About San Antonio
With a population of 1.5 million, San Antonio is the second-largest city in Texas. Originally founded as a Spanish mission, San Antonio is home to many historical sites, like The Alamo, and has an interesting and diverse culture with Mexican, Southwestern, and German influences.
Despite being the 7th most populous city in the United States, San Antonio maintains a comfortable small-town feel while also offering state-of-the-art amenities. Near the city center you’ll find historical buildings and quaint cobblestone streets while the suburbs include more modern developments.
San Antonio is home to a wide array of attractions, including The River Walk and the trendy Pearl District. Wedding venues and vendors are readily available and there are plenty of attractions and accommodations that are sure to appeal to your guests.
Wedding Options in San Antonio
Choosing a wedding venue is just one of the hundreds of choices you’ll be faced with throughout the wedding planning process. From food and decor to music, transportation, and photography, you and your partner will find many wedding industry professionals in San Antonio who will be happy to help you make your special day one to remember.
- Catering
Food is an important consideration for your wedding reception. The last thing you want is hungry guests! Whether you opt for a buffet or a plated dinner, San Antonio’s talented caterers will work with you to create a menu that you and your guests will remember.
- Photography and Videography
Documenting your wedding day is a big job. The right photographer or videographer will help you capture everything from dressing for the event to arriving at the venue, and the look on your parents’ faces as you exchange vows.
- Transportation
Have you considered how you and your guests will get to and from your wedding venue? Hiring a professional San Antonio car or shuttle service would take the stress and confusion out of arriving at the event.
- Decor
Selecting decor for the ceremony and reception is a big part of bringing your dream wedding to life. The choices you make will help set the tone for the whole event. Work with one of the many experienced decor rental companies in San Antonio to select the elements you need to make your vision a reality.
Wedding Companies in San Antonio
Planning a wedding is a big undertaking. Even an intimate celebration still has a lot of moving parts. It’s easy for the planning to feel like a full-time job. If you want to save yourself the stress of coordinating your wedding, consider outsourcing the responsibility to a professional event planner in San Antonio. There are many experienced planning pros who would be happy to help out.
- Forever Beloved Co
This Texas-based wedding planning service specializes in planning Texas elopements and small weddings. If you’re looking for a glamorous ballroom wedding Forever Beloved Co probably isn’t right for you, but if you want a less traditional event that feels totally authentic to you and your partner, they will be happy to help.
- Country Sugar Weddings & Events
This San Antonio event planner works with couples to create dream weddings on any budget. They offer packages with various degrees of assistance. Whether you need handholding throughout the planning process or want to outsource all of the planning responsibilities, Country Sugar can help.
- Bride on a Budget Events
This award-winning wedding planning and coordination company has been putting together memorable events since 2016. They’ve won multiple Wedding Wire Couples’ Choice awards and they specialize in creating incredible weddings at reasonable prices. They work with a list of trusted vendors to secure fair prices and quality services for all of their clients.
Pros and Cons of Weddings in San Antonio
San Antonio is a lovely destination for a wedding due to its cultural diversity, affordability, and laidback atmosphere. However, frequent construction, the potential for extreme weather, and other potential challenges should be considered. Before you commit, make sure you weigh the pros and cons carefully.
Advantages
- Small-town feel
San Antonio may have over 1 million residents but the atmosphere is very laidback and relaxing.
- Cultural diversity
San Antonio has Mexican, Southwestern, and German influences among others, meaning there is a lot of diversity in terms of history, food, art, and beyond.
- Cost of living
Despite being one of the largest cities in Texas, San Antonio has a lower cost of living than Austin, Houston, and Dallas, which means the costs associated with a San Antonio wedding should be lower than in other Texas cities.
- Venues
From historical sites to lovely outdoor spaces, hotels, and beyond, San Antonio has a diverse range of wedding venues to choose from.
- Accessibility
San Antonio has its own international airport (SAT), making it easy for guests to arrive from out of town.
Disadvantages
- Construction
San Antonio is expanding steadily and there is construction happening all over the city, which can be noisy and disruptive.
- Hot summers
While the climate in San Antonio is pretty favorable overall, the scorching, humid summers could make an outdoor summer wedding unrealistic.
- Sprawling
San Antonio is a sprawling city, so try to concentrate wedding activities to one area to reduce commute times.
- Congestion
San Antonio is a popular tourist destination which can lead to congestion around downtown and near attractions.
- Flash Floods
Unfortunate, due to the rivers in the area, San Antonio is prone to flash floods, particularly during the rainy season in spring.
Famous Wedding Locations in San Antonio
- The Alamo
The Alamo is one of the most famous attractions in all of Texas. Located in downtown San Antonio, the Alamo was an important site during the Texas Revolution. It was here that 200 Texas defenders holed up for 13 days during the Battle of the Alamo while struggling to defend the site against the Mexican army, which was over 2000 strong. Now, The Alamo is a museum and historical site where visitors can admire the incredible building while browsing exhibits about the Texas Revolution. The historic Alamo structure and the surrounding gardens make a wonderful spot for wedding photos.
- San Antonio River Walk
The San Antonio River flows through downtown San Antonio and is flanked on either side by the lovely Rivier Walk. This pedestrian thoroughfare is a wonderful place to take a shaded stroll along the river, spot ducks, and people watch. Those interested in learning more about the history and culture of San Antonio can hop on a boat tour and putter around the river on a barge while a guide points out significant landmarks.
- The Pearl District
The Pearl District is named after the Pearl Brewery which operated on the site from 1883 to 2001. This industrial area has now been revitalized into a trendy shopping and dining destination which hosts a popular farmer’s market. With an industrial-modern aesthetic and plenty of green space, the vibe here is very chic. The Pearl is home to some of San Antonios best restaurants and it typically hosts lots of events, from art shows to live music. No trip to San Antonio is complete without a trip to the Pearl.