Today’s post is extra special for me because I am writing about my very own destination wedding experience. I married my best friend back in November of 2019 in Austin, Texas. My husband, Kevin and I wanted to have a destination wedding for many reasons (aside from my obvious love for destination weddings). For us, it was all about the location. I grew up in Texas, and taking a trip to Austin was always exciting because it was like stepping into New York City with the same comforting atmosphere of Texan hospitality. The city abounds in innovative art, scrumptious food and some of the friendliest vendors in the nation. Here’s why you should consider Austin in your destination wedding location hunt:

1. The variety of venues is mind-blowing.

Kevin and I went for the old west vibe in choosing our venue, Star Hill Ranch. The whole property is a re-creation of a Texas Hill Country community typical of the early 1900s. All of the buildings have been relocated from around the state and carefully restored. Including the building at the center of “town”, a historic chapel we said our “I do’s” in front of. While Star Hill Ranch was perfect for our Texas roots theme, there is a wide variety of stellar venues to choose from to fit your desired style. Check out some of our past articles to learn more about different Austin venues:

Texas Destination Wedding at Horseshoe Bay
A Romantic Texas Wedding
Unique Destination Wedding Venues
A Texas Hill Country Wedding

2. The food will make you want to move to Texas… seriously.

To be honest, choosing where to host our rehearsal dinner and a caterer for the wedding took us way longer than it should have. Of course, Texas BBQ shines in Austin, but it is just a piece of the puzzle that forms the food capital of the south. Popular foods like smoked brisket can be found starring in Mexican taco dishes, electrifying your taste buds. You can also find top-rated, authentic Japanese, Thai and French cuisine without leaving American soil.

3. You’ll be able to throw the best pre and post parties.

A great resource in finding the best entertainment in Austin is lostinaustin.com. The site details all of the most recommended places, including the famed 6^th Street in downtown. If you and your partner want to throw the pre or post-party of a lifetime, 6^th Street is the place to be. Stroll up and down the street taking in the sounds of country twang, smooth jazz and bar-goers singing along to classic rock songs. Maybe even dare a member of your bridal party to get a tattoo at one of the many famed parlors. Truthfully just about anywhere you end up in downtown Austin, you’re sure to meet a good time celebrating your nuptials.

4. Activities for your guests abound.

Warning: make sure your guests don’t forget why they’ve traveled to Austin in the first place because I can assure you, they will be overwhelmed with the fun found in and around the city. They can take a stroll around Town Lake and grab a bite to eat at the nation’s very first Whole Foods downtown. Or, if you’ll be traveling with a smaller group, you may even want to consider taking a day trip out to the “Napa Valley of the South”: Fredericksburg. Your guests can also take a plunge in the cool waters of Barton Springs Municipal Pool and share a treat from one of Austin’s famed food trucks nearby. Whatever entertainment you and your guests choose to partake in, your destination wedding trip to Austin is sure to become a vacation for all.

5. The friendliness of vendors will warm your heart.

Every phone call, visit, tasting and consultation I had with potential vendors (even those we didn’t end up going with) gave me a bit more confidence that my wedding in Austin would be better than imagined. Perhaps it’s that famed southern sweetness that made these interactions so uplifting, but one thing is for sure: Austin is home to many professional wedding vendors with experience in working with out-of-towners.

Choosing Austin couldn’t have been a better choice for what I wanted my destination wedding to be like. Plus, it felt pretty good to show the city off as a point of pride for a Texas-born gal like me.

Photos Courtesy of (in order of appearance): Tomek Baginski on Unsplash (1st & 3rd) & Jessicajade Photography (2nd)