As wedding planners, our role is always to uncover the most meaningful ways to share the story of your relationship with your guests. We want to know how you met, why you love spending time together (and how you like to spend it!), and what you are most excited to experience on the day of your celebration. As important as food and flowers and stationery will always be, there’s also an element that helps to set the tone and act as a canvas for your wedding day – your wedding venue.

We live and work and love in Texas, so it’s only natural for us to want to highlight the venues in Austin, Houston, and San Antonio where so many of the celebrations we have planned have taken place. Today, we’re highlighting the locations we love in our home city. So, meet seven of our favorite Houston wedding venues below.

THE BELL TOWER ON 34TH

When a venue is inspired by Italian villas, you know before ever setting foot on the property that it’s beautiful. But, then you arrive, and it’s more than you imagined. Meet The Bell Tower on 34th!

Why we love it: The venue is solely dedicated to hosting weddings and events, and their team is incredible. They also have a great executive chef onsite who masterfully crafts menus and never fails to meet the needs (and culinary whims!) of our couples. The architecture also offers plenty of inspiration, and the space is designed to host events with up to 1,200 guests; however, the flow of The Bell Tower on 34th is such that intimate weddings are just as easy to plan.

THE HOUSTONIAN

Located in the Galleria District, The Houstonian offers a complete variety of indoor and outdoor spaces. Plus, we love that it’s located on many acres and boasts a wonderful pool and spa if you’re hoping to create a complete destination experience for your guests.

Why we love it: The Houstonian has long felt like an oasis in the middle of the city to us. We love recommending this space for couples who are welcoming out of town guests because they will definitely feel relaxed and filled with fun by the time they depart. From a live oak with string lights to gardens, decks, and indoor ballrooms, the event spaces are numbered here. Plus, the culinary experiences do not disappoint!

HOTEL ZAZA

We have shared how much we love Hotel ZaZa time and time again, so of course we had to include this Houston hotel on our list of favorite venues in the city!

Why we love it: Hotel ZaZa is a boutique hotel (they have two Houston locations, ZaZa Houston Museum District + Hotel ZaZa Memorial City, as well as one in Austin and Dallas too) , so it has a completely unique feel woven throughout all of its interiors, including the ballroom spaces. We especially love the location in the heart of the Museum District. In the ballroom, you will find sweeping views of the city, which look even more incredible at night when the buildings are aglow. With its inviting backdrop, there are plenty of opportunities to weave in color palettes, style, and more.

ST. REGIS

When couples mention they would like to host an elegant soiree that’s filled with luxury, we cannot recommend the St. Regis quickly enough! Located in the Uptown district, the space boasts up to 11 ballrooms from which to choose for a variety of events and guest counts.

Why we love it: We have long adored the St. Regis brand because their staff is unparalleled, and we know our couples and their guests will leave the celebration feeling truly pampered. Plus, there is always something to be said for a classic hotel ballroom wedding! The spaces at the St. Regis are filled with timeless style, and the spacious interiors forever keep guests protected from the Texas elements outside. There are plenty of ways to create a truly spectacular wedding here!

THE GROVE

When couples express their interest in celebrating in a space that’s modern with incredible cuisine, we’re always quick to recommend The Grove! Located in downtown Houston, the space is multi-level, modern with industrial flair, and offers views of Discovery Green.

Why we love it: Houston is such a classic Texas city with plenty of historical charm, so when The Grove debuted with modern style in 2008 we were thrilled! We love working with clients to create a complete culinary experience for their guests, and The Grove’s team has the same view. We also love their passion for green spaces and eco-friendly events, which ties in perfectly with their location overlooking Discovery Green.

CRYSTAL BALLROOM

We love planning events for and with our clients when they want to embrace the history of Houston, and the Crystal Ballroom is one of the most historical venues in the city! Built in 1913 and located in the Rice Hotel, this space is in the heart of the city with a ballroom and adjacent smaller spaces, making it a wonderful choice for celebrations downtown.

Why we love it: We’ve mentioned it already, but we love the history of the Crystal Ballroom, and we also love the location. The Rice Hotel is near the Theatre District, airport, Minute Maid Park, and the George R. Brown Convention Center, so it’s conveniently located near many landmarks for guests to enjoy. The interior of the space is also gorgeous – crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling, a built-in stage is primed for a band, and the full design is original to 1913 when the Crystal Ballroom opened.

COHEN HOUSE

We are quick to support the colleges and universities who call Houston home, and Rice University is one of them. On their campus, they also have a wonderful venue, the Cohen House, that serves as the faculty’s club. The space includes both interior and exterior spaces, including a garden, and all have a beautiful feel that’s as historic as they are welcoming.

Why we love it: It’s likely a given, but one of the top reasons why we love this property is for its ties to Rice University! We love the pride of this college, and our couples also love the ease of celebrating their ceremony onsite (if they choose!). Rental of the Cohen House includes multiple spaces, including the living room, terrace, main dining room, and outdoor garden, which provides plenty of inspiration for design and layout. With the ability to host events with up to 300 guests, Cohen House suits the needs of our couples well, while always feeling at once spacious and intimate.

Photo Credit: Dana Fernandez Photography

Are you planning a wedding in Houston? Which venue draws you in the most? We would love to talk much more about how Houston can be the backdrop for your wedding day!

Check out our Top Austin Wedding Venue too!

In case you don't know, I LOVE non-traditional wedding venues. I love it when I see a wedding in a space that is so out of left-field that turns out so beautifully, you wonder why no one thought of it sooner. Thus, I am constantly scouring the internet for new or non-traditional venues to hold a wedding. Libraries, restaurants, theatres and parks, are venues that make for beautiful weddings! Here are just a few I've discovered:

1. Clayton House

The Clayton House is a three story brick Georgian style house built in 1917 and designed by Birdsall P. Briscoe. The house was the home of Houston businessman and statesman William Lockhart Clayton and his wife Susan Ada Vaughn Clayton until 1958, when it was deeded to the City of Houston to be used for library purposes. The public can rent out the house for private events. With its central Museum district location and well-manicured grounds, the Clayton House would be ideal for an outdoor wedding.

2. Houston Zoo

Don't laugh--it's true! The Houston Zoo maintains some of the best venues in the city. Specifically, the Reflection Pool is one of the most magnificent settings in the zoo. It's elegant and romantic setting makes for an unforgettable wedding as you say your vows at the top of steps while standing under 50 year-old arching oak trees. This backdrop makes for the perfect place to get married!

3. The Heritage Society

The Heritage Society is the custodian of some of the city’s oldest structures. This unusual outdoor facility in Houston’s first public park is available for weddings, receptions, cocktail parties, seated dinners, or other special events. Connally Plaza can be easily tented or left open and will accommodate a very large crowd. The Museum Gallery and Tea Room offer beautiful photographs, paintings, and other decorative arts for your guests’ viewing pleasure. St. John Church provides an unforgettable location for an intimate wedding ceremony. A backdrop of downtown Houston’s skyscrapers set against Sam Houston Park is impressive and unique.

4. The Wortham Center

While the Houston Ballet and the Houston Symphony may call this building home, it also happens to boast one of the greatest event spaces in the city. The Grand Lobby of the Wortham Center is truly "grand" with its sky-high ceilings and enormous windows. The Grand Lobby hosts banquets and galas year-round and could be the site of your wedding.

5. Trevísio Restaurant

Trevísio, the spectacular restaurant atop the John P. McGovern Texas Medical Center Commons Building in the heart of the Texas Medical Center, complete with two mesmerizing sixty-four foot exterior waterfalls, provides a wonderful backdrop for your next special event. Trevísio’s private dining rooms and conference center can accommodate functions of all sizes and descriptions, for groups of five to 500. The restaurant boasts seven private dining rooms, including two glass-enclosed areas located in the main dining room.