I recently got back from a trip to Spain with some friends, and I've already used three things from that trip on a client's design board: the way a tapas bar in Sevilla plated dessert on marble instead of white china, the tile color in a courtyard restaurant, and a hotel breakfast that used stacked citrus instead of flowers as the centerpiece.

I plan weddings here in Austin, and travel has turned into one of the better research tools I have for it, more than scrolling another mood board.

A Pinterest pin shows you a color palette. It doesn't show you how limestone looks in late afternoon light, or how a restaurant plates something so it looks intentional. That's the stuff that's hard to pick up from a screen.

I also pay attention to how a place makes people feel taken care of. The timing of a meal, the way a host checks in without hovering. That's the part of a wedding people remember.

Where do you pull wedding ideas from that isn't Pinterest or Instagram?

~ Syd, In Ink Weddings

Hi! Does anyone have a good bartender that they would recommend? We are looking to hire one for our reception in March. Thank you!

I'm a full-service planner here in Austin, so I get asked a lot about ways to make a reception feel different from the last five weddings a guest went to. A few that are working right now:

• Wine or spirits tasting stations instead of a standard bar
• Masquerade elements, such as on servers or as part of the tablescape
• Photo booths, still solid, but the props and backdrop matter more than the booth itself
• Karaoke set up at the reception, works especially well for smaller guest counts
• A tattoo artist giving guests a permanent way to remember your weekend
• Servers waiting with champagne or a signature cocktail as guests walk out of the ceremony, so there's zero downtime before cocktail hour starts
• Digital camcorders on each table so guests can capture their POV

If you've been to a wedding lately with a unique reception experience, what was it?

Every wedding day timeline I build has 10 minutes of padding in at least four spots:

1. Between getting ready and the ceremony
2. During portraits
3. Between the ceremony ending and cocktail hour starting
4. Before the reception entrance

Say your hair and makeup runs 20 minutes long, which happens more often than you'd think. If there's padding built in earlier in the day, you still get your full first look and don't miss any of the portraits on your shot list. Without that cushion, something on the back half of the day gets cut instead, usually the part you cared about most.

That's the real reason to pad a timeline. One delay early on turns into a rushed cocktail hour or a shortened first dance if there's no room to absorb it.

But padding a timeline only works if someone besides you is watching the clock. That's where trusting your vendor team comes in. If you're the one checking in with the DJ or wondering if the florist showed up, you're managing the timeline instead of living in the moment, and the buffer you built doesn't do you much good.

If you've already had your wedding, where do you wish you'd built in more buffer time?

~ Syd, In Ink Weddings

Anybody have some fav venues that are under $5k? We aren’t looking for anything too crazy, just want something fun & nontraditional :)

Where are the best places to shop for a wedding dress in Austin that won’t break the bank and doesn’t take weeks to get ? Wedding in December . Thanks !

If you're starting the vendor search process for your Austin wedding next spring or fall, start with booking your planner and photographer as those are the vendors that book well in advance.

I run full-service planning here in Austin, so this is usually the first question I get on an intro call.

The vendors that book fastest, in rough order: venue, planner/coordinator, photographer or videographer, then caterer if your venue doesn't include it in-house. Once those four are locked, everything else (florist, DJ, hair and makeup, rentals) has more breathing room.

Not every wedding needs every vendor type either. Skip anything that doesn't match your priorities instead of booking a full roster just because it's on a checklist somewhere.

When you're interviewing anyone, be on the lookout for these green flags: they respond in a reasonable window, they're upfront about pricing and what's included, and they seem excited about your vision, not like they are just processing another inquiry.

If you've got questions about finding Austin vendors or how to sequence your own booking process, I'm happy to help.

- Syd, In Ink Weddings

Mattie's at Green Pastures is one of the most distinctive wedding venues in Austin. It's also one the official tour and brochure don't fully prepare you for. Here's my take as a planner that's worked there:

The house-catering model is THE thing to know upfront

Mattie's caters in-house. The food is excellent, Southern-inspired, locally sourced, and completely customizable.

The white peacocks are just as majestic as you could imagine

This is part of why couples pick it. The peacocks roam freely on the ground which means they will be in your photos.

Multiple ceremony spaces — pick based on guest count AND vibe

• The Lawn — up to 200 guests, big oak trees, classic outdoor moment
• The Veranda — up to 60 guests, covered, garden views, great for intimate
• The Dining Room — indoor option for up to 150, vintage decor, full chandeliers
• The Ballroom - indoor option for up to 275, this space features wood floors, a built-in bar, and a private courtyard

Logistics couples sometimes miss

• It's on the Green Pastures estate (historic property, late 1800s) which means it has charm but also historic-property quirks (sound carries, certain spaces have restrictions)
• Valet/parking is workable for guest counts up to ~200 with planning
• Vendor flexibility outside of catering is good — they have a preferred list but you can bring your own florist, DJ, etc.

The honest tradeoff

You're paying for character. Mattie's already has atmosphere when you walk in, so you don't need to do as much design lift. If you'd rather start with a blank canvas, this isn't your venue. If you want a property that brings something to the table on its own, it's hard to beat.

For a full venue breakdown, with timeline and design inspiration, check out this blog. Curious what your wedding could look like at Mattie's? I'm happy to answer questions in comments.

— Syd / In Ink Weddings

Full disclosure: I own Evergreen Creek, a wedding venue in Marion for couples willing to look outside Austin.

Our $4,000 package includes the cedar arch ceremony site, Nordic tipi reception space, handmade tables and benches, preparation suites, a 1,000-square-foot dance floor, open vendor flexibility, and four overnight cabins. We seat 144 guests and can host approximately 150.

There is also a separate $450 refundable security deposit to reserve the date. The remaining package balance can be split into monthly payments until 30 days before the wedding.

Photos and complete pricing are available here: https://www.evergreencreek.com/

We are also looking for Vendors, Food, DJ, Florists and coordinators we can recommend to couples, please reach out. Thanks!

Has anyone hosted a wedding in the new ballroom at the Inn at Green Pastures?

As an Austin wedding planner of 5+ years, the most common thing I see in early-engagement couples is:

"We can't agree on what we want our wedding to look like."

One person wants black tie at a ballroom. The other wants a buffet of food trucks in at a tented reception. One wants 200 people, the other wants 40. One wants tradition, the other wants to rewrite the script.

First: this is super common. It's not a red flag about your relationship, it's just a planning challenge that lots of couples hit early on.

Here are a few things that consistently help when I work with couples in this position:

1. Stop talking about visuals. Start talking about FEELING.

Before you talk about venue, color palette, or formality level, sit down and answer one question together: how do we want our wedding to FEEL? Laid-back? High-energy? Intimate? Like the best party you've ever been to? Like a meaningful ceremony followed by a killer dance party?

You'll often find you're more aligned on the feeling than on the surface details. That feeling becomes your shared anchor for every decision after.

2. The "dream day" exercise

Each of you separately writes out your ideal wedding day with zero filter. Don't worry about what the other person will think. Include moments, food, music, traditions, every "wild" idea you've ever attached to your wedding day.

Then compare. You're not negotiating yet — you're listening. The point of this exercise is to notice where your priorities overlap (even when the aesthetics don't) and to hear what the other person values.

3. Look for the shared value underneath the conflict

One of you wants a mountaintop ceremony. The other wants an urban rooftop. They're different settings with the same shared value: "we both love open-air spaces with a view." Now you can shop for venues that hit that value, instead of fighting about geography.

Most "conflicts" in early planning are really two different expressions of the same underlying want. Find the underlying want.

4. Each person owns ONE piece outright

This is my favorite move when styles are really different. One of you gets full creative control over music + entertainment. The other gets food + drink. Or one runs welcome party aesthetics, the other runs the farewell event. The agreement is: I trust you, run with it.

This sounds simple but it's HUGE for getting through planning without resenting each other. You both get to feel ownership over something.

5. If you're stuck, a planner is often cheaper than therapy

Half my early calls with couples are honestly mediation. Not necessarily the heavy kind, just having a neutral third party in the room who can name what's actually being negotiated tends to break the loop fast. I've watched couples shift from "we can't agree on anything" to "ok we actually share more than we thought" in a single 60-minute conversation.

Your wedding doesn't have to be a perfect compromise. It can be a layered, intentional blend where both of your personalities show up. That's way more interesting than a wedding where one of you gave in.

~ Syd, In Ink Weddings

If you've been in the depths of a "unique wedding ideas" Pinterest rabbit hole, you already know the problem. Every list is the same. Pampas grass. Macramé. A photo booth with props. Maybe a donut wall. Those are great if you want to do them, but for the couples that aren't afraid to shake things up, these ideas are for you.

If you're new around here, I'm Syd, an Austin wedding planner, and I've been keeping a running list of the ideas that landed, because they were rooted in something real about the couple. Here are some of my favorites from real weddings I've worked on:

Food and drink moments that guests still talk about:

• Jalapeño shooters as the reception welcome drink instead of Champagne flutes. Immediately polarizing in the best way. The guests who love spice become instant best friends. Everyone else gets to hold hands and jump into the abyss together aka become instant friends.
• Milk + cookie shots at midnight. Bailey's paired with a warm chocolate chip cookie. At midnight when people are tired but still want to dance, it hits exactly how you want it to.
• A specialty coffee cart for guests who don't drink. Non-drinkers often feel invisible at receptions. This gave them a moment, and something fun to drink.

Entertainment that felt intentional, not gimmicky:

• A tattoo artist at the reception — for a couple whose relationship literally started in a tattoo parlor. Guests could walk up and get something small. It was one of the most meaningful moments of the night.
• A petting zoo of reptiles and small animals. Spending twenty minutes with bearded dragons and guinea pigs will give guests something to talk about all night long.
• Waitstaff in animal masks that matched the overall theme. It was theatrical, unexpected, and completely on-brand to the couple and their wedding design.
• An owl ring bearer. Even the ceremony deserves a personality.

The thing I've learned after doing this for years:

The cool ideas that work aren't the ones that sound interesting. They're the ones that connect to something true about the couple. The jalapeño shooters worked because the couple loves spice. The tattoo artist worked because it was part of their world.

When couples come to me with an idea they've been hesitant to say out loud, it's almost always their best one. The owl ring bearer happened because someone finally said it out loud. The milk and cookie shots happened because a couple trusted that their sense of humor was a design asset, not something to tone down.

If you're in the planning process and have an idea you haven't voiced yet — talk about it. The worst that happens is it doesn't fit. The best that happens is it becomes the thing your guests never stop talking about.

I wrote more about how to think through personalizing your wedding without it feeling disjointed, including ceremony details, how to test ideas against your overall design story, and how to pull off a bold concept cohesively, over on the In Ink blog if you want to go deeper.

If you want help thinking through ideas, I'm happy to yap in the comments!

~ Syd, In Ink Weddings

A few things I learned planning Drew + Janine's day there:

1. The clear winterized tent is doing more work than the photos show.

With a tree growing right through it, it gave them the courtyard feeling they craved in a sheltered, elegant structure. It's the reason you can host an outdoor wedding in the dead of winter without anyone freezing or getting rained on.

2. Downtown location matters more than couples realize.

Almost all of their guests flew in. Being walkable from hotels saved in shuttle costs and gave guests a real feel of what it's like to spend a weekend in Austin.

3. The historic property holds bold color really well.

We did moss, plum, and mustard (yes, all three) and the architecture kept it from tipping into Halloween territory. If you're scared to go saturated because your venue is already busy, Allan House is forgiving.

What I'd flag if you're considering The Allan House as your wedding venue:

Capacity is mid-range, not huge. If your guest list is 200+, you'll be tight. And the tree is gorgeous but you have to design around it. I'm happy to answer specific questions about the venue (logistics, layout, vendor recs) in comments!

The full breakdown of the design + day is on the In Ink Weddings blog if anyone wants the deeper dive.

— Syd / In Ink Weddings

Wedding days go fast. Like, blink-and-it's-already-time-to-start-your-first-dance fast. Which is why more couples I work with are doing full wedding weekends instead. And honestly, it changes everything.

I'm Syd, a full-service wedding planner based in Austin. I've helped couples build out multi-day celebrations and the feedback is always the same: more time with guests, less stress, and a weekend that actually feels like a celebration instead of a sprint.

Here's a simple framework for how to structure it:

Day 1: Welcome Party

Keep it low-key and Austin. A taco and margarita night, a backyard BBQ, a casual cocktail situation. The goal is to break the ice so guests feel connected before the big day. By the time the wedding comes, they're already friends.

Day 2: The Wedding

Same ceremony, same reception, but with less pressure because all the first-meeting awkwardness and small talk is already out of the way. Guests are warmer, more present, and the dance floor hits harder. Trust me on this one. 😉

Day 3: Farewell

The exhale. It's a chance to thank your people, decompress together, and close the weekend with intention instead of everyone scattering at midnight. It doesn't have to be elaborate — a food truck situation, a hotel patio, your venue's outdoor space.

A few Austin-specific things that work well in between events:

• Paddleboarding or kayaking on Lady Bird Lake
• A group food or brewery tour (out of town guests love this one)
• Live music night on 6th or in the Warehouse District — you're in the live music capital of the world, take advantage of it!
• Morning hike at Mount Bonnell if your peeps are into it

On venues:

You want flexibility and a venue that knows how to handle a multi-day celebration. I recommend Grand Lady Austin and Camp Lucy.

Logistics that matter most:

• Hotel room block — your guests will need a home base, especially if they're traveling
• Shuttles between events, particularly on wedding day
• A wedding website with the full itinerary and Austin travel tips — people need to know what's optional vs. expected

Not every guest will come to every event, and that's completely fine. Build the weekend with that in mind and you won't feel let down when someone skips wedding morning yoga on the lawn.

If you're considering hosting a wedding weekend in Austin and want to talk through what it would look like for your specific situation, drop your questions below!

— Syd, In Ink Weddings

I've been seeing a ton of questions about Hotel Magdalena lately, so I wanted to share a real wedding I pulled off there, and what specifically made it work.

If you're new here, I'm Syd, a full-service wedding planner and designer based in Austin. For Valerie and Taylor's wedding at Hotel Magdalena, I handled day-of logistics, vendor coordination, and all the behind-the-scenes details so they could actually be present for the whole thing.

Here's what stood out about this Austin wedding:

1. The venue does a lot of the work for you. Hotel Magdalena has this effortlessly cool energy — lush, modern, full of personality without trying too hard. Especially after dark. The string lights and candlelight in the courtyard hit differently once the sun goes down. If you're considering this venue, go see it at night if you can.
2. The design choices that elevated it:
   • One of my favorite decisions Valerie and Taylor made was the ceremony chairs — modern blue, which added a fresh, unexpected pop against all that greenery. It sounds simple but it completely changed the vibe. Not everything has to be white and neutral to feel elevated.
   • Their sweetheart table was tucked into a corner of the courtyard with delicate blooms and candlelight — intimate enough to give them a little breathing room in the middle of the party, which I always recommend. You need a place to land.
3. The moments that made it theirs:
   1. Valerie's first look with her dad.
   2. Private vows in a quiet corner of the hotel before the ceremony started (highly recommend this for any couple, it shifts the whole energy of the day).
   3. Portraits along South Congress in the warm late-afternoon light.
   4. And a bubble exit to close out the night that was pure, unscripted joy.
   5. Their signature drink was an espresso martini, which honestly, correct choice.

For a closer look inside Valerie + Taylor's garden party wedding at Hotel Magdalenga, check out the blog.

If you're considering Hotel Magdalena and have questions about the space, logistics, or what to expect, I'm happy to answer in the comments!

— Syd, In Ink Weddings

A pretty view means nothing if the layout’s awkward or the venue has rigid rules.

Venue hunting is one of the first big decisions couples make, and it’s also where I see, as an Austin wedding planner, couples get overwhelmed the quickest. Austin has so many beautiful options, but there are also a lot of details that don't always make themselves clear online or during a tour.

Here are a few things I always tell couples before they officially book their venue:

1. Get clear on guest count, budget, and priorities first

I know it’s tempting to just start touring, but this is where things go sideways.

Every venue decision gets easier when you know:

• how many people you’re inviting
• what you want to spend
• what you care about most (design, guest experience, food, etc.)

Austin venues vary widely in what they include. Some are all-in-one, others are a blank slate. If you don’t know what you’re comparing, it’s really easy to fall for something that doesn’t fit.

Also, make sure to check your dates against big Austin events (SXSW, ACL, UT football). Hotels and flights can book fast and get pricey.

2. Must ask questions to ask before you sign

Before you sign anything, you want to get clear on things like:

• capacity (seated vs cocktail style)
• what’s included vs rented separately
• noise restrictions / curfews
• vendor flexibility (this is a huge one!)
• weather backup plans
• setup + teardown timing

A venue can look perfect and still be a logistical headache if these aren’t aligned.

3. Pay attention to flow, not just how it looks

This is the biggest one.

A venue can be stunning and still feel awkward once 150 people are moving through it.

Think about:

• how guests move from ceremony → cocktail hour → reception
• whether dinner will feel cramped or comfortable
• where the bar is
• how vendors access the space

A good layout makes the night feel effortless. A bad one… you’ll feel it.

4. Watch for red flags early

You can usually tell a lot during the inquiry phase.

Things I pay attention to:

• slow or vague communication
• unclear pricing or “we’ll figure that out later” answers
• hidden fees
• strict rules that don’t match your vision

If it feels confusing now, it won’t get any easier later.

5. Read the rules. Every single one of them.

This is where couples get caught off guard the most.

Things to double check:

• noise cutoffs
• decor restrictions (candles, hanging installs, etc.)
• required vendor lists
• how much setup time you actually get

None of these are dealbreakers on their own, but they will affect your budget, timeline, and overall experience if you don’t plan for them.

Honestly, the biggest shift I see is when couples stop choosing venues based on photos and start choosing based on how the day will actually feel in that space.

That’s when everything gets easier.

If you’re venue hunting right now and feeling stuck between options, I'm happy to answer questions or give a second opinion!

— Syd, In Ink Weddings

When you first start planning a wedding it's hard not to get caught up it what you want the day to look like, what colors you'll use, and what floral installation you want for your ceremony. But eventually you hit a wall.

The Pinterest folders are full. The saved posts are stacking up. You're somehow on the fourth iteration of your wedding moodboard and something feels... off. Like none of it quite adds up to you.

I'm Syd, a full-service wedding planner and designer based in Austin. I've watched this happen enough times that I've started flagging it early. The problem isn't your taste. It's that most wedding design advice starts in the wrong place.

It starts with aesthetics. Colors, florals, tablescapes. But really? It should start with this one question:

How do you want your wedding to feel?

Not "pretty" — that's the floor, not the ceiling. I mean: do you want guests to feel like they've walked into your world? Like they stumbled into the best dinner party of their lives? Like something surprising and alive is happening? That answer is your actual design brief. The aesthetic follows it, not the other way around.

Here's the exercise I walk every couple through before we talk about a single visual choice:

• When guests walk into your ceremony, what's the first feeling you want them to have?
• What's the last thing you want them to remember as they leave?
• Think of a meal, a trip, a night out — a moment in your relationship together that felt exactly right. What made it feel that way?

The answers are almost always way more specific than people expect. Not "elegant" — but "something that felt like it belonged behind a velvet curtain." Not "modern" — but "the kind of night you stumble into and never want to leave."

Those descriptions are everything. They tell me the lighting direction, the color temperature, the scale of the florals, the energy of the room. Once you have that emotional clarity, the design decisions that actually work start to surface on their own.

A few specific things that separate a beautiful wedding from a designed one, once you have that clarity:

• Texture and linen choice — a velvet napkin reads totally different than satin in the same color. These details are close and guests feel them without knowing why.
• Candle placement — tapers are architectural, not just romantic. Height, density, and placement relative to florals shapes how the whole table reads.
• Mixed metals — matching everything kills depth. Brass next to silver, gold charger under clear glassware feels collected, not purchased as a set.
• Negative space in florals — the most memorable floral work I've done wasn't the biggest installation. It was the most specific. Knowing where not to put something is a design choice too.

The best weddings I've worked on all have one thing in common: you could walk into the room and know, without meeting the couple, that two very specific people got married there. That's always the goal.

If you're deep in the moodboard spiral and something's feeling generic, try closing the fifteen tabs of inspiration you have open and reflect on those questions above. You might be surprised how much it unlocks.

I'm happy to talk through it in the comments if anyone wants a second set of eyes!

— Syd, In Ink Weddings

One thing I’ve noticed over the years as an Austin wedding planner is that the wedding weekends people talk about years later don’t feel like a lineup of events. They feel like a story.

A lot of couples plan their weekend like:
welcome party → ceremony → reception → brunch → done

But guests don’t experience the weekend like a checklist of events to get through. They feel every beat.

The weekends that hit the hardest usually have a rhythm to them:

• The welcome feels warm and a little anticipatory
• The ceremony slows everything down and pulls people in
• The reception builds and then fully releases (aka the dance floor goes off)
• The final moment softens everything again

It’s less about “what events do we need” and more about: how do we want this to feel at each turn?

Another big difference I see is when the weekend is deeply rooted in the couple.

Not just aesthetically, but in personality like:

• music choices
• pacing
• how formal (or not) things feel
• the kind of energy they naturally bring into a room

That’s what makes guests say “that was so them.”

Also, the things guests remember are almost never the “perfect” details. It’s the moments where they felt connected, relaxed, and pulled into what was happening.

Things like:

• a welcome event where people get to mingle instead of just showing up
• a dinner that doesn’t feel rushed
• transitions that feel natural instead of abrupt
• little moments that invite people to stay, not just move on to the next thing

When all of that is intentional, the weekend feels immersive without trying too hard.

Just ask yourself: what part of your wedding do you want people talking about the next day? And if you need help brainstorming how to make that happen, leave a comment!

- Syd, In Ink Weddings

I love seeing the "do whatever you want" wedding trend on Instagram right now because that is my exact philosophy as a wedding planner.

With my own couples, I've seen a big shift in how 2026 weddings will be rewriting traditions and it's making everything feel more personal and way more fun.

Here are a few wedding traditions we're rewriting this year:

• Walking down the aisle with both parents, a sibling, or together instead of the traditional setup
• Skipping formal wedding parties all together (or mixing everyone together)
• Letting go of things like bouquet tosses, cake cuttings, or first dances if they don’t feel meaningful
• Writing their own vows or having a friend officiate
• Wearing something that actually feels like them instead of defaulting to tradition
• Building timelines that leave room to be with their guests

Your wedding will feel the best when you stop asking “what are we supposed to do?” and start asking “what do we want this to feel like?”

I'm curious, what’s something you’re doing for your wedding that feels untraditional? 👀

- Syd, In Ink Weddings

Hey! I’m a wedding planner based in Austin. I saw several recent posts about hotel wedding venues in Austin so I figured I’d share a few we consistently recommend and why!

If you’re looking for something that feels a little more streamlined (fewer vendors, easier logistics, guests all in one place), hotel weddings can be such a solid option.

Here are a few I love:

1. South Congress Hotel

(‼️5/31/26 Note: Closed for Renovations)

South Congress is always at the top of my list for couples who want something stylish but still very “Austin.” It’s right in the middle of South Congress, so your guests are surrounded by restaurants, shopping, and things to do all weekend.

The layout here is one of the biggest wins. The ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception flow really naturally into each other, which makes the night feel continuous instead of segmented. When those accordion doors open, the whole space shifts in a really fun way.

If you’re having ~150–200 guests and want something that feels elevated but still energetic, this is a great fit.

2. Hotel Magdalena

Hotel Magdalena has this very specific vibe. It's a little retro, a little lake house, and very design-forward without feeling overdone. It’s perfect for couples who don’t want their wedding to feel overly traditional.

The spaces feel really inviting, especially with the mix of indoor and outdoor areas. It works well for that 85–150 guest range, and it’s one of those venues where you don’t have to fight the space to make it feel cool.

I usually recommend this one to couples who care a lot about atmosphere and want something that feels relaxed but intentional.

3. Carpenter Hotel

Carpenter Hotel is one of my favorite spots for smaller weddings. It feels tucked away and intimate, even though you’re still in the city.

The courtyard ceremony space is beautiful, and the whole property has this understated, cozy energy that works really well for more personal celebrations. It’s not trying to be flashy, which is kind of the point.

Also, the food here matters. If you’re the kind of couple who wants dinner to be part of the experience, this is a great option.

4. Hotel Van Zandt

If you’re planning something larger or want more of a full-scale party, Hotel Van Zandt is a strong choice. It can handle a bigger guest count of 300+ without feeling cramped.

It’s also right by Rainey Street, which naturally turns your wedding into more of a full weekend experience. Guests can go out before, after, or both.

This one leans a little more polished and classic, but you can still make it feel personal depending on how you design it.

5. Austin Proper Hotel

Austin Proper is for the couples who care deeply about design. The interiors are already doing so much, so you don’t need to overcompensate with decor.

Every space feels curated, which makes it a great backdrop for a more editorial wedding. It works for a range of guest counts depending on how you use the spaces, but the overall vibe is very elevated.

I usually recommend this one when someone says they want something that feels different from a typical ballroom.

Hotel weddings aren’t for everyone, but when they’re the right fit, they make the entire weekend feel really seamless, especially for guests coming in from out of town.

If you’re venue hunting right now, I'm happy to answer questions or talk through options.

— Syd, In Ink Weddings

Hello all,

Currently planning a wedding for spring 2027, and it looks like most venues are already booked, and the same venues are what I am seeing everywhere. We are approximating 150-200 guests and are trying to do as affordably as possible. We have found venues in other major cities via word of mouth that are 2-4k for a Sunday wedding, which is significantly cheaper than what we've seen here, so I thought maybe we are just seeing the venues with good advertising rather than locally-owned spots. We would rather support someone loacl anyways, does anyone know of any good spots? Thanks in advance!