If you’re still looking for the perfect Austin Wedding Venue, or are curious what a photographer’s perspective on what the best venues are, take a look at my list.
This is simply an in-progress list of my favorite venues that I have shot at before, or ones that I recommend. I’ll try to see this updated as new venues keep coming up each year.
These venues are great “all-in-one” venues with getting ready, ceremony & reception held all on the same grounds.
If you want to stay in the city, Austin has you covered with intimate old mansions, tiny homes and quaint chapels.
In these venues, brides should expect to end the night before midnight, smaller capacities and preferred vendor lists for things like catering, DJs and transportation.
The Barr Mansion
is the best old house venue in Austin. There are no bad places to take a photograph, and I love the way the light falls in the gardens. Now, the cost for Barr Mansion is quite high and you are only using their in-house catering, but I think for the myriad of options you have for ceremony makes it worth it!
Pecan Springs Ranch
You can get creative with this Austin wedding venue and use the space however you want. There are 3 spots on site for your wedding day activities and 2 ceremony locations. Most Austin brides use the inside of the house for dinner and reception dancing and the rolling lush grassy hills outside for cocktail hour in the fresh air. The getting ready suites are filled with natural light and light colored walls and the outside light is perfect year round.
This is a venue with the largest indoor open space that doesn’t feel too big. I love seeing how couples decorate the space for their wedding.
Hill Country vibes but “Austin proper”
These venus are natural, so-called “blank slates” leaving nature and architecture to do most of the decorating
- Laguna Gloria – Website, Ally & Matt’s 2015 spring wedding
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – Website, Dan & Leah’s night wedding, Sarah & Ben’s 2015 spring wedding, Kara & Mark’s intimate wedding, Colorful summertime COVID wedding
Major hotels
Hotel ballrooms are traditional choices for indoor wedding receptions. Many of the larger hotels will have room for 300+ which makes it great for bigger weddings and multicultural events.
The photo options are slightly limited here, as you’ll be sharing space with hotel guests milling about. The upside to staying at the same venue as your wedding: room service brings your hangover cure the next morning.
Hyatt Regency – Website
Omni Barton Creek – Website
Driskill Hotel – Website
Hotel Van Zandt (sleek, modern with swanky vibes) – Website, Wedding Rates
JW Marriott
For intimate wedding venues that work best for small, under 50 people guest counts, check out my blog on Intimate Wedding Venues in Austin
