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Weddings

About

Located in Magnolia, Texas, Balmorhea is a vintage-style banquet hall wedding venue located in the northwest of Houston. Couples will have the chance to experience 32 acres of beautiful oak trees, lakes, stone bridges, and meadows on this picturesque property. Balmorhea offers multiple indoor and outdoor options for both ceremonies and receptions. Only one event is hosted per day, so couples will receive the staff's full attention on their special day.

Facilities and Capacity

Couples can accommodate up to 320 guests at this rustic venue. Here, vows can be exchanged outdoors amongst the gorgeously landscaped property. From the towering oaks to the tranquil lake, backdrops here are aplenty. There is also a chapel available for couples that prefer an indoor ceremony. Receptions may take place in a beautiful country-style building. This spacious location features wood floors, ornate chandeliers, a stone fireplace, and exposed beams. For additional seating, you can utilize their outdoor porch or patio area. This unique venue features a fireplace and is perfect for a cocktail hour. The main building also features a bell tower wing that can be used for a dance area or ceremony. For photo opportunities, couples can utilize the on-site and charming bridge or lush meadows.

Services Offered

This full-service venue offers event planning packages to ensure every detail is taken care of. At Balmorhea, there is an on-site house that wedding parties can get ready in, as well as plenty of parking for guests. There’s also the option of a valet or shuttle service if couples wish to use it. Outside vendors are allowed, or couples can choose from Balmorhea's list of preferred vendors. Additional services include:

  • Setup and cleanup
  • Tables and chairs
  • Pet-friendly facilities
  • Liability insurance
  • Wheelchair accessible facilities

History

Balmorhea, pronounced Bal-mor-ay, is a secluded, peaceful wedding venue located 30 minutes north of Houston. Balmorhea is a town in Texas with a beautiful state park where the San Solomon Springs can be found. San Solomon Springs has been designated a sacred Native American place and has been a source of freshwater to travelers for hundreds of years. The Carswell family found a stream of crystal clear water on their travels and followed it to the San Solomon Springs. They named their venue in honor of this beautiful and unique experience.

  • Woman-owned
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Frequently asked questions

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during peak season?

$9,500

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during off-peak season?

$9,500

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during off-peak season?

$9,500

Which of the following are included in the starting site fee?

Bridal Suite
Chairs
Clean Up
Parking
Set Up
Tables

What is the minimum number of guests required to book your venue?

100

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

1

Describe your venue:

Farm/Ranch
Waterfront

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception

What event services do you offer?

Get Ready Rooms
Outside Vendors
Wifi

What event items are available?

Altar/Arch
Chairs
Tables

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Wheelchair Access

What months are included in your peak season?

March
April
May
June
September
October
November
December

What months are included in your off-peak season?

January
February
July
August

Reviews of Balmorhea

S
Sherry Sent on 05/31/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Beautiful Venue

We had our daughters wedding here & everyone commented on how beautiful the grounds & venue were. Melissa treats everyone like her best friend & she was so helpful & lovely to work with. You can tell this is a family owned business because they really do care. With Melissa’s help & guidance, we planned our daughter’s wedding in 5 months.
Highly recommend them.
M
E1025B771E2B5Bddfae9E4A710288200Bba2F86F Sent on 05/28/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing!

You definitely have to add Balmorhea to your list when venue shopping. I actually found Balmorhea here on Wedding Wire. I fell in love with it based off the pictures, and even told my mom on the way it would be my favorite of all on our list. From that first tour it felt like home. I was lucky enough to get Melissa, one of the owners, as my tour guide. She is so wonderful & made the experience such a positive one, which I can’t say the same for some of the others we visited. She was so helpful & made the entire process very easy! Balmorhea is so gorgeous! The grounds & all the buildings make the perfect backdrop for a wedding. It felt like we were on a remote ranch in the hill country. I know the pictures are going to be so beautiful. I love that the place is so beautiful I didn’t feel like I had to do a whole lot of decorating to make it look pretty. I can’t say enough good things about Balmorhea & Melissa! You won’t regret booking them. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience or a more perfect wedding!
Danielle
Danielle Sent on 02/02/2022
5 out of 5 rating

So easy to work with!

We had our wedding on November 21, 2021. Melissa Carswell was so easy to work with and they did an amazing job accommodating us. The Chapel onsite was beautiful, the reception hall was spacious for guest and dancing! The bridal house was large enough to accommodate our wedding party of 12 with plenty of space to hangout and wind down before the ceremony. A plus was the large kitchen in the house that we were able to use to feed the wedding party, which was a huge plus in mind! They were very helpful when scheduling our engagement photos and my bridal portraits as well. We will definitely recommend them to others in the future!
A
Alan Sent on 03/12/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Venue Wedding Review

OKAY this place is amazing. First of all, I want to thank Melissa, Holly, and Lynsey who were involved in my wedding. Y'all were so professional in all your communication both in person and over the phone. I especially want to thank Melissa who was really accommodating with us when we had to make so many changes to our wedding due to Covid. In addition, the venue is to die for. I got so many compliments on the venue from my guests. Also ladies, if you're looking around for a venue pay attention to their bridal suite especially if you have a large wedding party. Here, it was a whole separate house and we had plenty of space to spread out and follow Covid guidelines even with 9 bridesmaids, 2 moms, and hair and makeup staff. Also there is a fridge, microwave and lots of space to eat. All of this to say just book your wedding here. You won't be disappointed.
Sydney
Sydney Sent on 11/28/2020
5 out of 5 rating

Incredible Venue

Balmorhea was such a dream! We could not have picked a more perfect venue for our wedding in October. The first time we walked into Balmorhea we knew It was going to be our venue. It feels so homey, relaxing, and not to mention BEAUTIFUL! Melissa and Lindsey were SO sweet and very helpful. They put all of our worries and fears about COVID to ease and answered all of our questions. We appreciated how open they were for us to visit the venue (multiple times) before the wedding, too. We cannot recommend Balmorhea enough and any couple to get married here will truly love every second. Thank you for making our day so so special!
Emily
Emily Sent on 11/04/2020
5 out of 5 rating

Would choose this venue all over again

I cannot recommend this venue highly enough! Melissa and her team were so wonderful to work with, especially during the craziness that 2020 has been. They were so responsive, personable, and professional throughout the entire wedding planning process. The grounds themselves are BEAUTIFUL and provide a certain peacefulness to the day that every wedding needs. Not to mentioned there is a great indoor and outdoor ceremony choice as well as a reception hall to fit 300+ guests. If you choose Balmorhea, you can't go wrong!
Matthew
Matthew Sent on 09/18/2020
5 out of 5 rating

Couldn't Be Happier

This venue was very flexible with COVID and helped us make our big day special and what we dreamed.
V
Vicki Sent on 08/26/2020
5 out of 5 rating

Balmorhea was amazing!

Four months before my daughters wedding, we found ourselves in the midst of a pandemic! Unchartered territory for everyone- including our wedding venue.
Balmorhea turned out to be our constant!
They kept up with all the rules and regulations and all the changes that happened during those 4 months. I know this because I stayed in contact with Holly (our Balmorhea specialist :) and I even heard from Melissa a few times. Holly answered All of my questions and concerns. She was fabulous!
Balmorhea was everything we could have asked for- even during a pandemic! They felt our worries and shared in our joy! Balmorhea was the Best!!
E
Emily Sent on 01/24/2020
5 out of 5 rating

Absolutely Perfect!

Just got married at the Balmorhea, and it was the best decision my husband and I made. The whole property and venue is just breathe taking. Their chapel was what stole my heart. We received so many compliments from our guests of how beautiful the venue is. and I must say that All of Balmorhea's reps. were so sweet and super helpful. We just felt so blessed to be able to get married here.
H
Hanna Sent on 11/21/2019
5 out of 5 rating

A wedding venue that has it all and more!

Choosing this wedding location was honestly one of the easiest parts of planning the wedding. My husband and I toured 5 venues/locations before this one and we knew right away. A big part of why we loved the place, besides how beautiful it looked, was because they had everything you would need in one location. The bridal cottage was onsite and so large that we split it between the wedding party for men’s and women’s sides. They have a beautiful outside space which is where we had the ceremony but a few days before the wedding we were worried it would rain. Well, there’s a chapel onsite so no problem there. Very convenient for us and the guests to have reception and ceremony at the same location. And Melissa was super accommodating because my family was from overseas so we toured the venue again when my family came over even after we booked the event. We used mostly email and texts to communicate with her and she is quick to reply. We didn’t have to worry about parking or being too loud or anything you would think of if we had the wedding in town. One thing we were concerned with was Uber/Lyft but we were able to schedule those and didn’t have a problem with people getting home. Again, honestly one of the easiest parts of the wedding planning. Thank you for making our day magical!
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

44
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2021 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2019 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2018 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2017 Winner

Professional Network & Endorsements

3 Endorsements
Imagine That Pix Imagine That Pix Wedding Photographers

The staff at Balmorhea as well as the appearance of the venue was absolutely stellar. Gorgeous scenery, and amazing photography spots. Would love to shoot here again!

Analisa Hastings Analisa Hastings Wedding Hair & Makeup

I have had the honor of working with brides at Balmorhea quite a few times this year and last and it is a beautiful venue. For anyone looking for a beautiful landscape and a great indoor setting, this is a great venue. I'm so happy I get to be there the next two weekends in a row with my beautiful brides.

Dose of Beauty Dose of Beauty Wedding Hair & Makeup

Great customer service! Melissa is so sweet and nice. Beautiful venue!!!

Map

Balmorhea frequently asked questions

Balmorhea includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Bridal Suite
  • Chairs
  • Clean Up
  • Parking
  • Set Up
  • Tables
The space offered by Balmorhea for wedding events is known for:
  • Farm/Ranch
  • Waterfront
Balmorhea offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
Balmorhea offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
Balmorhea offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Get Ready Rooms
  • Outside Vendors
  • Wifi
Balmorhea offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Altar/Arch
  • Chairs
  • Tables
Balmorhea is recommended by 96% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.8 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 4.8 in quality of service, 4.8 in average response time, 4.8 in flexibility, 4.8 in professionalism and 4.8 in value.
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