Austin is one of the largest cities in the United States, which means a great many weddings happen here every week. That translates into a surfeit of wedding venues, many of which I’ve been to as a wedding DJ.
Usually, by the time a couple gets around to hiring their DJ they’ve already chosen their wedding venue. On the rare occasion that they haven’t, they will sometimes ask me for some suggestions, which I’m always happy to provide.
I can’t possibly name a favorite Austin wedding venue, and probably couldn’t even come up with a short list of 5 or 6 I think are better than the rest. Nearly everywhere I’ve DJ’ed in Austin has been wonderful, and all venues have their merits, so rather than trying to draw up a “best of” list, instead today I want to share a list of some of the more interesting Austin area wedding venues at which I’ve recently DJ’ed.
I should add that I’m not being paid, or compensated in any way, for any of this. This is a list I’ve created of some of the Austin wedding venues that I think are especially interesting, or that offer some unique spin or twist on the typical wedding locale. It’s also an incomplete list! I’ve DJ’ed at hundreds of venues in my career, and all of them have something wonderful to offer, and just about every one of them is special in its own way. This is but a short list that I could easily expand into the hundreds!
Justine’s Secret House
It really is a secret house! Tucked behind an unassuming fence in East Austin is one of the city’s hidden gems. Every time I DJ at Justine’s I feel like I’m working at Jay Gatsby’s mansion. It’s not a vast space, but with its many interconnected rooms, swanky bar, front and back yards, and cozy, wooden walls and floors, it’s perfect for a small to medium-sized weddings and celebrations.
The Austonian
Do you ever want to look at Austin from a zillion stories up? You can. Okay, you can’t. A zillion? Is that even a real number? But you can see our city from 56 floors up, and that’s a lot of floors. In fact, The Austonian is the second tallest all-residential building in North America west of the Mississippi River. And what a view. You can even go outside and walk around the balcony and get a 360° view of Austin and beyond. Meanwhile, inside is a great space for a party. I once DJ’ed during a massive storm, and seeing the lightning strike at eye-level was an unforgettable experience.
Shiraz Garden
With stunning views of Hill Country, Bastrop’s Shiraz Garden is certainly one of the most beautiful places to get married in the Austin area. An added advantage is its proximity to Austin, as Bastrop is less than half an hour from the city lights of downtown Austin. One of my favorite aspects of Shiraz Garden is that it has both indoor and outdoor options. I’ve provided music for outdoor ceremonies at the Sunset Vista, and also in the sheltered space of the Outdoor Cathedral. Most receptions take place in the gorgeous Formal Garden, but if weather intrudes on your special day, you can always pivot to the indoor banquet space.
The Driskill
Old-world charm meets downtown modernity at The Driskill. Located in the very heart of downtown Austin, one can walk to just about anything one needs from the front door of this venue, which is also a grand hotel (one of the grandest in the U.S., in fact), but there may be no need to do so. Everything you need, from cozy and luxurious meeting rooms and banquet spaces to a massive, marble party space, is right here. You’ll come for the wedding, then return next week for afternoon tea in the massive ground floor cafe. If you want Victorian Era excellence for your wedding celebration, then The Driskill is where you want to celebrate it.
Ma Maison
Everything you want in a wedding venue is right here: lush oak trees, a lake, a antique French gazebo, and both indoor and outdoor spaces for your party. This is hill country luxury personified! I am always happy when a bride tells me her wedding will be at Ma Maison, and I can already picture her and her new husband looking down onto the wedding party from their balcony perch! If you want to get married at one Dripping Springs’ finest venues, this is the spot for you!
Malverde at La Condesa
Right in the heart of downtown Austin sits La Condesa, an unassuming restaurant with a party room hidden upstairs. That upstairs event space is known as Malverde. I’ve DJ’ed many weddings up there, along with some corporate parties, and the vibe is always great. The decor sets a mood, the outdoor patio accentuates it, and everything here comes together in a way that always leads to a happy group of guests grooving on the dance floor.
South Congress Hotel
You might wonder how a hotel made the list. Aren’t hotels typically cookie-cutter affairs featuring boring, rectangular ballrooms with removable walls? Often, they are, but the South Congress Hotel isn’t one of them. It features a wonderful event space with floor to ceiling windows, and one that is very transformable with lighting into nearly any aesthetic one can imagine. The outdoor patios serve as both ceremony site and cocktail areas, and it all works together beautifully.
