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2021 Year in Review: Virtual Venue Tours - Austin, TX Wedding Planners

Here are our top venue tours for 2021! We are featuring some of the most popular venues in Austin, TX and surrounding areas! Don't forget to check out our top picks for 2022 and 2023, as well!

One of our favorite parts of wedding planning is getting to know other vendors, including the beautiful wedding venues across Austin + beyond. The more we see & learn about each venue, the more we're able to recommend the right venue to fit each couple we plan for - and being able to do so is something we truly enjoy & take pride in. We've taken our instagram followers with us on several virtual venue tours this year, and now we're recapping our favorite parts about each venue that we've gotten the chance to know better this year....While this isn't an extensive list of the venues we love and recommend, it is a list of the ones we've spent one on one time with in 2021. So - in alphabetical order because we can't possibly pick a favorite - here's a Year in Review of Venue Tours to help you find a venue that's right for you!

THE ADDISON GROVE - AUSTIN, TEXAS

"The Addison Grove is located less than 20 minutes from downtown Austin. This ideal location provides the best of both worlds for your guests, with both the convenience of the city and the charm of Austin’s Hill Country. Whether you're planning an intimate gathering or an extravagant wedding, our grounds and elegant venue are yours to fill with guests and loved ones for any special event." - The Addison Grove

Our Favorite Part: The Willow Trees Both outdoor ceremony spots at The Addison Grove are surrounded by absolutely gorgeous trees - giving you the perfect natural backdrop no matter the season. "The Grove" ceremony location (pictured above) can also be a perfect space for an outdoor cocktail hour or intimate dinner under the trees. Festoon lights hanging from those beauties during a moonlit dinner sounds pretty magical, right?! **See more photos here on one of our past wedding blogs!

THE ARLO - AUSTIN, TEXAS

"At the gateway to the Texas Hill Country, nestled between Austin’s city center and Dripping Springs, The Arlo provides elegantly designed spaces that feel refreshingly modern and endlessly classic. Purpose-built and with every detail thoughtfully planned to impress, our 15,000 square-foot events venue is luxuriously appointed with beauty, function and comfort in mind. Our open and bright floor plans are well suited to accommodate a wide range of gatherings, juxtaposing an up-scale, metropolitan aesthetic with a panoramic hill country setting." - The Arlo Events

Our Favorite Part: The Lounge This is definitely one of the biggest bridal suites we've seen, and it seriously has EVERYTHING. The lounge (bottom corner photos) has 1600 square feet of space for your wedding party to do some yoga, and sip on mimosas, and get ready before they dance the night away in this high-ceiling, light-filled venue. The incredible beauty bar, the cozy fireplace, and private dressing areas are only a few of the things that make this suite so special. Who wouldn't want to hang out in here allll day on their wedding day?!

**See more photos here on one of our past wedding blogs!

CAMINO REAL RANCH - DALE, TEXAS

"Prairie grasses, desert succulents and cotton candy sunsets serve as a magical backdrop for your special event. Our modern desert aesthetic transports you to the wide expanse of West Texas or to the minimalist topography of Baja California, with the convenience of being minutes from downtown Austin. Tucked in between Austin, San Antonio, and Bastrop, Camino Real Ranch is everything a boutique venue should be: hospitable and stylish without pretension." - Camino Real Ranch

Our Favorite Part: The Greenhouse We love everything about the uniqueness of Camino Real Ranch, from the Quonset Hut to the Marfa-lover's Farmhouse, but The Greenhouse holds a special place in our heart. The Greenhouse (bottom three photos) is a 3,400 square foot climate controlled room with an opaque roof and a wall of vintage windows, giving it the flowing appearance that takes your breath away the second you step inside.

COLTON HOUSE HOTEL - AUSTIN, TEXAS

"Southern hospitality is real, and Texans love to have a good time. In that spirit, Colton House offers plenty of diverse and versatile event space for weddings, work functions, private parties or festival gatherings. From our outdoor lawn and pool space (complete with private cabanas) to our gorgeous Library (with a 16-foot black walnut table and floor-to-ceiling custom bookshelves) to the stunning Penthouse leading out to a rooftop that offers panoramic views of the Texas hill country, you can write your own story, and make each space your own." - Colton House Hotel

Our Favorite Part: The Parlor Room While we are obsessed with all of the different wallpapers and antique rugs throughout Colton House Hotel (and honestly - the entire design aesthetic!!), The Parlor Room (top right photo) has its own vibe that we love. Its sophisticated, yet intimate, ambiance makes it a great space for a Welcome Party during your wedding weekend - which would be perfect because your guests could all stay in a hotel block just steps away. A party you don't have to drive to is the best kind of party, in our opinion!

HIGHPOINTE ESTATE - LIBERTY HILL, TEXAS

"Situated on 42 beautiful acres with sweeping views of the San Gabriel River Valley, HighPointe Estate offers exceptional service and beautiful spaces for your wedding or special event. Our indoor spaces feature chocolate-brown trusses, stunning chandeliers, and loads of natural light streaming through large doors and windows. Outdoors, you'll discover comfortable porches, beautiful gardens with water features, and plenty of room for outdoor fun!" - HighPointe Estate

Our Favorite Part: The Wardrobe Don't get us wrong - this venue is absolutely STUNNING all around, and we couldn't get enough of the gothic arches throughout - especially the windows in the Chapel. But we have to give a shout out to one of the most ingenious things we've ever seen in a bridal suite: the "wardrobe" (bottom right photo). While it may look like a typical wardrobe from first glance, it's basically like the entrance to Narnia. It opens up into a full, walk-in closet where your wedding party can hang dresses and store all of their belongings during the wedding. It makes tidying up for getting ready photos inside the suite easy! **See more photos here on one of our past wedding blogs!

MAE'S RIDGE - JOHNSON CITY, TEXAS

"Just outside of Dripping Springs, our chic and modern barn overlooks 28 acres of incredible Hill Country Views. The interior is crisp and sophisticated. White shiplap walls and ceiling makes for the dream backdrop to any event possible. No matter the weather, natural light enters our climate controlled barn through six grand glass doors and skylights. Guests can enjoy cocktails on the covered patio or at the indoor/outdoor farmhouse bar. Winding trails lead to several special ceremony spots including the Oak Grove and Sunset Ridge." - Mae's Ridge

Our Favorite Part: The Rattan Chairs Again - everything about this venue is gorgeous with its mid-century modern design aspects, inside-out bar, and so much light (including the coolest chandeliers!). But what stuck out to us most during our tour were the rattan chairs (bottom right photo) that come included with the venue rental. These chairs are unique to Mae's Ridge, and no other venue or rental company will have the same ones. They look great on the smooth concrete floor inside during reception, and will be the special design touch everyone will notice. **See more photos here on one of our past wedding blogs!

MA MAISON - DRIPPING SPRINGS, TEXAS

"Nestled on 23 acres in the beautiful wine country just outside Austin, Texas, Ma Maison is a luxury wedding and event venue that combines the warmth of home with breathtaking European-inspired elegance. Inspired by our French heritage, our 10,000-square foot property and immaculately designed outdoor sites provide an oasis of natural beauty and exemplary customer service in the spectacular Texas Hill Country." - Ma Maison

Our Favorite Part: The Green Cathedral The Green Cathedral (bottom left photo) is an outdoor ceremony space that is surrounded by oak trees, and in the spring, usually surrounded by wildflowers as well. It's actually a reclaimed antique French gazebo, which was most likely once in someone's garden. It was found and put back together by the owners who must have known it was going to be something really special in its new life.

THE PRESERVE AT CANYON LAKE - CANYON LAKE, TEXAS

"The Preserve at Canyon Lake is a 170-acre wildlife preservation that offers breathtaking scenery and spectacular views everywhere you look. At the center of the property and behind the venue sit two pristine spring-fed lakes surrounded by mature Bald Cypress and Sycamore Trees. Overlooking the lake and nestled under a canopy of hundred-year-old oak tress sits an intimate outdoor ceremony site. The Preserve wildlife preservation is home to abundant wildlife, including deer, turkey, raccoons, fox, hawks, songbirds, and many more!" - The Preserve at Canyon Lake

Our Favorite Part: The Chapel The Chapel (bottom middle photo) truly encompasses the best of both worlds at this venue. Not only is it a beautiful indoor space, with panoramic windows and a balcony that overlooks the entire space, but it also has a perfect view of hill country beauty - including one of the property's spring-fed lakes. You could get married here without a single flower as decor and it would still be a breathtaking ceremony! Speaking of the hill country beauty - The Preserve at Canyon lake is pretty unmatched when it comes to natural Texas beauty, being that the venues on a real wildlife preservation. **See more photos here on one of our past wedding blogs!

PROSPECT HOUSE - DRIPPING SPRINGS, TEXAS

"Prospect House is a modern event space designed specifically for hosting weddings, receptions, and special events. Featuring striking architecture set within a hill country landscape, Prospect House includes multiple indoor and outdoor spaces that offer many flexible configuration options. Prospect House provides full use of all on-site facilities and grounds during the day of your event. This includes the use of all furniture, lighting, and integrated audio systems." - Prospect House

Our Favorite Part: The Architecture "Prospect House was designed by award-winning Texas architect Max Levy, known for creating simple yet dramatic modern spaces connected to nature through light, shadow, and breezes." We noticed the unique architecture as soon as we stepped onto the property. The venue was thoughtfully designed to hold the best lighting at all hours of day, truly utilizing the best that nature has to offer. Our favorite proof of this architecture genius is in the Main Hall (bottom corner photos), where only long, skinny windows line one side of the room. This allows the perfect golden light to flood in just during sunset, when your guests will most likely be sitting down to enjoy their meal in the dreamy atmosphere.

SOUTH CONGRESS HOTEL - AUSTIN, TEXAS

"Just one mile from downtown, and steps from many of Austin’s most iconic music venues, shops, and restaurants, South Congress Hotel is the perfect setting for your big day and all the special moments leading up to it. As both an indoor and outdoor wedding venue, our event space, pre-function room, courtyard, and lush gardens serve as a customizable backdrop for ceremonies, receptions, rehearsal dinners, bridal showers, bachelorette parties, and more." - South Congress Hotel

Our Favorite Part: The Lobby Bar A full service bar that is open to the public during normal hours, The Lobby Bar (bottom middle photo) is the perfect spot for Cocktail Hour or a Welcome Party for your guests. It connects to Cafe No Se (top middle photo), which provides the in-service catering at all South Congress Hotel Events. The Lobby Bar has a unique atmosphere, and makes for some truly great wedding portraits too! A special shoutout, however, to the fact that the hotel takes up an entire block of South Congress - containing multiple restaurants, bars, shops, and a coffee shop. Meaning - your guests could never leave this block of the city if they didn't want to and would still get to experience a lot that Austin has to offer. **See more photos here on one of our past wedding blogs!

WISH WELL HOUSE - GEORGETOWN, TEXAS

"The highly anticipated Wish Well House is a one-of-a-kind wedding and event venue that blends historical character with modern day sophistication. Far from ordinary, Wish Well House combines everything to love about modern, lofty design within the setting of a historic, urban building. The interior boasts high ceilings with exposed beams, large windows that fill the space with natural light, the coolest private prep rooms nestled upstairs and an expansive, lush outdoor courtyard... oh, and the most stunning restrooms you may ever see! Conveniently located just 20 miles North of Austin, Wish Well House is perfect for couples looking for an urban flair without the commotion of Austin or those looking to avoid the long country roads." - Wish Well House

Our Favorite Part: The Suites Last, but CERTAINLY not least, is Georgetown's newest boutique venue, Wish Well House. With an optional indoor-outdoor feel, full service bar included, and unique tiles, wallpapers, + fixtures throughout, we know this venue is going to flourish in the new year. Our favorite part of the whole venue was the upstairs - where two private getting-ready suites (bottom corner photos) reside, both with their own style and both looking straight out of a magazine.