Austin is a beautiful place for weddings—we’ve got the Hill Country features, great food, and lots of interesting things to do for out-of-town guests. But wedding planning can also be very stressful. There are so many options here, and it can be hard to narrow it down to what you want and what fits your budget. I should know—I’m currently planning my own wedding for next spring.
Here’s just a selection of some of Austin’s offerings to create the wedding of you and your spouse-to-be’s dreams.
Jewelers
Because you have to start with the ring…
Bell & Bird
Bell & Bird specializes in vintage, one-of-a-kind jewelry from the 18th and 19th centuries, but they also have an in-house design studio where you can shop their vintage-inspired rings and jewelry, from engagement rings to wedding bands to wedding day gifts.
Eliza Page
Full disclosure: This is where my fiance got my engagement ring, and I could not be more in love with it. He had a family stone he wanted to use, and they helped him create a design he knew I would love. Eliza Page also offers full custom services or ready-made engagement rings and wedding bands.
Five Star Jewelry
Five Star Jewelry has been in Austin for more than 26 years, offering custom services and ready-made engagement rings and wedding bands. They also have several options with unique stones should you want something other than a diamond.
Korman Fine Jewelry
This local jeweler has been a go-to in Austin since 1973. The staff here is incredibly knowledgeable and can show you a curated assortment of engagement rings and what their website says is the best selection of large stones in Central Texas. They have a global network of diamond suppliers and a great Austin story.
Venues
Springdale Station
Once a train station, Springdale Station is a unique venue that is a beautiful setting for an urban wedding. There is a ton of indoor and outdoor space—so it’s great for planning for unpredictable weather, and there is ample parking, too. The modern fixtures of the historic space make it a super versatile backdrop.
The Grand Lady
This historic mansion venue was originally built in 1881 as a wedding gift to William Wallace Walton and his wife from her father. Now, The Grand Lady welcomes other couples to start their lives together with space to get ready, multiple options for the ceremony and reception, and the ability to host large or small weddings.
The Retreat at Balcones Springs
This truly is a retreat 45 minutes north of Austin, featuring nine venue options, on-site accommodations, and activities for you and your guests, such as hiking, swimming in the lake, and more, should your wedding be a weekend-long getaway spent reliving your summer camp days. On-site accommodations include cozy cabins, adorable bungalows, and a “honeymoon suite” for the newlyweds.
800 Congress
Right in the heart of downtown Austin, 800 Congress is a raw space that you can customize to fit your vision for the day. The outdoor terrace is perfect for cocktail hour, and the industrial but polished space is great for couples who want a more urban wedding. Plus, it has views of the Capitol and the Paramount Theatre and is close to several downtown hotels.
Chapel Dulcinea
Is an intimate wedding more your style? Chapel Dulcinea has made a name for itself for its gorgeous microweddings and elopements. The chapel can host 12 guests seated or up to 35 standing. Plus, it’s free to get married there Monday–Thursday during certain windows, or at low cost during evenings and weekends.
Food and Drink
Contigo Catering
Contigo Catering has been around since 2014, when it was initially part of a partnership with the Contigo family ranch in Fredericksburg and Contigo restaurant. Now they are a separate business and a great way to give your guests a real taste of Austin. They offer everything from fried chicken with caviar to raw bars and fire tables! They can also coordinate food trucks for your wedding to complement their spread.
MML Hospitality
MML is the famous hospitality group behind some of Austin’s most beloved restaurants—Jeffrey’s, Perla’s, Swedish Hill, Pool Burger, and June’s, just to name a few. And naturally, they have a catering operation that delivers the same high caliber of service and food. Their full-service catering brings the details people love from each of their locations to events of any size all over Texas.
Royal Fig
With locations in both Austin and Dripping Springs, Royal Fig does a ton of weddings in Central Texas and has a stellar reputation. They are full-service and have a bunch of styles to choose from—like family style, stations, buffet, and a plated meal. They are all about offering scratch-made, high-quality, farm-sourced cuisine.
Word of Mouth
Word of Mouth has been a culinary fixture in Austin for over 30 years. They have an array of services, including buffet dinners, seated dinners, and everything in between. After meeting with one of their event planners, they help determine the best options for your event, factoring in the venue, menu, rental choices, and duration. They are a tried and true choice for larger events.
Rentals and Decor
Loot Rentals
Loot Rentals is an event rental company that is every design-loving couple’s dream. They bring a specially curated collection of furniture and décor that blends vintage and new in a modern way. From lounges and bars to dining tables and chairs, let Loot form the backdrop to your most treasured memory.
Bee Lavish
Does your ceremony or reception space need an extra something? Bee Lavish has several arch options available, as well as backdrops, seating such as couches, rugs, tables, and more for rent to give your wedding a style that’s your own.
Bridal Boutiques
Blue Bridal Boutique
Blue Bridal in South Austin started after a bride saw a need for a boutique where every bride could find a dress in her price range. Now, they offer made-to-order gowns ranging from $1,500 to $7,000. Brides can make an appointment and bring up to five guests.
Unbridaled
Featuring designers from across the world, Unbridaled looks for unique dresses across a variety of styles. Since opening their Austin location in 2005, they’ve expanded into Houston and New Orleans with dresses starting at $1,000 and going up to $10,000. Brides can bring up to three guests to their appointment.
a&bé bridal shop
The Austin location of a&bé wants wedding dress shopping to be fun, creating a space where brides can relax and celebrate. Brides can also see what the shop has in stock on the shop’s Pinterest page, with price ranges for each designer. Appointments require a $25 hold, and brides can bring up to four guests. Gowns range from $1,200 to $3,000+.
Blush Bridal
Blush Bridal Lounge has a great shop on North Lamar with a wide selection of bridal gowns and accessories by the biggest designers and local and indie artisans. Appointments are required and run 1.5 hours long. You can have a total of five guests, including the bride—so choose your party wisely.
Photographers and Videographers
That’s Amoré Films
That’s Amoré Films can give your wedding a cinematic touch. Owner Anthony DiFonzo has been producing wedding films for more than nine years, creating films and highlight reels that are unique and elegant. Having a destination wedding? That’s Amoré Films will film elopements and weddings worldwide.
Nikk Nguyen Photo
Nikk Nguyen and the photographers at Southern Love Studio deliver timeless, photojournalistic-style photography for your big day. Nguyen has over 200 reviews for his wedding photography and is passionate about capturing candid moments.
Amanda Jackson Photography
Amanda strives to capture the magic and invites authenticity while documenting the essence of your special day. With comfortable vibes and lots of laughter, she specializes in moments. She captures not only posed and candid moments of your day but also the way you felt.
Aurelia Baca Photography
Aurelia Baca is a climate and weather scientist turned wedding and elopement photographer who works in Austin and Denver. Her work has been published in the New York Times, Junebug Weddings, HuffPost, Greenwedding Shoes, Brides of Austin, and more. She specializes in luxury, candid photography with a fine art touch.
Entertainment
The Nightowls
If you want to guarantee your guests have a fantastic time and stay on the dance floor, hire The Nightowls, a popular Austin band known for their dynamic covers and uplifting live performances. They’ve been performing at weddings and other events for over a decade and are total pros.
Look No Further Entertainment
This company handles everything to create the vibe of your wedding—from a DJ, audio equipment for the ceremony and toasts at the reception, dance lighting, and concert grade equipment to even a photo booth.
Quick Draw Photo Booth
It’s hard to describe the experience that Quick Draw Photo Booth adds to a wedding but, trust us, it’s hilariously entertaining, and your guests will love you for it. They’ll jump into a tent and pose for photos and drawings while also singing karaoke, while a guy with a headset microphone does stand-up comedy—all at the same time. The drawings and photos are great favors, too.
Special Touches
Vinyl Record Guest Book From After The Tone
Let your guests leave you a “voicemail” on a vintage-style phone that After the Tone then turns into a vinyl record. Couples get to pick their style of phone, which is then shipped directly to you before the wedding. Just ship it back afterward, and you’ll have a personal vinyl of all your voicemails in just a few weeks.
Champagne Trailer From Silvercloud Trailer Events
Silvercloud’s 12-foot trailer serves perfectly chilled champagne, rosé, and other wine varietals from four beverage taps on the side. Plus, it’s a great photo opportunity for guests.
If you’d like to be included in our wedding guide, please reach out to dorothy@365thingsaustin.com.
