine to create a romantic setting that feels worlds away from the city. From the indoor parlors and two private dressing rooms to the outdoor courtyard and verandas, you can arrange your special day whether you have 50 or 250 guests.
The Line Austin
111 E. Cesar Chavez St., Austin, TX 78701
If midcentury modern flair is more your vibe, then this Austin hotel might be the one. After a multimillion-dollar revamp, The Line Austin can work for the most elaborate weddings. The 6,000-square-foot Onyx Ballroom boasts floor-to-ceiling windows and views of Town Lake and Congress Avenue Bridge. (It can also be divided into four separate rooms if you don’t need all that space.)
Meanwhile, the Topaz Ballroom — also featuring floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the lake — can be transformed into your fairy tale wedding space. For a pre-wedding gathering, consider P6, the hotel’s chic sixth-floor rooftop bar offering great views and a fun place to celebrate.
Country Charm: 5 Wedding Venues Just Outside the City
These one-of-a-kind wedding venues are farther away from the city and that’s part of their appeal. It’s like having a destination wedding without ever needing to hop a plane.
The Wildflower Barn
1770 N Elder Hill Rd., Driftwood, TX 78619
Proving that a beautiful location doesn’t have to cost a fortune, the Wildflower Barn is a unique wedding venue that forgoes the fuss and restrictions of many other venues. (Read: It has an open vendor policy, so whether you want to have a food truck or pot luck, a DJ or live band, a s’mores campfire or potato sack race, it’s up to you.)
Almost any area of the property can serve as your ceremony space, but there are two “official” ceremony sites — the Bluebonnet Barn and the Meadow Barn. Each has its own special features, be it a natural wildflower field or a meadow lined with oak trees. No matter what you choose at this sprawling haven, you’re sure to have a day (or night) to remember.
Ma Maison
2550 Bell Springs Rd., Dripping Springs, TX 78620
Just because a trip to Bordeaux, France, isn’t in your budget doesn’t mean you can’t have a spectacular wedding in wine country. Situated on 23 acres in Texas Hill Country wine country, Ma Maison is a French-inspired 10,000-square foot property that boasts Old World architecture amid a natural landscape of live oak trees.
The Great Hall is a luxe indoor wedding space with crystal chandeliers hanging from exposed wood beams. The three outdoor areas — the Grove, which works for small and large ceremonies; the Green Cathedral featuring an antique French gazebo; and the Lake View are also popular ceremony or reception areas. There’s also a covered trellis in the event that Mother Nature offers some unexpected weather.
Villa Antonia
19039 Adrian Way, Jonestown, TX 78645
As its name suggests, Villa Antonia is a sprawling villa that will make you and your guests feel as though you’ve traveled to Italy, but you’re less than 30 minutes away from Austin. Outdoors you’ll find scenic vistas overlooking Texas Hill Country, a stone gazebo, courtyard, dual terraces, and a rose garden and greenhouse.
There’s more than 5,000 square feet of indoor event space, plus a wedding chapel and an impressive staircase — perfect for the bride who wants to make a dramatic entrance. And don’t forget the bridal suite (hello, fireplace and balcony) and groom’s den for the prenuptial preparations.
Chapel Dulcinea
16221 Crystal Hills Dr., Austin, TX 78737
A free wedding chapel, what?! Yes, it’s true. As the self-proclaimed first free wedding chapel in the world, Chapel Dulcinea is a genuine rarity that just so happens to be 20 minutes away from downtown Austin. Created in 2005 by a thoughtful and generous couple (Roy and Pennie) who wanted to pay it forward for other cash-strapped lovebirds, Chapel Dulcinea has since become one of the most beloved wedding venues in Austin.
While there are no strings attached because the chapel is run as a charity, donations are greatly appreciated. Also, keep in mind that this is a venue for the wedding ceremony only — receptions must be reserved elsewhere.
One World Theatre
7701 Bee Caves Rd, Austin, TX 78746
It’s best known as an outdoor space for live music and entertainment, but One World Theatre puts the “fun” in unforgettable weddings. Located less than 20 minutes away from downtown Austin, you can declare your vows inside the theatre, along the tented Grand Piazza, or outside overlooking Hill Country. The stone entryway, exterior staircase, and ivy-lined walls are popular spots for photo opps while the sound system and wood dance floors provide the foundation for a great party.
Get Ready for a Beautiful Wedding at the Best Wedding Venues in Austin
Getting married is one of the most wonderful and unforgettable moments of your life. These wedding venues are certainly worth your consideration, but ultimately the event space you choose must fit your taste, your budget, and your lifestyle.
More than anything, your wedding day is your moment to declare your love and devotion to one another in a setting that feels right for both of you. As long as you keep that in mind, you’ll have beautiful memories that will last a lifetime.
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