Wedding Secrets

The best-kept secrets for planning an Austin wedding on a budget

Zilker Clubhouse boasts great views and is an affordable Austin venue.

Your wedding day is approaching, and you have Pinterest boards full of ideas, but the budget is limited. There are plenty of ways to pull off the wedding of your dreams in Austin without breaking the bank. We consulted top Austin wedding planners and local brides for the best-kept secrets and recommended vendors for a budget-friendly wedding.

Wedding planner: You and The Knot
For a mere $13.95 you can purchase The Knot Ultimate Wedding Planner and organize all of those photos, recommendations, articles, and other goodies you have been collecting for the big day. The planner includes worksheets, timelines, etiquette tips, and answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding weddings.

The dress: Once Upon a Bride
If the dress of your dreams is beyond reach but you don’t want to compromise, check out one of Austin’s best-kept secrets. This wedding resale boutique sells new and lightly worn consigned wedding dresses, priced under $700. Bridesmaids dresses, flower girl dresses, and mother-of-the-bride dresses are also available for $50 or less. Forty percent of the dresses you will find in the shop are new, with 60 percent consignment dresses, all less than 7 years old and damage free.

The venue: Zilker Clubhouse
For a bargain skyline view, check out the Charles Page Zilker Clubhouse. Owned by the City of Austin, arrangements must be made well in advance and dates are obtained by a lottery. If you can handle dealing with the permits and red tape required, this venue is well worth it. There is a terrace with a stunning panoramic view of the city, as well as a charming clubhouse with a stone fireplace perfect for receptions.

Floral design: Michael’s
Michael’s has a huge selection of everything you might need to create bouquets and boutineers and table, pew, and altar arrangements. Michael’s also features wedding décor, favors, lighting, and bridal accessories from celebrity wedding planner and designer David Tutera. With Pinterest and YouTube inspiration, gather your friends and design the bouquet and floral arrangements of your dreams. Plus, they can be completed well before the big day.

Cake: H-E-B
Your local H-E-B bakery has literally dozens of designs for wedding cakes, from simple to elegant. To save on costs, many couples have a small wedding cake for display and cutting, with a cupcake buffet for guests.

Caterer: Mr. Margarita and Torchy’s Tacos
Nothing says Austin like margaritas and tacos. You can order tacos and sides from Torchy’s, and rent a machine for frozen margaritas from Mr. Margarita.

Photographer: Complete Weddings
Professional photos eat up a large part of any wedding budget, but there are reasonable options available in Austin. Packages from Complete Weddings, based in Cedar Park, begin at $495 and go up to $2,495. They include the services of a professional photographer with a variety of times and services available.

Music: Glenn Todd from Livewire Music Express
Of course you can always rent your own equipment and set your playlist from Spotify to get the evening's festivities going, but it’s a special night, so why not go with a professional DJ? You can choose your tunes as well as the mood you want to set while the DJ keeps the party moving. It’s an inexpensive and fun alternative to a band. Todd is easy to work with and gets excellent reviews.

weddings

Hoppily Ever After

6 Hill Country wedding spots perfect for craft beer lovers

Photo courtesy of Treaty Oak Distilling

Say “I do” while celebrating your love for craft brew.

Wedding season is in full swing, so what better way to toast your nuptials than with a local beer? Luckily, Austinites don’t need to plan a destination wedding in the Pacific Northwest to incorporate craft beer into our big day. Check out these swoon-worthy spots to say “I do” while celebrating your love for craft brew.

Altstadt Brewing
Be one of the first to host a wedding at this German-style brewery in Fredericksburg. Inspired by the German purity laws of 1516, Altstadt Brewing only uses four main ingredients (water, grain, hops, and yeast) in the crafting of its beer. The event hall will be opening in mid-summer 2018 and its décor is a blend of rustic modern complete with a grand indoor wood-burning fireplace. Outside, the exterior resembles an old German town, creating the perfect backdrop for wedding photos. The venue is also situated on 300 acres of land, and bordered by the picturesque Pedernales River.

Alamo Beer Company
One of San Antonio’s best local breweries, Alamo Beer Company began production in December 2014, making it the first time since Prohibition that a beer named “Alamo” has been produced in the Alamo City. Situated right under Hay Street Bridge (a great spot for sunset pictures), it has an industrial vibe and outdoor beer garden making it ideal for smaller events such as intimate weddings, rehearsal dinners or engagement parties. Bonus? It’s dog friendly. The beers on tap range from a traditional unfiltered Belgian-style wheat beer, an IPA brewed with American hops, and a German Pale Ale, just to name a few.

Ceres Park Ranch
Celebrate your wedding among the rolling hills of the Texas Hill Country with a Jester King beer brewed in the authentic farmhouse brewery on site. The 100-acre space is perfect for a rustic, countryside wedding, and the venue offers wood picnic tables, wine barrels, and hay bales that can be staged throughout the property.

Hotel Emma
As the story goes, Hotel Emma was once home to a brewhouse established in 1881 as the J.B. Behloradsky Brewery. It was sold in 1883 to the San Antonio Brewing Association, and by 1916 it was one of the largest breweries in Texas. Beer lovers will find themselves in awe over the history, and geeking out over the old grain silos, brewing machinery, and original cellars. With five different wedding venues, the hotel is the ideal locale for large and small events ranging from wedding, rehearsal dinners, and bridal showers. The hotel is also pooch-friendly so your dog of honor can be there while you get ready for your big day.

Treaty Oak Distilling Ranch
The expansive ranch that is home to Treaty Oak’s brewing and distilling operations offers plenty of options for weddings and receptions. And the flexibility extends to the catering, too. Although the property's Ghost Hill Restaurant can cook up a feast using their on-site pit, the venue will also work with other vendors to make every wedding day special. The breathtaking Hill Country views aren’t shabby either.

Twisted X Brewing
This Dripping Springs brewery, known for its Tex-Mex beers, has just the right casual vibe for rehearsal dinners or bachelor/ bachelorette parties. It's also a lifesaver for many a procrastinating best man or maid of honor. Even without a reservation, give the brewery some notice and they will make sure your friends have the time of their lives.

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