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Austin Elopement Venues

How to choose the best venue for your small and intimate wedding in Central Texas

Tips for planning an intimate wedding in the Austin area.

The Austin and Hill Country area is rife with wedding venues but what if your guest count is under 50? Under 20? When you’re not having a big wedding, what is the perfect venue? Consider this is your natural light loving photographer’s guide to choosing the perfect intimate wedding venue in Austin.

You’re looking for the Goldilocks of Austin elopement venues. You don’t want a place that’s too big, making you feel like no one showed up to your party, or a place that’s too small and lacking a variety of photo opportunities.

It’s gotta be just the right amount of space and most importantly – it has to fit your vibe. Are you more about crusty old buildings or are you hoping to spread out a little and enjoy the Hill Country views?

Thankfully you have the option for either or both for your Austin Elopement or Microwedding.

Austin Small Wedding Venue Ideas

Downtown Restaurants

*Restaurant elopements are perfect all in one venues for your guests. Having your wedding at your favorite date night spot sets a romantic mood for everyone invited.*

These types of locations are more about having it all in one place rather than ceremony & reception in different locations. You can show up and get married wham bam!

Downtown & historic buildings

*The Barr Mansion is hands down, my favorite Central Austin venue. The light, the natural beauty of* *the grounds and of course, the beautiful unique ballroom with a wall of windows. It’s just a perfect mixture of nature and structure without feeling overwhelming in size.*

Hill Country Venues with views

I feel like I need to put a caveat here.

Austin has a ton of venues with sweeping panoramic Hill Country views but most of them either aren’t doing small weddings, or are too big to feel like you’re getting your money’s worth out of the space.

There are tons of tiny, older, more generic summer camps which can be great for the outdoorsy couple, but not having access to power for music, lights or for your caterer can be a problem.

Additionally, when choosing an all-outdoor venue you need to think about the weather and time of year you’re having your wedding. Fall & Spring are the most popular because of moderate weather but they might come at a higher price on the weekends because it’s “peak season” in Central Texas.

If you choose an off season date, consider how and when you will want to duck inside for some A/C or heaters.

lucky arrow retreat wedding photos, lucky arrow retreat wedding, hill country wedding ceremony — Lucky Arrow Retreat is just 30 minutes from south Austin in Dripping Springs. It’s great for guest counts of under 80 (maybe 100 max) and works like a summer camp style venue with all your guests able to stay the night on the property with you. The Overlook is a beautiful ceremony site and the event center room is a great place for an indoor air conditioned reception.

pecan springs ranch wedding photography, pecan springs ranch weddings, dripping springs wedding photographer — Pecan Springs Ranch is just outside Austin not quite to Dripping Springs and yet it’s a world away. They are a photographer’s favorite for being so nice and having multiple really great ceremony and portrait location options. Plus the light is really nice. *They are offering small wedding packages as of publishing this articl*e.

*Twinkle lights and dinner outside under the Texas stars are great for micro weddings when you have less than 100 guests.* *Pictured from left, The Plant at Kyle, Lucky Arrow Retreat* *and The Allan House* *in downtown Austin.*

Fredricksburg Wineries & Breweries

jester king hall wedding, wedding at a brewery, austin wedding at jester king, alt girl wedding photographs in austin, austin modern wedding photography — *The Hall at Jester King is just across a field from the brewery itself and has a gorgeous rustic industrial vibe to it.* *A perk when booking this venue is the opportunity to celebrate with strangers and all the great JK beer next door!*

Modern and Micro

Small wedding ceremony at the wildflower center, wildflower center weddings, elope in austin — *The Wildflower Center is one of my favorite fall and spring venues in Central Austin.* *You can book your event by following this link.* I loved photographing this *November Wildflower Center wedding*.

wildflower center wedding photographer — *Laguna Gloria is a great wedding venue for intimate weddings.*

*Laguna Gloria is a great wedding venue for intimate weddings.*

*Sekrit Theater is the most romantic, hidden gem in east Austin.* *Go directly to their booking calendar* *to check your date. It’s very DIY and pretty small but so much fun.* *Consider this as your alternative to the courthouse.*

Of course these are just my favorite selections of the wedding venues in Austin that can hold your small, scaled down wedding. Whether it was COVID cancelling your big wedding, or you’re just not that into spending all that time and money on a party for 250 people, there are many options for an intimate wedding in Austin and San Antonio.

I know that planning a big wedding can be stressful but if you’re thinking about skipping it in favor of a super small wedding or elopement and are ready to book your photographer – contact me using the form below and tell me all about your plans!

Intimate wedding pricing available for Monday-Thursday elopements and weddings in 2021+ beyond. I’m looking forward to hearing from you!

Elopement rates start at $1000

Shoot me a message through this contact form and let’s begin the discovery process! I hope to hear from all of you, no matter your wedding size. xo

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