Eight area wedding venues to book for your big day

Brides love our beaches, but coastal prairie is popular, too. From rustic acreages with weathered barns to plantation homes on private estates, there’s something for every bride planning a Texas-style wedding.

Photo courtesy of Janna L. Fain

SALLYBROOKE

SallyBrooke is block from the water, on 4 peaceful acres that were once part of a date orchard. The 1930s farmhouse, which sits at the front of the property behind a wide front porch, has been completely restored. Inside, French Country meets Hill Country, furnished with a balance of elegance and authenticity. Out back, the view opens up to an undisturbed swath of gossamer grass with citrus trees and a towering Texas pecan tree, often used as a ceremony site. The property boasts a slew of gathering spaces. There’s a wide patio, where groomsmen might gather to play a round of corn hole; a fire pit for long conversations over toasted s’mores; and a weathered wood barn, which will accommodate 75 to 80 guests, plus the bridal party.

215 Middleton St., Bacliff; 832.274.3410; www.sallybrooke.com

Photo courtesy of Moments Event Planning

TROLLEY STATION

If you’re a barn bride who’s bent on saying your vows on Galveston Island, the The Trolley Station on The Strand will deliver the best of both worlds. The Trolley Station, in the 1896 J.D. Rogers Building in the heart of Galveston’s Historic Strand District, feels ever so glam-dustrial with sky-high ceilings and exposed wood rafters just asking to be draped in strands of Edison bulbs.

2021 Strand, Galveston; 409.771.8252; www.galvestonhistoricalweddingvenues.com

Photo by Jennifer Reynolds

BUTLER’S COURTYARD

Encompassing an entire block of League City’s historic center, Butler’s Courtyard occupies the 1909 Butler Building and its surrounding grounds. The venue is replete with subtle country charm — from the elegantly timeworn crystal chandeliers and exposed rafters in the main building to the gazebo in the courtyard, which is backed by an oh-so-dreamy white picket fence. On one side of the brick-lined courtyard is a delightfully weathered barn, which houses restrooms and a small gathering space. Though its size makes it unsuitable for ceremonies, the barn makes for a swoon-worthy backdrop for wedding party portraits.

122 N. Michigan Ave., League City; 281.557.5551; www.butlerscourtyard.com

Photo courtesy of Ryan R Jones Photography

THE BRYAN MUSEUM

Native Texan J.P. Bryan in 2013 found a home for his massive collections of art and artifacts of Texas and the American West in a building that began in the turn of the last century as the Galveston Orphans Home. While many visitors pass through its ornate wrought iron gates to peruse The Bryan Museum’s exhibits, others come to exchange vows in the Conservatory, an elegant European design of intricate metalwork and beautiful, emerald-green glass.

1315 21st St., Galveston; 409.632.7685; www.thebryanmuseum.org

Photo courtesy of The Springs

THE SPRINGS

On a sweeping 35-acre plot in Angleton, the landscape surrounding The Springs is shaded with strikingly tall trees as far as the eye can see. From the entrance off state Highway 288, a dirt road leads the way to Magnolia Manor, an immaculate columned behemoth of a house. Brides set on a semi-formal Southern wedding will swoon over the manor’s dormer windows, black shutters and Southern porches. For those wanting more of a rustic ranch vibe, there’s also nearby Sycamore Hall, which is just as luxurious but low-key.

1950 County Road 220, Angleton; 936.446.7887; www.thespringsevents.com

Photo by Kelsey Walling

GARTEN VEREIN

If you dream of two-stepping your wedding night away in a genuine Texas dance hall, Galveston’s Garten Verein is worth looking into. Its history of revelry goes back to 1876 when some island businessmen purchased property to serve as the headquarters of their newly founded social club for Germans and German speakers. The octagonal dance pavilion was finished in 1880 and, despite having undergone several renovations over the years, maintains much of its character. It has wood floors and a stunning vaulted ceiling, and it’s ringed with large windows. On one side, the windows overlook the magical and well-manicured Kempner Park, which makes Garten Verein the perfect place to head after an idyllic garden ceremony.

2704 Ave. O, Galveston; 409.765.7834; www.galvestonhistory.org

Photo courtesy of Jenna McElroy

PLANTATION ELEGANCE

On the banks of a bayou, not far from Dickinson proper, Plantation Elegance drips with Southern charm. A spacious three-story house anchors the property, which is on 7 acres of land with towering oak trees and low-slung Spanish moss. With a pitched roof and a wide porch, the stately manor fits with its pastoral surroundings; inside, it has been fashioned with fun, modern finishes and furnishings that will appeal to 21st-century Texans.

4520 Plantation Bend St., Dickinson; 281.309.9951; www.plantationelegance.com

Photo courtesy of Dream Photo & Video

SILVER SYCAMORE

Jackie Spigener spent more than a decade revitalizing a patch of Pine Street on the southeastern side of Pasadena. The 6-acre parcel has all the fixings of an Old West film set — from a post office to a jail house, which will make for a celebration your guests won’t soon forget.

5111 Pine St., Pasadena; 281.487.4033; www.silversycamore.com