A 2023 Guide to Planning Your Hill Country Wedding Weekend
Lately, many of our couples are looking for fun, unique experiences for their guests. There’s no better way to achieve that than to turn your celebration into a wedding weekend that is truly memorable for everyone involved!
What makes us so qualified to talk about Hill Country wedding weekends?
Not only do we own Elm Pass Woods, (THE coolest and most unique Texas Hill Country wedding venue, in our opinion) but Mike and I had our own wedding here! We made a weekend of it and it was the party of our lives.
So whether you’re looking to host a wedding festival at Elm Pass Woods or not, we’ll walk you through our recommendations for where to stay, what to eat, and things to do in Hill Country, so you can start planning with ease.
Planning your Hill Country wedding weekend
Planning a wedding weekend means the party doesn’t have to stop at the end of the night! It’s such a fun process to plan a multi-day event, but does take some coordination. We recommend starting with these things first!
Choosing a Home Base
In Hill Country, Comfort TX is a great place to base your wedding weekend. This is an adorable town to walk around and explore, and many of the things in this blog are located in Comfort! And if you’re an Elm Pass Woods couple, Comfort is a short 12 minute drive away from our venue.
If you and your guests are flying in, Comfort is a straight 55-minute drive from the SA airport on I-10. You don’t even have to turn until it’s time to exit for Comfort! Also keep in mind that Ubers aren’t a thing here, so hiring shuttles for your guests is a great idea. John Michael at Hill Country Transportation is our recommendation!
What does a Hill Country wedding weekend look like?
We’re glad you asked! Here’s a sample wedding weekend timeline for a Saturday night wedding:
Friday Afternoon – Your guests arrive to their accommodations, check-in, and are greeted with an adorable welcome package from you. It’s got all of your favorite things and plenty of information about the weekend.
Friday Night – Guests are invited to a welcome party, rehearsal dinner, or chill hangout. Because why wouldn’t you want to start celebrating a day early?!
Saturday Morning – While you’re getting ready to tie the knot, your guests are busy exploring the area thanks to the awesome guide you provided in your welcome package. It’s like choose your own adventure for adults!
Saturday Night – You marry your best friend surrounded by all of the people who are most important to you, and have the time of your life!
Sunday Morning – You say farewell and thank you to your guests with a fun, laid back brunch. Then everybody hits the road full and happy!
Sound like a dream to you?
You can make it happen – and it’s a lot easier than you think. If you’re looking for more specific ideas, check out the sample Hill Country wedding day itinerary on our website.
Things to do in Hill Country
Hill Country is located in central Texas, and is often viewed as the border between the southeast and southwest United States. You’ll find beautiful views, great music, delicious food, and super cool people.
With so much to see (and eat!) there really are no limits for planning your Hill Country wedding weekend here.
Where to stay
Meyer Bed and Breakfast
We have a partnership with the cutest BnB called Meyer Bed and Breakfast. They’re located 12 minutes away from Elm Pass Woods in Comfort, and this is actually where our guests stayed for our own wedding! If you book out their property, which has 32 rooms and many beds, they will give your guests a 10% discount.
Camp Comfort
Meyer Bed and Breakfast also has another property with 9 more rooms – a couple are remodeled airstream trailers! This would be the perfect choice if you have a smaller number of guests, or if you’re looking for a non-traditional vibe.
Lazy Days River Cottages
This small but mighty riverfront resort is the perfect place for guests to stay the weekend. There are 4 cottages on property, each with capacity for 6 guests. Each cottage has a full kitchen and grill, as well as kayaks so your guests can explore the Guadalupe River at their leisure. This is a great option for your wedding party and immediate family!
Where to eat & drink
Comfort Pizza
This might be one of the coolest places we’ve ever eaten at. And the pizza is a-mazing! The restaurant was built in a retro gas station, and will give you all the vintage feels. This is a great spot for a welcome party or rehearsal dinner! There’s a flat fee to rent out the place + pizza and tab.
Singing Water Vineyards
Singing Water Vineyards has delicious food, live music on the weekends, and this wine slushy that will change your life – even if you don’t like wine! They’re also dog and kid friendly, making this a really cool place to hang out. Plus, they’re only 10 minutes away from us at Elm Pass Woods.
Hill Country Distillery
If you’re a fan of whiskey, you cannot skip a trip to Hill Country Distillery. They’ve got super cool whisky tastings here, as well as a menu with over 40 different speciality drinks made with their own alcohol.
Toucan Jim’s
This tropical-themed local dive bar is a little slice of paradise brought to Hill Country – think margaritaville with a Texas twist. They regularly have live music to enjoy, and provide a really fun atmosphere for a welcome dinner or after party!
Where to explore
Hill Country Wineries
Hill Country is home to over 50 local wineries. This is a great activity for wine enthusiasts to enjoy. 4 times yearly, they host passport events where you can hop from winery to winery. Or pick one that speaks to you and spend the whole afternoon there!
8th Street Market
8th Street Market is a huge warehouse filled with antiques and funky finds. While you’re visiting, stop by Comfort Coffee Co, an awesome coffee shop located inside the market.
Fredericksburg
Discover the German heritage of Fredericksburg through the food, drinks, and people. Here you’ll find plenty of authentic German food and beer, as well as unique creations that fuse German foods with Texas-style eats.
Finding the perfect Texas Hill Country wedding venue
You’ve got places to stay, places to eat, and things to do covered. Now, where do you actually get married?
We’re definitely a little biased, but Elm Pass Woods really is a great choice. We specialize in curating wedding festivals of all sizes and cultures in our unique Tipi venue. If you’re into non-traditional venues that celebrate nature and make any size wedding feel intimate, check us out. And if you really want to be sure, the only way to feel our place out for yourself is to come visit us!
Photo credits: Head Image Ashley Medrano Photography, Audree Lorraine Photography, and Adam Kealing Photography
