“The stars at night are big and bright…. Deep in the heart of Texas.” Indeed, they are. If you have never heard of that song, two things: You either did not attend elementary school in Texas where you were required to sing it for nearly every school performance, or you have not visited the Lone Star State during Texas Independence Day. Either way, if you want the ultimate romantic backdrop for your wedding, look no further than the great outdoors, in the great state of Texas, specifically, in the city of Austin, which is in the actual heart of Texas. Or, as my mother refers to it: The Holy Land. Austin offers an array of outdoor venues that set the perfect scene for your special day. Here are two outdoor Austin wedding venues that are worth checking out:
Mercury Hall
The Scene:
You can find Mercury Hall on a secluded hilltop in the middle of the city. This unique venue is just a few minutes from downtown Austin, but when you enter the property, you feel like you are in a small country town. The venue features both an indoor and outdoor space, so there’s no need to fear the sometimes-problematic Texas weather.
The Important Stuff:
Wedding packages feature the venue rental in 5 or 10-hour intervals. The rental includes both Mercury Hall (1400 square feet) and the outdoor courtyard (1800 square feet). Combined they seat up to 250 people. If the weather is feeling extra angsty that day however, the hall itself will comfortably seat about 150 guests. There are 75 parking spaces available, so you may need to consider renting a shuttle for guests or creating a carpooling system.
Summary:
Mercury Hall may be the perfect venue for you if you are planning a smaller more intimate event and you want guests to be in the city near downtown and hotels. This location also provides you with a backup plan for your outdoor ceremony, in case the weather does not cooperate that day.
The Inn at Wild Rose Hall
The Scene: If you ever dreamed of becoming a fairy and frolicking through the enchanted forest, then this is the venue for you. The Inn at Wild Rose Hall is a 4500-sq. ft. ranch about 20 minutes outside of Austin in the Texas Hill Country. The venue is both eclectic and charming and is surrounded by a forested area of Texas oak trees. Every inch of space seems to be set up for the perfect photograph. To add to its appeal, it’s the former home of Tommy Shannon, the bass player for Stevie Ray Vaughn! Oh, and did I mention there are farm animals?
The Important Stuff:
There are two main wedding packages available at the Inn. One is the full day option, which includes access to the property for your full wedding day. The other is the weekend package, which gives you lodging for up to 12 people (5 bedrooms plus a sleeper sofa) for two nights and access to the property from 2pm on Friday until 11am Sunday morning. The venue is mostly outdoors, with a small indoor area so, fingers crossed here for great weather (choose your dates wisely). The owners truly value the care of the property so from March to November, the maximum guest count is 150 and from December to February, the maximum number of guests is set at 100. There is parking for up to 100 cars on the property and shuttle service is allowed.
Summary:
The Inn at Wild Rose Hall is one of Austin’s best kept venue secrets and is ideal for you if you are planning a wedding during months of anticipated perfect weather or if you’ve ever had fantasies of being a character in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” It’s a magical place where you can be certain to catch the twinkling lights of the Texas stars.
Final tips for having an outdoor wedding in Austin, TX
These are just two of the unique outdoor venues that Austin offers. Keep in mind that these would be most ideal in perfect weather. Texas’ weather however, can be a bit unforgiving certain times of the year, and late June-September in Austin tends to be extra sweltering. So, unless the idea of seeing sweat in the armpits of all of your groomsmen in your wedding photos sounds creative to you, when planning a wedding in those months, do your guests a favor and consider a venue that also includes an indoor space (with a fully functioning air conditioning unit).
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