Top 7 Reasons to Have an Event at Texas Old Town

There are many people in the surrounding area that do not know about us and more importantly are missing out on the opportunity to have an elegant Texas hill country get together with all the conveniences of home...(we have three kitchens, dressing rooms, bathrooms, showers, you name it.)

Texas Old Town is an entirely family owned and operated venue. We offer three separate and distinct facilities that provide quaint streams, beautiful craftsmanship, your choice of vendors and a one-of-a-kind Texas Hill Country experience.

Are you interested yet? If not, here are 7 more reasons to choose Texas Old Town as the venue for your next event.

#1: Texas Old Town is set on 51 acres of land in the Texas Hill Country. That means we have room. Room to romp and play and more importantly, room to set up say an indoor/outdoor family reunion, wedding reception or even just set up some water slides for the kids.

Field behind Redbud hall ready for a ceremony.

#2: We are an open facility. What does this mean? You are free and welcome to bring in any vendor of your choosing. We won't pull hair or take sides (or your money), because we want you to have the best event possible.

#3: We have 3 separate halls. Yes, I already said it, but this means we can have 3 events going on at one time with out anyone ever seeing or hearing one another from the other events. So go ahead and party the night away, just remember you do have to drive home later.

Redbud Hall

Sage Hall

Tejas Hall

#4: We clean up. This is something simple, but so helpful. All you need to do is show up, decorate (if you like), eat and be merry, and then take any decorations home with you. We take care of the clean up and tear down.

#5: All tables and chairs are provided. Do you know how much it costs to rent tables and chairs these days? It's a scary number.


#6: Corporate events are a breeze. You tell us what you need, how many people and the date and we will give you a quote that can include everything from just the facility to catering, decorations, and even a casino night or laser battle.

#7: We have 2 other venues in Texas. Yes, It's true. We have a venue in New Braunfels called Boulder Springs and also a venue in Montgomery (near Houston) called Amber Springs.

Making a Wedding Budget: Where do you start?

If you are like most people, you don't really have an idea of where to start when making a wedding budget or even how much things costs. No one wants to begin married life in debt, so don't let money matters give you a sour face.

Jean Chatzky, Today financial editor and author of Money 911 joined up with Brides magazine to create  "sweet" money fixes for the majority of wedding planning/marriage issues.






The Problem: You're starting marriage in major debt (you had to invite everyone on your 300-person guest list). How do you get back on track?

The Solution:  Imagine your debt is an all-day sucker, which you can whittle away if you keep at it. Add up all that you owe, then find ways to cut back while you pay things off. Little sums add up quickly-so start by skipping your coffee run every morning. Bonus! Licking that debt together is a surefire way to strengthen your bond.

The Problem: While he's still in school, you'll be the only one working.

The Solution: Consider this time an investment, and his graduation a PayDay. "Figure out how much money will be coming in each month, and attempt to live on that rather than going into debt," says Chatzky. "If he's taking out student loans, be sure you both understand how much the monthly payments will be once he graduates."

The Problem: You're a saver; he's a spender...or vis versa. ;)

The Solution: Try the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup method: Combine your two money styles to create a new kind of satisfaction. Designate, say, $50 each week to spend freely and at least 10 percent of both incomes for savings. Set a goal for the savings sum; a trip to your favorite destination, a new big screen?

Leanne & Cody - 7.10.2010

Leanne and Cody got married Saturday, July 10, 2010 surrounded by their loving and supportive family.

"I can't say enough great things about Texas Old Town!! It was the perfect venue and Danny was available and eager to help whenever needed. Thanks so much for the perfect wedding day :)!" 
- Leanne

"The colors Leanne selected were so vibrant. Leanne and her bridesmaids made the chunky necklaces to match....too cute. Pies instead of a grooms cake, lots of dancing and ATX/Greenbelt DJ did a great job, by the way! My cheeks were tired of smiling from watching the guest put on all sorts of prop at the live photobooth.. The exit was to bubbles and I hear there was a great after party!" 
- J Mark Photography

Celebrate with the newlyweds and their great wedding photos by J Mark Photography.

 

Top Wedding Do's & Don'ts

Here is list of the top Do's and Don'ts while planning your wedding...While you're at it check out these Google Docs wedding planning templates!

Top Wedding Do's:

Do create a complete and accurate guest list before you start looking for a venue. You don’t want to book a venue, realize it’s to small for your count and have to cut down on your guest list.

Do set a realistic wedding budget beforehand. Weddings are expensive—if you have a small budget don’t invite 300 people. Typically weddings run at least $100/per person and this cost doesn’t include your dress or location.

Do plan on booking your wedding venue / location a year out. You’ll have your pick of a variety of locations and you may even get your ideal date.

Do get a wedding planner, at the least a “day of” coordinator (though “month of” is a more accurate term). You don’t want your mom chasing down the bridal party for photos instead of seeing you put on your wedding dress.

Do pick your battles with family members. If flowers, cake, whatever, isn’t that important to you, let it go. Everyone will have an opinion on something. Fight for what’s important to you and don’t stress about the small stuff.

Do take a honeymoon. I know with the economy being with the way it is a lot of couples are pushing they’re honeymoon for a later date. Even if you can’t go on a big trip, take at least a few days at a nice bed and breakfast to enjoy some time alone, eat well, and sleep in.

Do take a step back a gigantic wedding step back. With all the details in planning your wedding, it can be easy to get absorbed in the microscopic details. Never forget the big picture—that this day is about sharing the love you’ve found with your mate and celebrating it with your family and friends. It’s really not about a certain shade of peach.

Do plan for your guests. As much as this day is about you two, there about 100+ people there that need to be taken care of. Signage, welcome drinks (doesn’t need to be alcoholic), ample heaters for an outdoor wedding, starting the ceremony relatively on time, delicious, hot food are the things that matter to your guests. They won’t notice the flowers per say, but they will notice if the servers never filled their wine glass, if they’re freezing (they will go home early) and if they have to wait around for a hour for the ceremony to start on a hot day.

Do pick your music at least a month before the wedding. Finding the right song for the processional/recession, first dance, parent dances etc, takes time. Provide a clear list to the DJ/band. If you need help ask them, they do weddings all the time and they might have the perfect song for your first dance.

Top Wedding Don’ts:
Don’t forget your groom. He has opinions and this is his wedding too. Somehow I don’t think he envisioned wearing a pink polka dot bow tie for his wedding day. Respect his ideas. The wedding should be about the couple, not just the bride.

Don’t take a brigade of people with you when you try on wedding dresses. They’re opinions will confuse you and cause you much more stress (you know what looks best on you and what feels best). If anything, I suggest going at least 2 times to look at dresses by yourself. After you’ve figured out the style your looking for or have a couple of strong contenders bring your mom or your maid of honor to make the final decision.

Don’t wait until the last minute to do the seating chart. It will take you a lot longer than you think.

Don’t attempt to do your flowers. It’s a project that has to be done right before your wedding and flowers are finicky. It will also take you way longer than you think.

Don’t incorporate a tradition just because its “tradition.” If you don’t like cake, and don’t like the wedding cake sentiment, skip it. I’ve done sundae cuttings, peach cobbler cuttings or no cutting at all. It’s your wedding, don’t be pushed into doing anything that doesn’t resonate with you and your fiancé.

Blog and list idea's from Kelly Oshiro, an event designer and wedding planner based in Santa Barbara.

Corporate Meetings & Special Events

Texas Old Town is under some new and exciting construction. We have always been open and available for many different types of events, but we are preparing for a better kind of Corporate meeting, family reunion or large group get together.

I can't divulge all the secrets now, but here's our latest newsletter with some of our newest additions.

You can expect Texas Old Town to cater to your meeting and special event needs, from the team building and Laser Battle to the Casino Nights and Live entertainment.

Another little hint...we have over 50 acres of land. That's enough room for...all-American sports, lots of running around or maybe even climbing around. ;)


In the mean time...why don't you check out some of our past Corporate Events.

New beginnings...big changes.

As a newlywed myself, I have been through the entire wedding process from engagement to honeymoon. It's all wonderful in a fun, crazy, stressful kind of way. But, now that it's over, what do you do now?

Well, I started down the traditional route of changing my last name. It's quite a long process, and a little frustrating.
     1) First things first...take your marriage license with you everywhere when you begin this process.
     2) Get a new Social Security card. You need this first to be able to change most other things. Get to the Social Security office as early as possible. In fact, be waiting in the parking lot when they unlock the doors so you don't have to wait in an entirely too small office for half of the day.
     3) Update your drivers license. Same as the Social Security office...arrive as early as possible. You will need to fill out a form and have your marriage license with you.
     4) Update your name on all utilities, bank accounts, credit cards, insurance policies, etc. Most of these just require a phone call and some you can even change online. Make sure to request new checks, credit cards, proof of insurance with your new name.
     5) Don't forget to update your Facebook relationship status and change your name!

What are you doing to adjust to married life? Any struggles or successes?

Making memories with Mom

Now that you're all grown up, planning your wedding, and about to start a family of your own take a long moment to just look around you and remember your past. Who was next to you? Who did you go school clothes shopping with? Who packed your lunches every night before school? Who gave you advice on boys?

Was it your mom? I know that's my answer.

Now, back to the wedding... Sure you are planning the wedding of your dreams and it should be all about you and your fiance, but don't forget those who helped you get to this point in your life. As you go through all the different planning stages of a wedding, invite mom along and even your groom's mom. Planning is fun and everyone wants to help.

Just remember, even  mothers and daughter who don't typically argue may find themselves squaring off about certain details or having heated "the way I always pictured it" conversations. Here are a few tips to keep the peace:

MOM: Remember this is NOT your wedding and the brides choice should trump all. Even if you're paying for part of the wedding choose to pick your battles. Maybe you have always wanted to invite your great aunts and those long lost relatives from Germany... if this is something you feel strongly about then make your case! Otherwise keep your mouth shut when the bride wants to give her guests what you call "a tacky wedding favor." The key words here are "the bride wants."

BRIDE: Remember that your mom has dreamed about this day for as long as you have been born! Give in a little to that wonderful mother who spent 8 hours in labor and drove you to every sports practice, game, dance class, birthday party, and put up with you breaking curfew more than once.

If things do end up heating up why don't you call a time out. Mend your hurt feelings and forgive each other over pedicures at the local nail salon. You can even hold a girls night at your place and watch a movie you have both been wanting to see.

Just take a deep breath and remember this is day for you, your fiance and friends and family to celebrate your new marriage...if something goes wrong no one will notice. Just smile, because you paid a lot for that photographer! :)