The Weekend Experience: Georgetown

We are kicking off a 9 week “The Weekend Experience” blog series with Georgetown, TX! In this series, I will do a deep dive into the cities in the Texas Hill Country that are perfect for planning a full weekend wedding experience. I believe weddings are best experienced (by both the couple and the guests) when expanded into a full weekend celebration. If you truly value connecting with your guests and creating a “getaway” experience for them and yourselves, a full weekend is the way to do it! In each blog post as a part of this series we will talk about the local restaurants, tourist attractions, and activities you (and your guests) wouldn’t want to miss in the town I’m highlighting.

Georgetown is one of my favorite small towns surrounding Austin. It is just north of the big city and boasts one of the cutest downtown squares in the state. Georgetown is full of great wedding venues, yummy restaurants, and lots activities for your guests throughout your wedding weekend. I love this town so much I chose to have my own wedding weekend here!

Venues

Georgetown has several prominent wedding venues with a variety of styles and sizes. My favorites are The Milestone Georgetown, the Union on Eighth, Garey House, and Pearl Snap Hall. Any of these venues would be a wonderful choice to host your celebration, depending on the aesthetic you are going for. The Milestone Georgetown has a modern farmhouse look, the Union on Eighth is warmly industrial, the Garey House is a mansion with a Spanish twist, and Pearl Snap Hall & Gardens boasts a vintage character.

Lodging

Because of its historic nature, Georgetown has lots of bed and breakfasts as lodging options! San Gabriel House, The Olive Tree Inn, and Scurlock Farms are all well-known in the area.

If you have a higher guest count and would prefer the amenities a hotel can offer, I love staying at the Sheraton Georgetown – it is easily the highest quality hotel in the area. It has a great restaurant and bar, and a live oak patio perfect for any additional weekend events! This hotel has amazing staff, is beautifully decorated, and has everything your guests would want!

Restaurants

There are several restaurants in Georgetown that are absolute staples. El Monumento and The Monument Café are two you can’t miss!! El Monumento is one of my personal favorites, because it has several distinct areas within the restaurant. There is a gorgeous outdoor patio (great for a welcome happy hour) almost completely shaded by large trees and umbrellas that overlooks the Blue Hole swimming area. There’s also a small courtyard adorned with string lights that is perfect for a casual rehearsal dinner!

Another perfect restaurant to host a group is 2020 Market Scratch Kitchen & Bar. This new addition to the Revery Park neighborhood has a covered outdoor patio complete with a built in white stone firepit. Another great spot for a welcome happy hour to enjoy specialty cocktails! Other wonderful restaurants to note are The Golden Rule, Rentsch Brewery, Gumbo’s on the Square, and Wildfire.

Activities

For guests coming in for the weekend, there is plenty to do during the down time between organized events! They can go shopping on the square, cool off at Blue Hole Park, check out Inner Space Caverns, go bowling at Mel’s Lone Star Lanes, or tour a selection of wineries in the area! Listing all of these activities on your wedding website will help give curious guests an idea of what they can expect when coming to the city with “The Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas”. You can even coordinate a time to do one of these activities with your guests so you can hang out with them throughout the weekend leading up to your wedding.

As you can see, Georgetown is a great place to host a full weekend wedding! With lots of restaurants for group dining, flexible group activities, and a helpful Convention & Visitors Bureau, your guests are sure to find something fun to do!

A full weekend wedding doesn’t have to cost you thousands of dollars, either. Here’s a sample itinerary for a full weekend of activities for your guests that doesn’t cost anything extra on your part:

Friday

• Welcome happy hour at a restaurant with an outdoor patio you can reserve for free. Guests can pay for their own drinks, you just facilitate the space for people to meet.

Saturday

• Morning coffee at a local coffee shop. Tell guests when you will be there and invite the early birds to come out and share a latte!
• Afternoon bowling with whoever wants to come! Call the bowling alley in advance to let them know a large group is coming. Guests can organize themselves into groups and pay for the lanes/shoes as they would like.
• Evening rehearsal dinner at a local restaurant for your wedding party and family. This part is the only bit you are truly expected to pay for, but that’s traditional for any wedding!

Sunday

• Wedding day! Give some suggestions to guests for breakfast or things to do before the wedding begins that evening.

See? That’s not too hard! I promise, doing a little extra planning on your part will hugely change the experience your guests have for the better. Plus, it gives you extra time with the people you love to celebrate! I am passionate about giving my couples the space to truly connect with their guests as a part of their wedding celebration. If you are getting married in the Texas Hill Country, reach out to me and let’s plan a fully immersive wedding weekend experience your guests will never forget!

Happy planning,

Shelby Kirchner

Owner & Head Planner

Plan On It ATX

info@planonitatx.com

I am an Austin based full service wedding planner for the modern, relaxed couple who wants to enjoy their engagement and wedding planning experience. We specialize in full weekend weddings that are centered on a high guest experience.

Email today to learn more about my services and how I can help you and your partner plan the wedding of your dreams!