The Weekend Experience: West Austin

This week’s “The Weekend Experience” blog series heads to West Austin! In this series, I am doing a deep dive into the areas in the Texas Hill Country that are perfect for planning a full weekend wedding experience. 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!

West Austin (by my definition, at least) is everything west of Mopac/Loop 1 and North of 290. This area of Austin is known for its incredible views of the greenbelt and hill country. You can feel like you are in the middle of a secluded hill country city when you’re here, but you’re only 15 minutes away from central Austin. Some of Austin’s nicest resorts are in this area, and you can guess why! The natural scenery and proximity to the core of the city is the perfect setting for a wedding weekend getaway.

Venues

There are some great venues out in West Austin, so I’ll list a few of my favorites! First and foremost is The Wayback – a charming property with an onsite café, eight stylish cottages for guest lodging, a pool, and a modest lawn with festoon lighting for events. This is one of my favorite venues in Austin because of the stellar staff, whole property rental option, and view of the hill country from the ceremony space. This venue is best for more intimate gatherings of 60 people or less.

If you are looking for something that can hold a larger guest count but want everyone to be able to stay on the property, head down Bee Cave Road 10 minutes and you will find the Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa. I’ve stayed here as a guest myself and I can personally attest to their top tier amenities. The property boasts four separate golf courses, a world class spa, onsite mini golf, three resort style pools, and six restaurants. They have a beautiful ceremony site with live oaks and hill country views, plus an indoor event space with glass walls to host a small reception or indoor ceremony. Hosting a full weekend wedding here is easy and your guests would have plenty of activities to enjoy without ever getting in the car.

Lodging

Rather than your traditional hotel brands, what you will find in West Austin is a range of boutique hotels and resorts. West Austin has a reputation for its upscale, large residences and the hotels here match that atmosphere precisely. Both venues mentioned above (The Wayback and Omni Barton Creek Resort and Spa) have lodging options, too! The Wayback has eight cottages that feel like home away from home. If you enjoy being close to nature in a more down to earth setting, this is the place for you. In contrast, the Omni Barton Creek Resort and Spa is just that – a resort. The property is huge and has all the amenities you would expect from a 4 star hotel. For a more budget friendly option, you can always head farther west to the Sonesta Bee Cave Austin Hotel!

Restaurants

As with anywhere in Austin, there is no shortage of great food and restaurants out west! One iconic eatery in the area is The Oasis, a three-story lakeside casual Tex-Mex restaurant known for its sunset views. The Oasis is settled in the middle of what feels like a small town complete with a candy store, The Oasis Brewery, and various shops and retailers to browse while waiting for your table. They also have plenty of event space available for a formal happy hour or rehearsal dinner.

Another noteworthy option closer to town is Sway. This modern Thai restaurant has a large rooftop available for private events like your happy hour, rehearsal dinner, or even your farewell brunch! If you want something a little more casual, The Grove Kitchen + Bar location on Bee Cave Road has a beautiful live oak patio perfect for large groups.

Activities

There are plenty of activities for you and your guests to enjoy while staying in West Austin! You could rent a boat and head to Lake Austin for a day in the sun, or even zipline over the water with Lake Travis Zipline Adventures. Nearby is also the Hill Country Galleria which has lots of great restaurants and shops to visit. They even have a huge lawn where you could meet your guests before enjoying the rest of the outdoor mall. And then there’s always golfing or the spa at the Omni Barton Creek!

West Austin offers so much for a full weekend wedding experience. You guests will feel pampered and relaxed after spending a few days in one of the most beautiful areas of Austin!

No matter where you choose to host your event, this part of the city brings you close to nature with high class amenities to go along with it.

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!