Though there are countless advantages to hotels as wedding venues, here are the top reasons to have a hotel wedding in Houston. We’re sure they’ll have you signing up pronto to tour Houston’s hottest wedding hotels!
1.THE HOTEL WEDDING OPTIONS IN HOUSTON ARE ENDLESS…AND AMAZING.
As one of the nation’s top destination cities, Houston is rich in hotel options for every kind of couple, and every kind of wedding. You’ll need to decide on a few basics before you begin your wedding hotel search:
First: How many people do you plan to invite? Houston’s best hotels can accommodate anywhere from an intimate group of 40 or 50, to 2,000 of your closest friends, family and colleagues. Before you pick your property, figure out how much space you’ll need, so you’re not setting yourself up to fall in love with a hotel that’s too small or too big for your group.
Second: Which features are most important to you? If an expansive city view is at the top of your wish list, pick a downtown hotel with floor-to-ceiling windows that offers a glimpse of Houston’s iconic skyline. If you crave authentic international cuisine for your culturally specific celebration, choose a hotel with experience in authentic global dishes or a willingness to let you bring in outside specialty foods, as needed. If you want a room that needs hardly any extra decor, pick a hotel with exceptional interior design and lavish accents, rather than one with a conference-style, blank-slate ballroom.
Third: Do you want your ceremony and reception both to be held in one place? If all-in-one accessibility is key for your nuptials, select a Houston hotel with ceremony space, pre-reception cocktail space and a big, beautiful ballroom for the main event. Or, ensure beforehand that your hotel can “flip” your ceremony space for your reception, while guests enjoy cocktails and nibbles elsewhere on site.
2. YOU’LL GET A TON OF BANG FOR YOUR WEDDING-BUDGET BUCK.
While the price tag for a hotel wedding may seem steep, consider this: Most hotels include just about everything you need for your wedding celebration in the booking fee. This generally covers basic rentals, food and beverage, catering and bar servers, cake cutting, and an in-house coordinator. Extras like specialty rentals, bar and food upgrades, and basic ceremony decor, can typically be purchased for a reasonable fee. Some hotels even provide in-house floral services and wedding-cake design. Those that don’t usually will provide a list of preferred vendors who can work with you to create centerpieces, design and prepare your cake and specialty desserts, and outfit your event with fun entertainment options like photo booths, cocktail-hour entertainment and cigar-lounge setup. Some hotels even have on-site spas and salons that can handle all of your day-of beauty prep, and on-site restaurants and bars with private dining for pre- and post-wedding parties.
3. YOU’LL BE ABLE TO HAVE YOUR VISITING GUESTS STAY CLOSE TO ALL THE WEDDING FESTIVITIES…VERY CLOSE!
One of the biggest benefits of having a hotel wedding is being able to have all, or most, of your guests, stay on site. Which means that guests can spend more time enjoying the amenities and bountiful surroundings of your selected hotel, and less time dealing with transportation and logistics. Talk to your hotel catering manager or on-site wedding coordinator about booking a block of rooms, several months out from your big day, and circulate that information to invited guests via your wedding website, invitation or save-the-date. While room block rates typically will be offered at a reduced price for your wedding guests, be sure you understand the small print regarding deposits and cancellation policies, which can be strict. And don’t forget to ask about extras like in-room amenities baskets, printed schedules and maps of local attractions, to make your visiting guests’ experience one they’ll always remember.
4. AMENITIES AND EXTRAS ARE OFTEN YOURS JUST FOR THE ASKING.
Most Houston wedding hotels offer awesome amenities to the wedding couple, some on a complimentary basis, and others for a fee. These may include designated pre-wedding bride and groom preparation areas, where you can fete your wedding party with ample dressing and hair-and-makeup prep space, pre-wedding snacks and drinks—even de-stress diversions like music, billiards and games. Many hotels will throw in wedding-night accommodations for the newlywed couple, with in-room gifts such as chocolate-covered strawberries, Champagne, or breakfast in bed. Which means you can dance all night, soak in every unforgettable moment of your special day, and exit with a quick elevator ride to the luxurious accommodations that await you and your brand-new spouse.
Along with value, service level and convenience, you’ll get even more our of your Houston hotel wedding if you follow these expert hotel wedding-planning tips!
DO: Ask for extras. While hotels charge for many upgrades and amenities, they are often willing, and happy, to offer complimentary goodies to couples who are spending a significant amount of money on their wedding, and bringing in large groups of visiting guests.
DO: Tour thoroughly. When you visit a hotel for a site tour, ask to see not just the ballroom where the main action will happen, but the ceremony space, cocktail area, guest rooms and spa. A hotel wedding is all about the complete experience, for you and your guests alike, so know what you’re getting before you sign off.
DO: Collab with catering. Work with your hotel’s catering manager and chef to come up with personalized items for your menu—perhaps hors d’oeuvre based on something you both love at your favorite restaurant, or late-night cookies, baked with your grandma’s beloved recipe. And don’t forget signature sips: Everyone loves these custom cocktails, which can be tray-passed or served at the bar, with cute corresponding signage, of course!
Find more reasons to have a hotel wedding, along with all of Houston’s best wedding hotels, and information on guest capacity, special services and pricing, right here!
