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Weddings

About

The Crystal Ballroom at the Rice is an elegant 1913 historic ballroom located in the heart of downtown Houston’s Rice Hotel. This gorgeous ballroom venue was originally the capital of the Republic of Texas, and is now a fantastic space ideal for a large event.

Facilities and Capacity
The Crystal Ballroom at the Rice is a unique space, able to accommodate large gatherings its main ballroom or smaller events in one of the adjoining private rooms, especially the Empire Room. The main ballroom is a luxurious 5,000 square feet ballroom with a 1,500 square foot parlor. This space maintains its 1913 design, complete with a full wrap-around balcony and covered terrace. The ballroom has an elegant lobby entrance with crystal chandeliers and you can prepare for your big day in the ballroom’s private dressing room. The spacious ballroom has 35-inch ceilings, a full stage, and a beautiful dance floor for celebrating. This opulent ballroom can accommodate 400 guests for a seated dinner and up to 800 guests for a reception. If you want all the luxury of this space with a more intimate setting, you can hold your event in the Empire Room. The Empire Room is on the same level as the main ballroom and can accommodate 100 guests for a seated dinner and 120 guests for a reception. The space comes with a serving bar, lofty ceilings, and a multimedia presentation system for any slideshows or videos you may want to present during your reception.

Services Offered
The Crystal Ballroom at the Rice is a gorgeous venue, with multiple service options. The venue has in-house event planning services and the staff is there to assist you every step of the planning process. The Crystal Ballroom offers the following services:

  • Event planning
  • Bridal suite
  • In-house catering

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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?

$29,871

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

Yes

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

$1,273

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

$1,230

Which of the following are included in starting site fee?

Bridal Suite
Chairs
China
Clean Up
Event Planning
Flatware
Glassware
Linens
Set Up

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

3

Describe your venue:

Banquet Hall

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Covered Outdoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party

What event services do you offer?

Event Planner

What food and beverage items are available?

Barware
China
Flatware
Glassware
Linens

What transportation and access is available?

Valet

Reviews of Crystal Ballroom at the Rice

This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Review summary

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The Crystal Ballroom is a highly recommended wedding venue with exceptional service and communication. Reviewers praised the professionalism and organization of the staff, particularly mentioning Cassidy as a standout coordinator. The venue itself is described as stunning and full of historical relevance, with beautiful murals and chandeliers. Guests also appreciated the delicious food provided by the venue's catering partner. Overall, customers had a stress-free and flawless experience at the Crystal Ballroom and highly recommend it for weddings.

Review summary

Powered by AI
This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

The Crystal Ballroom is a highly recommended wedding venue with exceptional service and communication. Reviewers praised the professionalism and organization of the staff, particularly mentioning Cassidy as a standout coordinator. The venue itself is described as stunning and full of historical relevance, with beautiful murals and chandeliers. Guests also appreciated the delicious food provided by the venue's catering partner. Overall, customers had a stress-free and flawless experience at the Crystal Ballroom and highly recommend it for weddings.

Shannon
Shannon Sent on 01/21/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Perfection!

Extremely professional and well organized, great communication. They made our wedding day stress-free. Not to mention the absolute beauty and historical relevance of the building! Can’t recommend enough.
Ally
Ally Sent on 05/29/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Dream wedding

The Crystal Ballroom is a stunning venue! It’s difficult to find a place in Houston with so much history and beauty and this place has it all. It’s truly one of a kind! On top of that, Emily and Cassidy, the coordinators, are absolute gems to work with. They will take care of you from start to finish. I began planning my wedding before Covid and had to reset my event two times. They were completely flexible with every change I made. We also switched from a buffet dinner to a seated dinner last minute because of Covid regulations and we were able to keep all the same food selections in the switch. You do have to book catering through Sambucca, but I personally found that less stressful than having to hunt down and select a caterer. The food was also delicious. The day-of was perfectly executed and we enjoyed every minute of our day, thanks to Emily and Cassidy! Multiple guests told us our wedding was the best wedding they have been to! I would highly recommend this venue to anyone.
Jessica
Jessica Sent on 02/04/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Wedding Reception

The Crystal Ballroom was a DREAM to work with. From the time we signed the contract to the big day, they made sure every detail was covered and truly made our day flawless. I would 1000% recommend them to anyone!
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

69
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2017 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2016 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2015 Winner
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Professional Network & Endorsements

2 Endorsements
Jessi Marri Photography Jessi Marri Photography Wedding Photographers

FAVORITE venue to shoot at!

C. Baron Photography C. Baron Photography Wedding Photographers

We love to visit the Crystal Ballroom. The ballroom itself is beautiful and historic. However, there are so many other lovely parts of this venue. The balcony and the bridal suite are absolutely lovely to photograph!

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Crystal Ballroom at the Rice frequently asked questions

Crystal Ballroom at the Rice includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Bridal Suite
  • Chairs
  • China
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planning
  • Flatware
  • Glassware
  • Linens
  • Set Up
The space offered by Crystal Ballroom at the Rice for wedding events is known for:
  • Banquet Hall
Crystal Ballroom at the Rice offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Covered Outdoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
Crystal Ballroom at the Rice offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
Crystal Ballroom at the Rice offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Event Planner
Crystal Ballroom at the Rice is recommended by 97% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.8 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 4.9 in quality of service, 4.9 in professionalism, 4.8 in average response time, 4.8 in flexibility and 4.8 in value.

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