So, you’ve decided to tie the knot in one of the most magical places on Earth—Austin, Dripping Springs, and the Texas Hill Country. Excellent choice! This region is a destination wedding dream, with gorgeous landscapes, charming venues like Rose Haven, and endless things to do. Dripping Springs was literally awarded the title of the “Wedding Capital of Texas” in 2015 by the Texas State Legislature!
But planning a destination wedding in Austin and surrounding areas, especially in an area with limited hotel and transportation options like the Hill Country, can be tricky. Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered with this guide to make your Austin or Hill Country wedding unforgettable.
Why Austin and the Texas Hill Country are Wedding Heaven
Imagine this: rolling hills covered in wildflowers, stunning sunsets, and charming venues like Rose Haven Event Venue, where you can create intimate memories with family and friends. The Texas Hill Country offers that perfect blend of rustic charm and elegance—exactly what you want for a dreamy wedding.
Plus, Austin is famous for its live music, incredible food, and quirky personality keeping Austin weird, making it the perfect spot for pre- and post-wedding fun. Guests can explore the city’s vibrant culture and then escape to the peaceful countryside for your big day.
Over the decade-plus when I was creating wedding cakes in this area, I noticed that a huge percentage of our clients were destination, at times half or more. Most of those clients were coming from the Houston area. Houston couples choose to get married in the Hill Country for the incredible views and unique venues, and many told me they wanted to escape the heat and humidity of Houston. Well, you won’t escape the heat up here! But the humidity is definitely less.
A big concern of most of our destination clients when designing their wedding cakes was how many servings to make, because they were unsure of how many of their guests would be willing to travel for the wedding. Almost without fail, they had far more RSVPs than they expected, and many times we found ourselves having to add cake servings in the weeks just before the wedding, as they underestimated their guest count. Austin and the Texas Hill Country is a HUGE draw that entices people to use the wedding as a wonderful ‘excuse’ to vacation to this area, and they love to come in early and stay after to explore on their own. Definitely provide guests with some ideas of things to do before and after the wedding!
Lack of Hotels? No Problem!
Let’s be real—the Texas Hill Country doesn’t have a ton of hotels yet although we’ve had some built very recently, and that can seem like a big hurdle when planning a destination wedding. Rose Haven is partnered with the wonderful new Dripping Springs Sleep Inn just minutes away. Use our proprietary link on our Vendors page to investigate your options. Not only do they graciously offer our clients and their guests a nice discount on their rooms, but they also provide free shuttles back and forth to Rose Haven, alleviating another big concern–transportation!
But guess what? Airbnbs and vacation rentals are here to save the day! Not only can your guests find unique and charming places to stay (hello, dreamy ranch houses and cozy cabins), but they’ll also get that local Texas experience. Imagine being able to step outside under the “Dark Sky” filled with stars and soak in a true Hill Country experience. Or look out over sunsets that literally take your breath away.
I took all these from my back porch. The variety is incredible.
When the song says “The Stars at Night, Are Big and Bright (clap clap clap clap) Deep In the Heart of Texas……………..they aren’t kidding. But the moon doesn’t get enough credit! It can shine like the sun when it’s huge and full.
So many of our local vacation rentals are owned by people who live in Dripping Springs, they are dear friends of ours in real life, and we know what incredible hearts they have to share their slice of Hill Country Heaven. We are so happy to guide you to the best ones locally, and there are dozens of choices within minutes of Rose Haven. Many have enough lodging onsite for all your guests to stay at one location.
Many couples even opt for “wedding weekends” where their guests stay in nearby vacation rentals, giving everyone a mini-vacation vibe. Plus, it’s super convenient for hosting after-parties, brunches, or even pre-wedding BBQs! (For those that allow parties on site! Be SURE to verify!) And don’t forget to let your guests know about Rose Haven’s proximity to these awesome rentals.
Things to Do in Austin & the Hill Country: Keeping Your Guests Entertained
One of the best parts about hosting a destination wedding in Austin or the Hill Country is that it doubles as a fun getaway for your guests. Whether they’re into outdoor adventures or foodie explorations, there’s something for everyone.
Pre-Wedding Fun in Austin:
- Live Music & Nightlife: Austin’s music scene is legendary! Suggest your guests check out some live shows on Sixth Street, Rainey Street, or at iconic spots like the Continental Club.
- Food Truck Heaven: Austin’s food trucks are a must-visit. Tacos, BBQ, gourmet donuts—your guests won’t go hungry!
- Texas BBQ! Need we say more? Some of the best BBQ in the nation is right here in our area! In fact, almost within walking distance of Rose Haven is The Switch BBQ, which is one of my favorites in the whole area, and a ten-minute drive to Pig Pen BBQ for local awesomeness.
- Outdoor Adventures: Lady Bird Lake, Barton Springs Pool, or a hike up Mount Bonnell are perfect for the outdoorsy crowd.
Hill Country Adventures:
- Wine Tasting: Dripping Springs is known as the “Gateway to the Hill Country” and has tons of wineries, distilleries, and breweries. Suggest a wine tour for a fun relaxing pre-wedding day, or your bachelor/bachelorette. Seriously, this area has the nickname of “Drinking Springs”, haha, and the quality of wine, beer and spirits is legendary. Titos and Deep Eddy vodkas are based here, and Deep Eddy has an amazing tasting room five minutes from Rose Haven. The Ruby Red is my favorite!
- State Parks & Hiking: Enchanted Rock, Pedernales Falls State Park, Reimers Ranch, and Hamilton Pool just outside of Dripping Springs are just a short drive away for nature lovers.
- Shopping & Small-Town Charm: Places like Wimberley, Blanco, or Fredericksburg offer charming shops in historical downtown areas beautifully preserved, and old-school Texas vibes your guests will love.
Why Choose Rose Haven for Your Destination Wedding
Okay, so you’ve got the destination wedding in Austin or the Hill Country nailed down—now it’s time to pick the perfect venue! We’re a little biased, but Rose Haven Event Venue is a hidden gem in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. Whether you’re hosting an intimate gathering or a grand celebration, we have the flexibility to match your vision.
Picture exchanging vows under a canopy of antique roses, surrounded by Hill Country beauty. Then, move the party indoors to our comfortably climate-controlled Heritage Rose Hall, complete with a 40-foot built-in bar that adds a touch of Austin’s vibrant spirit to your reception. With both indoor and outdoor spaces, you can create the wedding of your dreams, no matter the weather.
Maybe Rose Haven isn’t your ideal choice for your actual wedding day. No problem! We LOVE our fellow local venue owners, who are also real-life friends, and are happy to refer you and work with them. And we are designed to be the ultimate pre-wedding party venue with our versatile multiple spaces, perfect for your welcome party, rehearsal dinner, wedding showers, bridesmaids High Tea, or a post-wedding brunch. We have also had clients have their rehearsal dinner here and their wedding the next day! We can do it all!
Pro-Tip: Plan for Transportation
Since many of your guests will likely be staying in Airbnbs or vacation rentals scattered throughout the area, make sure to plan for transportation. Shuttles can make it easy for everyone to get to and from the venue without any stress. Uber and Lyft are VERY difficult to get at the places that are deep in the Hill Country, especially those located way up dark, twisty, two-lane roads, late at night it’s often impossible. Fortunately, there are wonderful local rideshares and shuttles owned by Hill Country residents, who are willing to drive anywhere in the area, and we love to work with. We can help you connect with them. Rose Haven has the distinct advantage of being located within minutes of South Austin, on a main road, and we have no problem with the regular rideshares coming here for our clients.
Ready to Plan Your Austin Hill Country Wedding?
Planning a destination wedding in Austin or the Texas Hill Country is all about embracing the local charm and making it your own. Whether it’s exploring the funky city vibe in Austin or savoring the peace and quiet of the Texas Hill Country, your wedding is going to be an unforgettable experience for you and your guests.
Planning a wedding from afar is often daunting. Who are the best vendors? How will I know if they fit my vision? How will I vet them? You need a local advocate who can guide you to the best people to take care of you in this process.
My number one tip is to hire a full service wedding planner at the beginning of the process. Make sure they are thoroughly experienced in planning destination weddings in Austin, as we definitely have some unique considerations to consider. We know so many amazing planners, and would be delighted to help you find your perfect match. You need their expertise, and you need boots on the ground here, taking care of everything leading up to your destination wedding.
and the curators of your amazing wedding experience.
Rose Haven is not only locally-owned, but we live 7 minutes away. We are Dripping Springs residents and love this area with our whole heart. I’m a transplant from Georgia who’s been here just over a decade, but my husband is a fifth-generation Texan, and a direct descendant of Captain Juan Seguin, for whom the town of Seguin, Texas is named! During my previous career as a cake artist, I was (and still am) immersed in our local event vendor organizations such as ILEA, AWPA, and the Wedding Capital Of Texas. I have extremely strong relationships with the absolute BEST vendors in the Austin area, and I can hold your hand throughout your wedding planning.
So go ahead, plan that destination wedding in Austin—your perfect Hill Country celebration is waiting!
Rose Haven is a locally owned and operated business. We sincerely hope to encourage couples to learn more about the value and importance of choosing a locally owned business when it’s time to book your wedding venue & vendors. With locally owned venues you will often see a higher level of hospitality, better communication and a greater desire to truly ensure your wedding exceeds expectations. We are thrilled to support wedding venue owners from around the country with a weekly shout out in our blog. you can find locally owned wedding venues featured on this wedding venue map.
- Butler’s Courtyard
- The Hidden Abby
- The 1860 Schulhaus
- The Ironwood Barn at Von Erich Ranch
- Lake Front Acres
About Me:
My name is Christy Seguin. I created amazing cakes in Austin, Dripping Springs and the Texas Hill Country for over 10 years as the owner of Cakes ROCK!!!. But I recently retired from cakes and am now passionately working on my new venture–the most unique and charming event venue in Central Texas, Rose Haven Event Venue!
