Galveston Wedding Venues – Our Top 5 Picks
The first step of wedding planning is always choosing a wedding venue. There is such a variety of Galveston wedding venues, from a relaxed beach wedding to a historic luxury hotel, that it can be overwhelming.
We compiled this list of what are, in our opinion, the best wedding venues in Galveston to help you plan your dream Galveston Wedding.
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Hotel Galvez
| Up to 300 guests | 2024 Seawall Blvd.(Directions) | Website |
Hotel Galvez, called “The Queen of the Gulf,” is the only historic beach front hotel on Texas’ Gulf Coast. Built in 1911 to help revitalize Galveston’s economy after the 1900 storm, the Galvez has become a Galveston icon.
The Spanish colonial style and century old architecture is the perfect location for both an old European or a modern art deco inspired wedding. Hotel Galvez is on the seawall, which means you can easily have your wedding photos take on the beach just by crossing the street. We love the luxurious hotel and the easy going nature of the beach.
Hotel Galvez has guest accommodations, ceremony spaces, and reception spaces. This makes it a perfect location for weddings with a lot out of town guests.
To learn more about Hotel Galvez and see weddings we’ve photographed there CLICK HERE.
Garten Verein
| Up to 250 Guests | 2704 Ave O (Directions) | Website |
Garten Verein (German for “garden club) is another of our favorite historical Galveston wedding venue. Founded in 1876 by German businessman, the club once had bowling alleys, tennis courts, gardens, and a dancing pavillion. The dancing pavilion was the only structure to survive the 1900 Storm.
We love photographing weddings at Garten Verein because of it’s unique architecture, location in a beautiful park, and its large tiered dance hall with panoramic windows that make receptions amazing.
Garten Verein can accommodate both indoor and outdoor ceremonies and receptions. However, it lacks any sort of accommodations like a bridal suite, so you will need to get ready in a nearby hotel, home, or rental.
San Luis Resort
| Up to 500 guests | 5222 Seawall Blvd (Directions) | Website |
Before 1873, Galveston was called San Luis, thus the San Luis Resort. Although the San Luis Resort is modern, having been built in the 1980s, it still has historic importance. The resort is built on the site of Fort Crockett, specifically on the bunkers created to protect the forts artillery from German submarines during World War II. Because of this, the San Luis Resort is one of the highest spots on Galveston Island and offers great views of the Gulf of Mexico.
There’s plenty of places to take beautiful photos. While the architecture maybe isn’t as grand as the Galvez, the grounds of the resort are beautiful and there’s always the beach right across the street.
Like the Galvez, the San Luis has guest accommodations, spaces for ceremonies, as well as for receptions, which makes it great for out of town guests. The San Luis can host weddings with up to 500 guests, making your best bet for really large weddings.
The Trolley Station
| Up to 300 guests | 2021 Strand (Directions) | Website |
The Trolley Station is another historic wedding venue in Galveston. Built in 1894 as the J.D. Rogers building, the Trolley Station offers all the charm of Galveston’s Historic Strand District.
The Trolley Station’s wall of windows, high ceilings, and simple almost industrial, aesthetic make it one of our favorite wedding venues in Galveston to photograph. The large stage makes it a perfect venue for a reception with a live band.
The Trolley Station has a dressing room and is available for wedding ceremonies. But it is very common to use The Trolley Station for your reception and to get ready at the nearby Tremont House and have your ceremony at a local church.
The Beach
| Small Events Only | Website |
Perhaps you’re looking to have a smaller more intimate wedding. If so, you can get married on the beach and don’t even need a permit. If you’re looking for something intimate, we suggest an early morning elopement on the beach. Just the two of you an and officiant. Early in the morning the sun will be rising over the water and the beach will be less crowded.
If you want to have a loud speaker or restrict access to area to set up chairs, you’ll need a permit and to use one of the city’s designated areas at Stewart Beach, East Beach, or Sea Wolf Park. To arrange this you’ll need to contact the Galveston Park Board by calling 409-797-5172. You could also let our favorite Galveston wedding planner, Precious Nuptials, handle the whole thing for you.
The beach obviously won’t have amenities like bridal suites, restrooms, or even designated parking. So it’s best to keep these weddings very small and to celebrate after with a private reception.
