AvantGarden

They did such an amazing job start to finish. Staff was so pleasant and able to accommodate with all requests.

We just had our wedding here and we can't say enough good things about this place. It's whismical and unpretentiously beautiful. The food served from the taco truck and the buffet with a lot of side dishes was great! Our guests loved the idea! The staff was extremely helpful with the entire setup and clean up. They took care of every detail, coordinating and decorations. Marianna and Bella were very easy to work with and made the whole process stress free for me and my wife. They really did an amazing job and answered all our questions and were very responsive from the beginning of pur wedding planning. Also the dj, cake, desserts were all very good. We are so glad to have chosen AvantGarden for our wedding! Zack and Alice

My husband and I are highschool sweethearts. We agreed to get married when we found the perfect place that described our personalities. Years later we found AvantGarden by chance and fell in love with the old mansion. We also wanted a patio wedding, AvantGarden provided both. We hosted 137 guests. The ambiance is amazing. Eclectic and authentic, elegant and fun. The food from the taco truck is a delicious tribute to our own special local Tex-Mex style in Houston. The dj and the staff were amazing. The florist made me a gorgeous bouquet, exactly what I envisioned. And Mariana was so attentive to every detail! She made the planning easy and fun for us. We couldn't have dreamed of a better celebration!

Marianna was so great and Avant Garden was a beautiful venue! We were a bit indecisive and she had amazing suggestions for how to make our wedding special and memorable. The taco truck was delicious and everyone enjoyed it. Everything went smoothly day of, we would gladly recommend her and Avant Garden!

Mariana was amazing. Her composure and adaptability to one of the hottest days in Houston was amazing! She made so effortless and worry-free it was all I could ask for. Thanks so much, Mariana for making our special day truly special!

We can’t say enough positive things about our wedding experience at Avantgarden. We had never been to Avantgarden before, but after meeting Mariana and seeing the venue my wife and I both had no doubt it was the place we wanted to hold our wedding. The venue itself has such a funky and cool vibe, truly a gem in the heart of Montrose. Mariana is an absolute pro. She worked with us to create a wedding package that was right for us. We never had any doubts that she had everything under control from the planning and logistics aspect. She also has such a calming vibe that really helped put our minds at ease leading up to the wedding. Everything went so smoothly on the day of the wedding: The tacos and cake were fantastic, the staff was so kind and accommodating, and the DJ really took our song recommendations and created an amazing and unique playlist. We heard from so many guests that it was the best wedding they’ve ever been to. Thank you again to everyone who helped make our wedding so special.

I had my wedding on 10/15 and I had a wonderful day thanks to Mariana and AvantGarden. Many brides say that the wedding goes by quickly and they remind you to enjoy it - Mariana made sure that I enjoyed my day. If anything went wrong, I surely didn't notice or know about it. When we ran behind schedule, Mariana was able to pivot quickly and seemlessly. My guests have been raving about the uniqueness of the venue and the use of space. They also loved the taco truck and thought it was a nice touch. AvantGarden is the perfect venue if you're looking for a garden wedding aesthetic in a space that has charm, character, and quirkiness.

I recently had a wedding at Avant Garden and it was the wedding of my dreams. I wanted a wedding with warmth, beauty and mystery, where little girls danced with their dads and people fell in love in candlelit corners and longtime couples reconnected under the moon, and we danced until we could dance no more. This is exactly how it is at a wedding at Avant Garden. The enchanting old house has a dark sparkly New Orleans meets Houston Montrose feeling. The paper lanterns and garden and flowers felt like a fairyland (and all the photographs reflect that) . Our guests loved the food! That taco truck is outstanding. Everybody was delighted. The cheese board and sweets table was also delicious and beautiful, and the cake (Tres Leches style from a famous East End Houston bakery) was a big hit. Mariana has a fantastic staff and they have got weddings down to a T. They seamlessly guided the events of the evening. I didn’t have to worry about a thing. The valet parking was great, and the DJ was so friendly and had a great sense of how to keep the party going. As for the bartender- even the New Orleans guests were impressed and that’s saying something. (If you know, you know.) I especially loved the little after-party upstairs. I honestly can’t think of any other venue that would let you party until 2 AM. Avant Garden has a long history here in Montrose, and it brought back the days of dancing at the venue back when it was Helios and before that, Mausoleum. Throughout all of this, Mariana was a quiet but constant presence. We had our ceremony elsewhere (Avant Garden was the reception venue) and she even came to this other location to help. A few things that may be helpful to potential brides: As mentioned, we had the ceremony elsewhere although most people have it at Avant Garden. I wish I had hired a day-of planner because so many things came up (rental car! pay the mariachis! Etc). If you choose to have a ceremony elsewhere I would hire a day-of planner. If you have the whole thing at Avant Garden you will be fine without one. I might have hired a florist for my bouquet, bridesmaids bouquets and the boutonnieres for the guys because the Avant Garden flowers are not as polished as a professional florist. That is not to say the flowers were not beautiful, it is just a little personal thing of mine. If you like a more bohemian look you will be delighted with Avant Garden bouquets. I wish I had gotten some pictures posing on the Avant Garden balcony. It’s such a gorgeous shot, but I was too busy dancing! I wish the Houston weather had been a little cooler. If you want a wedding in the cooler months, be sure to reserve 6 months or more in advance. That said, there were fans and it was not too bad. The upstairs after party was air conditioned. Some reviews mention that Mariana did not show up for a planned initial meeting. This happened to us, but everything turned out okay. If it happens to you just eat at the taco truck and reschedule. She will come through. Mariana has been active in the Montrose arts community for many years. She has preserved a physical historic space and also a cultural one. Apart from my wedding, I am grateful for her contributions to Montrose. Thank you so much Mariana! Our family and friends all told us how unique and beautiful the wedding was, and what a wonderful time they had.

We recently had our wedding at AvantGarden and it was absolutely amazing! Mariana is incredibly dedicated to ensuring that the day goes as perfectly as possible. She has lots of experience coordinating weddings and knew how to handle every little thing that came up. In the planning stages, she instantly understood the aesthetic we were going for, and it was executed perfectly. We were blown away by the flowers, taco truck, cake, and the wonderful staff. Mariana and her staff set up all the decorations and dance floor props we brought, and helped gather all our things at the end of the night. They also had fun with us - the DJ danced all night long and the bartenders wore our LED flower crowns, which made us so happy! It felt like everyone wanted to celebrate with us. Our guests had a blast and we received lots of comments about how fun the wedding was. They raved about how delicious the tacos were. The venue is unique, charming, and so beautiful - especially under the lights at dinner. The atmosphere is magical and dream-like, and the venue photographs beautifully as well. We have zero reservations when it comes to recommending AvantGarden!

I LOVED having my wedding at Avant Garden! Mariana is so knowledgeable and experienced with hundreds of wedding on her belt, that I just had to answers questions and she took care of the rest! She planned it, coordinated it the day of, decorated, had a whole crew for setup/shutdown, and ALL within a very reasonable price point. Service was amazing, the crew were quick background players, she was so sweet and patient with me, and I have already recommended this place to other people. 10/10.

We had our wedding at Avant Garden two weeks ago (March 26, 2023), and it was truly amazing! I'm a planner at heart so it was difficult for me to let go of managing all of the details, but I couldn't be happier with the results. Avant Garden is such a cool space and very unique! Our event was fun and high quality without being stuffy or overly formal. I also feel like you get SO MUCH bang for your buck with this venue. You'd be hard pressed to find another all inclusive venue at this price point in any major city - plus she does discounts for Sundays and holiday weekends. We did the all inclusive package which came with flowers, DJ, food, cake, bar, decor, and day of coordination. 100% worth it, and if considering Avant Garden I can't recommend enough to go with this package. Let's break all of these components down a bit… • Food - The taco truck is truly top notch - every guest was raving about the food. There are great options for vegetarians and gluten intolerant guests as well. They also do an option for late night pizza - we opted out because we were on a budget but I'm sure it's amazing. • Bar - Since Avant Garden is an actual bar people could get anything from a complicated/gourmet cocktail to a basic mixer. Legitimate cocktails! And we had the bar open before the ceremony which is extra fun. • Flowers - Absolutely gorgeous! All I did was send Mariana a Pinterest board and she made it come to life. • DJ - The DJ was fine, but not amazing. He was a professional and followed our instructions for the processional and recessional, but didn't really follow our guidelines on the 'party' music. Nonetheless, we had a super fun dance party and it was a good time. • Décor - Mariana has amazing stuff in her inventory and the space looked beautiful. The only thing you will have to provide are signs and photos. Here is a list of everything we brought - welcome sign, seating chart, table numbers, ceremony 'reserved row' signs, framed photos of couple, 'guest book' sign, 'gifts & cards' sign • Cake - Mariana works with a local bakery and the cake was gorgeous! We did a two tier, the top chocolate and base tres leches with floral decorations. • Day of Coordination - Not much to say here other than that Mariana is a true professional and kept us in mind all evening. She even blew air conditioning on our sweet heart table during dinner so we wouldn't get too sweaty! Five stars across the board - You cannot go wrong getting married at Avant Garden!!

We had our wedding at AvantGarden a few weeks ago, and it was great! The process was smooth, the staff members were attentive and kind, the DJ was great, and the place was beautiful. The food truck and pizza was delicious. In the planning stages, Mariana was great at answering our questions and helping us figure out what would work best for our wedding day. Our families also mentioned how much they appreciated Mariana's knowledge and calm personality on the day of. We highly recommend AvantGarden! During and after the wedding, our guests told us how much they love the space. Having such specialized bartenders on site also made it easy for us and our guests to get whichever drink we wanted. Overall, we had a great experience and are excited to go back and visit.

Our wedding at Avant Garden was beautiful, fun and everything unfolded effortlessly. Mariana and her staff were very attentive. The DJ recommended by Mariana was on point with the music, the food was tasty (we went with taco truck), and the drinks were good. The venue is spacious, and they transform this place into something very special for weddings. Our flower arrangements – especially my flower crown and bouquet - were stunning and exactly what I wanted. Our vegan dessert, cakes, especially our gluten free cake were delicious. As a coordinator, Mariana worked hard to create our vision, incorporated our feedback and collaborated with us on some creative things we wanted to do differently. Our night was magical, and everyone had a great time. P.S. Mariana is very good at what she does. Trust Mariana.

We chose Avant Garden to host our December 17th, 2022, wedding and it was a true and utter dream. Mariana the owner, eased all our concerns and delivered us the most beautiful wedding day we could have imagined. The venue fit perfectly with the mystic fairy tale wedding I envisioned and is an all-purpose facility. We were able to host our ceremony there, use the covered patio for a sit-down dinner hosted by the taco truck housed in the parking lot, and use the 2nd floor area for a dance party after the reception. The decor provided was stunning, and the building played a part in making sure our theme was executed to a tee. Mariana has a full staff that works for her, and they effortlessly set up every detail of our wedding. Bar service was available, as well as full waitstaff. The food was amazing, and the self- serve taco truck was a hit amongst our guests. They designed my bouquet which I thought was beautiful, and had the venue decorated to my liking. Every concern I had was quickly addressed. My now husband and I will be forever grateful to Mariana and the Avant Garden family for everything. If you are looking for an eclectic hidden gem in plain sight with old school vintage charm. Our only complaint is that we wished we could do it again every weekend and have Mariana continuously re-create our wedding day. We HIGHLY recommend.

I've read a lot of reviews about how accommodating AvantGarden is for events, but I'm not sure anybody can top our experience. Our wedding was set for what turned out to be the absolute coldest day of the polar vortex around Christmas, and Mariana and her staff were able to move the entire wedding inside and still make it look absolutely magical. They did not miss a beat and kept the whole event going seamlessly, keeping our stress levels low and making sure everybody had a great time. Their timing for everything was on point and all of our guests told us how beautiful everything turned out! I am absolutely recommending AvantGarden to any and everybody in Texas!

We absolutely recommend AvantGarden for couples who are looking to have an authentic, colorful, and relaxed wedding! The music, ambience, and charm had our guests raving about the fun and beauty of our special day. I was drawn to this venue because I spent many years living in the heart of New Orleans, embracing the richness of courtyard gardens and classic architecture. That made AvantGarden such an easy pic. I also loved that we could provide our guests from all over the United States a chance to experience a touch of the classic and authentic feel of this diverse and cultured city. I must also add that our day was very cold and rainy. This did not disrupt our experience in the least. Mariana and her team did an exceptional job reassuring me throughout the day leading up to our ceremony that all would be marvelous despite the terrible weather. The patio where the ceremony and dinner took place was covered and heated well. Lastly, the food truck was awesome! Efficient and incredibly tasty.

My husband and I could not have dreamt up a more magical day! Mariana and her team did an amazing job executing our vision. Our friends and family are still raving about what an amazing wedding it was! I would 100% recommend AvantGarden for your big day.

Mariana was fantastic. the venue was beautiful and everything was taken care of for us down to the smallest detail. when it came time for our special day, the venue, the food, and the coordination were truly the least of our worry. would highly recommend.

Mariana (owner and wedding planner for AvantGarden) is a real treasure in the Houston wedding scene. While you're wedding will need to fit within certain parameters, Mariana ensures that it is tailored to your desires and that the event goes off without a hitch - well, except for the expected one :) From our first meeting she was engaged with our process and eager to make our special day truly outstanding! In particular, I appreciated how her wedding packages cover all the various vendors you'd otherwise need to arrange ala carte (e.g. bar staff, DJ, catering) and each vendor was of the highest quality. We did need to find our own Hair & Makeup and Photographers but even there Mariana had a list of vendors who had worked at AvantGarden which was a big help! The day before, Mariana was there for our rehearsal, ready to help. We were perhaps not as prepared as the average couple yet Mariana was there to help us structure the ceremony - and added some flourishes that could only be done at a venue like AvantGarden! The day of, Mariana and her staff worked tirelessly to keep everything running smoothly. When we would get distracted by friends and family, Mariana was ready to usher the party onto the next phase so that we were able to have all the celebration we could ask for without incurring overage charges from the vendors! All in all, an excellent experience and Mariana herself ensures that an event at AvantGarden will get you a great bang for your buck - not to mention a wonderful event.

We can't recommend AvantGarden enough after our October 2022 wedding. It's the perfect place for couples looking for a beautiful, well-run venue with tons of character. My fiancée and I weren't interested in a ballroom-type reception, and we loved the laid-back but elegant atmosphere at AvantGarden. We also appreciated that Mariana and her team make everything really easy and take care of a lot of details (at a great value, too). Admittedly, we were a tiny bit nervous ahead of the wedding because Mariana seemed so relaxed about everything coming together. But all of the reviews were right: Mariana and her team make everything go off without a hitch. The staff were exceptional, coordinating with vendors (including our all-important frozen margarita machine provider) and making sure everything went seamlessly during the reception. The decorations were beautiful, especially for the flowers and centerpieces (we just offered some thoughts on what we wanted, and Mariana's team made it happen). The DJ made sure everyone had a blast. The late-night pizza was great (even if we were stuffed by then). We were just thrilled with how everything went on our wedding night, and all credit goes to the AvantGarden crew.

After researching many venues online we came across Avant Garden. We thought it could be the venue for us so we rushed to schedule an appointment. After touring the venue and meeting with Mariana we knew that same day we’d be married at Avant Garden. Having a taco truck at our wedding was always a goal for us and the option to have oven brick pizza was a bonus. Mariana was very helpful throughout the whole process. As a bride I was worried about the rain and cold weather. Mariana has a way of calming you down and reassuring you that everything will be great. And everything was amazing. Having her as the day of coordinator was a blessing. The flowers were exactly what I had envisioned, the table decor was perfect. Our guests loved the taco truck, there was so many options. The uniqueness of the venue is perfect for those who do not want to be in one room. Having three bars worked out great. The DJ was easy to work with and handled the night perfectly. The 360 camera was a last minute add on and we can’t stop watching the videos. Our guests really enjoyed it. Our signature drinks were exactly what we wanted. An old fashioned for the groom and a blueberry lemon drop for the bride. The sparkler exit was the perfect way to end the night. Our family and friends can’t stop talking about how much fun they had at our wedding. February 26th,2022 was the best day ever! Thank you Mariana.

I could not say enough good things. Mariana and her team are exceptional! She was so calm which kept me calm the day of the wedding. We went the with more expensive all inclusive package and it was worth every penny. Our friends and family loved the venue. We can’t wait to go back to celebrate our many anniversaries!

Had our wedding and reception here on a Saturday and couldn't be happier with how everything turned out. Mariana is an absolute all-star, and her venue is unbeatable for 100-125 guests. All 3 bars were stocked and staffed by fantastic bartenders. Her DJ was outstanding and easy to work with - I sent him a list of songs for each phase, he picked up the vibe and rolled with it. The lighting, decor, flowers, succulents... literally everything Mariana put together was amazing and I'm eternally grateful to her for putting it all together and coordinating all the fine details. 11/10

My husband and I were married at Avant Gardens in December 2021. The event was beautiful and romantic and incredibly fun. Every detail was thought out and executed perfectly. I have been told by many friends that their wedding day was stressful and that they spent so much time worrying about the details that they barely had time to enjoy themselves. This was not the case for us. We were so well taken care of that our only job that day was to have fun and enjoy every moment. Our meetings with Mariana prior to the event were wonderful. She listened to our ideas and offered guidance. On the date of the wedding every element of the wedding and reception reflected our ideas and elevated them. The place settings, flowers, cake, food and décor all exceeded our expectations. We could not have been more pleased with our experience. It was truly the happiest day of my life.

It’s been a little over a month since our beautiful wedding at Avant Garden, and we could not have chosen a better venue for our families and friends to celebrate such an important day with us. From our first meeting with Mariana, we knew we’d found the right place. Avant Garden is such a charming old house with plenty of indoor and outdoor space, very centrally located in Montrose (the neighborhood where my wife and I met and spent so much of the early years of our relationship), and the available wedding packages make planning such a breeze - we were incredibly happy to let Mariana and her team take care of the catering (El Palomo is INCREDIBLE – our guests still rave to us about how much they enjoyed the tacos and the taco truck setup), beautiful flower arrangements (around the venue as well as centerpieces, corsages, boutonnieres, etc), linens, valet parking, DJ, and amazing wedding cake. We brought our own photographer and photo booth and Avant Garden handled everything else! Throughout the process Mariana was able to help us make decisions based on her years of experience and was also very flexible in accommodating a pandemic-related postponement. Wedding day execution was flawless - every single member of her team is so warm and friendly, and they made sure our guests had such a fun time. It’s impressive how quickly and seamlessly they transition the space from ceremony to dinner while guests are none the wiser as they enjoy cocktail hour on the front patio, and on our particularly chilly wedding day the heat lamps were more than adequate to make sure no one was uncomfortable. The upstairs dance floor was so much fun, and Mariana’s recommendation that we put our photo booth up there was spot-on. Bars are located outside, inside and upstairs, so no one is ever very far from more dancefloor fuel. Absolutely get the sparkler send-off too – it was great. We wholeheartedly recommend Avant Garden and Mariana for your wedding.

AvantGarden was an amazing venue for our wedding, and without a doubt the right choice. The patio was beautifully decorated with twinkle lights, elegant chandeliers, white linens, and hanging lanterns that mixed with the outdoor greenery that created an un-matched atmosphere. The entire staff were friendly, and served/assisted our guests with a warm welcoming attitude - as if they were another happy guest who were excited to be part of our big day. Like every other wedding, we had our fair share of hiccups - but they were handled swiftly and professionally by the owner and wedding coordinator Mariana. She went above and beyond to ensure we enjoyed our day, and kept as much off our plate as she could. We can't thank her enough for all her efforts. We're still hearing from friends and family about how much fun they had, and how beautiful the wedding was.

Absolutely the best wedding. Mariana and her staff made the planning and execution of our wedding easy and stressless. The recommended vendors were also spectacular (especially the photographer and the food truck). Mariana was patient with us as we postponed the wedding several times due to the pandemic. A lot of my friends saw price hikes and canceled plans, but Mariana thoroughly explained the differences in cost and worked with us to keep the cost at the original price although her and her staff were affected by the pandemic.

Having my wedding at AvantGarden was a DREAM COME TRUE, truly MAGICAL experience! The venue is so unique and everywhere you look could be a frame of art with one of kind decorations, sculptures, fountains, plants, staircases, etc... It is also unbelievable to watch the area transform into wedding venue with the drapes, flowers, amazing center pieces and candles etc - truly unique, romantic, intimate atmosphere. Mariana was an absolute pleasure to work with. We had a difficult wedding planning process navigating through COVID and multiple postpones/reschedules. Mariana was always calm, professional, kind, and acted as our emotional support during this process. She has so much experience planning/coordinating weddings at the venue and it was amazing to watch her work and learning how passionate she is about the venue and what she does for the community. Mariana also gave us multiple amazing vendor referrals for the local area such as photographer and cake, which made the planning process a lot easier. Food and music were also fantastic and so memorable. All the guests enjoyed the Taco Truck , snacks, and amazing drinks that were served at the wedding. Many still raved about the tacos many days after the wedding. DJ was awesome and we had the best dance party! Thank you Mariana for an unforgettable night!!

We would highly recommend AvantGarden for the central location, beautiful outdoor patios, multiple full bars, and Mariana! AvantGarden's customizable packages mean you can be as hands-on or hands-off as you'd like. My husband and I are both very busy so it was important that we choose a vendor we could trust to run the show. Owner and coordinator, Mariana, was that person. Right from the start, we could tell she knew what she was doing. I showed her my Pinterest inspiration boards, and she executed my vision flawlessly. She coordinated with our other vendors, moved our schedule along day of, and was communicative and responsive throughout. There was a lot of uncertainty (COVID, fluctuating guest list, weather), but Mariana worked with us to ensure our day went smoothly. The venue was beautiful, and we all had so much fun - our guests are still raving about their specialty cocktails! With how stressful a wedding can be, my husband and I are grateful that ours turned out as we envisioned and that we could actually enjoy it. Thank you AvantGarden and Mariana!

The venue was fantastic and Mariana did a great job leading up to the wedding as well as coordinating day-of activities. You'd be hard-pressed to find a better venue and wedding coordinator than Avant Garden and Mariana!

Working with Mariana and the AvantGarden team was amazing. We live out of state, and with Covid we were never actually able to meet in person, but despite that things went incredibly smoothly. They worked with our budget and communicated clearly. I personally get overwhelmed with too many details, and having a package where I didn't have to figure out every little tiny thing was a dream. The floral team perfectly nailed the flowers based just on my Pinterest boards and aesthetic ideas; the visuals were better than I could have hoped. The venue was the perfect size for our wedding of 55 and I loved the variety that the space offered. I really loved the burlesque-y vintage vibe of the building and patio. One of the BEST parts was the food; I'm from Houston and am a huge snob about Mexican food, and the food truck that catered the event was some of the best I've ever eaten. I'm also vegan and they had tons of amazing food and I didn't feel like I was missing anything in my meal. (The meat eaters loved it too!) All in all it was a dreamy day and I would highly recommend this venue to anyone!

Mariana did an absolutely amazing job with our wedding. She gave us suggestions for things we could do that turned out being some of the most complimented touches of the wedding!! She had everything put together for us, including super precious desserts and an amazing dj. I didn't have to worry about anything at all. Guests complimented the venue all night! It was so beautiful and different from what a lot of people had seen. I will be forever grateful that I chose this venue.

We wanted an all inclusive venue so that we can have our event as stress free as possible, thankfully, we found the Avant Garden. Mariana and the staff at the Avant Garden went over and beyond for our special day, everything was just how we imagined it would be! We had to make so many changes, from moving our date, to add more guests, and every small details, Mariana took care of it all. We couldn’t be happier that we chose the Avant Garden.

amazing venue. we had our wedding there and cannot recommend it highly enough. we loved the vibe of the venue, and the owner set it up even better than I could have imagined on the day of. all of the details that I did not think of she did and made that day stress free and fun. she helped us postpone our wedding twice and even caught some wedding crashers so they weren't on our bar tab. :)

I wish I had enough words to capture how amazing our wedding at AvantGarden was. The venue is absolutely stunning and so unique. From the cozy little attic suite where you can get dressed to the sparkly twinkle lights adorning the beautiful outdoor areas, every bit of AvantGarden feels like a magical secret garden hidden in the middle of Montrose. Mariana (the owner/coordinator) is spectacular. She’s a genuine rock star and made my entire wedding planning process entirely stress-free. I didn’t want to deal with detailed wedding planning myself, so we selected the all-inclusive package and Mariana took care of literally everything (cake, flowers, food, DJ…everything!). The only thing I had to do was find a photographer, officiant, and dress. Also, we ended up having to move our wedding from 2020 to 2021 due to COVID, and Mariana was incredibly accommodating and understanding. The all-inclusive package was a godsend. Pricing was incredibly reasonable (I don’t think you’ll find a better deal in Houston), and every little detail that Mariana and her team planned for our wedding was perfect. Her daughter Minerva designed my bouquets and flower arrangements, and they were gorgeous. I only needed to send her a couple of sample pictures and she created a bouquet even more beautiful than I’d imagined. We rented the taco truck for dinner and it was a HUGE hit – many of our guests told us it was the best wedding food they’ve ever had. Mariana has truly thought of everything to make your wedding fantastic. Throughout the entire wedding planning process, I knew that she had everything under control, and I hardly had to lift a finger! All of our friends and family had a fantastic time and kept saying it was one of the best weddings they’d ever attended. So unique, fun, low-key, and beautiful…we never wanted the night to end! I told all of our friends to get married at AvantGarden so we can attend more weddings there. I cannot recommend Mariana and her team enough – they are fantastic, genuine people who truly want to give you the best wedding ever!!

We wanted it all: classic city chic meets bohemian dream, a unique party atmosphere, and a stress-free experience. Well we sure got all of that and more by having our celebration at AvantGarden! Mariana handled everything from the planning and decorating to the day-of coordination. After 7 lucky years of being together, we wanted a wedding that was truly special, representing our growth in a city with a lot of fun and love to offer. Not only did we create memories we'll never forget, we will be able to visit AvantGarden as we continue to grow together. We are so grateful to Mariana, her daughter, and her amazing staff that helped our out-of-town guests stay cool and comfortable down here in the heat of Houston while they partied throughout the venue late into the night. Mariana coordinated the taco truck Taqueria el Palomo for catering the wedding, and everyone loved this unique delicious dinner option! If you are ready to finally start the next chapter of your lives together and are looking for a beautiful, transformative venue at which to turn the page, we absolutely recommend AvantGarden.

I cannot recommend AvantGarden highly enough! They did everything except perform the ceremony itself. The venue owner is absolutely amazing, and her flower arrangements for the tables are breathtaking! The flowers, table arrangements, crystal glassware, DJ, catering, service, full-service bar, and beautiful decorations were included for a very reasonable price. Everything was beautiful and Mariana made sure personal details were included and made a focus of the decor. She also listened and addressed any concerns we had in consultation, the day was virtually stress-free for us! Mariana and her daughter are amazing!

Our experience at Avant Garden was nothing short of perfect. From the original planning to flexible customizations to execution on the day of, Mariana and her team made our day as special as anyone dreams of. Food is A++, and the lack of stress leading up to the event allowed us to simply enjoy ourselves. -great food -in house planning -amazing to work with -execution on the day of the event was unrivaled. -you’d be a fool not to have your wedding here.

Avant Garden was everything we could have imagined for our May 1 wedding and much, much more! Buckle up for a full review. (I’m on my honeymoon now but had to get this out now!) We stumbled upon Avant Garden while searching for the perfect venue for 150 guests. The pandemic, however, forced us to scale down and the owner Mariana worked with us, reassuring us that we could have just as beautiful and fun of a wedding with less people. As you can imagine, this felt like such a tough decision for me and my husband. We had our doubts, but thanks to Mariana, we regret nothing! First off, the ambiance of this space is so beautiful and has a classic, antiquated feel. Having a mansion with an outdoor patio with a bar, and two bars indoors was like a playground for our guests. We went with an all inclusive package, in which Mariana takes care of everything and acts as a day of coordinator! This took off a load of stress while planning. I sent her photos of my dream bouquet, flowers and wedding arch — she matched it to the T! The table settings were gorgeous. She truly went above and beyond, helped seamlessly guide us through the day’s events and incorporated any personal decorations I brought. The guys also loved the cigar bar on the balcony. (Mariana is also very laid back and does a lot of correspondence through text and email, which is great to keep track of things — both for you and her. She also does select in-person meetings but she really does not need hand-holding. You can tell she’s done enough weddings. Just tell her what you want and she will deliver and offer you suggestions!) Food: We went with the taco truck for dinner (the al pastor tacos, rice and beans are my absolute favorite!). This truck was important to us because my husband and I had tacos on our very first date lol. It was a hit!! The guests loved this and keep telling us how good the food was. Music: Mariana also hired DJ Forte, who kept our guests dancing all night with many of our requests (guests who were live-streaming loved our playlist and his song choices!). DJ Forte fit the changing moods of the wedding perfectly, kept the after party jumping (literally! We were jumping up and down) and he was able to make last minute changes for our official dances with our parents. I will never forget asking Mariana if our dance floor was ready — Yes, my grandmother was already on the floor dancing by herself! Drinks: We went with an open bar up to a certain limit and then cash bar. The bartenders were phenomenal, accommodating and so sweet! It was lovely seeing them interact with my family and having lively conversations. We were completely satisfied. Inclusivity: It was really important to me to be in a space that values diversity and inclusivity. My family and friends are comprised of people of color and people from the LGBTQ community. Avant Garden is and has been a lovely space for a long time that has welcomed and given space to all types of people with its open mics; comedy, drag and burlesque shows; and jazz nights. I’m also excited that now my husband, our family and friends can come back to Avant Garden basically any day of the week to relive some of our big day again and again and eat the delicious tacos. With the hectic past year that we’ve had, I am SO glad that we went through with our wedding at Avant Garden. Mariana, thank you! And to your staff, BRAVO. You have left me, my husband, friends and family with memories that we’ll cherish forever!

AvantGarden is the perfect wedding venue! The grounds are gorgeous and Mariana (the owner) and her team do a great job to decorate it up on wedding day. They have lots of plants around the venue, making for some nice picture backdrops. The historic house is also gorgeous and has a lot of character. There is lots of space with different areas for mingling and dancing, from the covered back patio area, front garden, and upstairs with a balcony. Covid disrupted our initial plans (more on that later), so we had a small, 25 person wedding instead, with pizza from the wood burning oven, which is SO GOOD! We keep going back on Mondays to get more pizza and chat with Mariana. They also have a taco truck that will cater the wedding, which is really good too.  Mariana and her team are professionals at throwing weddings. They will handle pretty much everything for you - all we had to do was find a photographer and officiant.  Mariana serves as your wedding planner also and she does a great job with pre-wedding planning and logistics during the ceremony and reception. She made the planning process so easy, calmed all our nerves and gave us a perfect wedding. She genuinely cares about getting to know the couples and enjoys her work, which shows in the flawless execution. Mariana was also very helpful and accommodating during Covid. We were originally scheduled for April 2020 and Mariana immediately rescheduled us for November 2020. When Covid didn't slow down, she suggested a small wedding Nov 2020 for a nominal fee and then pushing the big wedding back to our one year anniversary in 2021. And we are so glad we did! We still had a wonderful ceremony and mini reception in 2020, but can have our dream wedding with all our friends and family after everyone is vaccinated. All of this just to explain how great Mariana is. Overall, it was a perfect wedding and we wouldn't have changed a thing (except no Covid of course..). From the flowers, to the pizza & drinks, the gorgeous venue and even the DJ. Everything was perfect. We can't wait to do it all again this November!

Truly such a beautiful place for a wedding with all of the right romantic vibes. Mariana is so caring and gives all the insight she can about the details. It was clear to me that she would make the day completely stress-free. I didn't book here for reasons outside AvantGarden's control but I highly recommend it as a gorgeous and unique wedding venue.

From start to finish, Mariana made our wedding dreams come true. We came to AvantGarden with little hope that we could salvage our Vegas wedding that had to be cancelled. With little more than 10 days to plan .. the staff of AvantGarden met the challenge and exceeded our expectations. They cater to as little or as much of the planning you need them to do . They are prompt, knowledgeable and beyond helpful. The venue is rustic , charming and hip which offers a flexible backdrop no matter what the theme would be . The service was spectacular in the outdoor garden which is covered and has its own walk up bar. We expected it to be chilly weather and they were prepared with outdoor heating . Mariana was attentive and accommodating with wise advice to help the evening go smoothly . The bartender Chris made amazing drinks , great recommendations and was friendly and conversational with the guests . The night started and ended perfectly. I am beyond happy with my experience. If you are looking for a wedding venue in the Houston area, this is it. No need to look further. You won’t regret it!

Mariana was the best from my first inquiry to beyond my wedding day. She did everything in less than 2 months and took the stress right off of me when covid ruinedhh our original wedding plans with another venue. We got married on 10.24 & people are still complimenting the venue food and the service!

A wedding day should be the best day of your life. Not only are you celebrating a commitment to the one you love, but you have the chance to party with your closest friends and family from across the full spectrum of your life. It's an amazing opportunity, and at the same time, planning it can be a lot. When we got married, my wife and I set a budget and decided on our big rocks: we wanted to get married outdoors, have great music, great food, and our guests to be able to drink all they wanted. We wanted the entire event to be a representation of us as a couple. While we had our ceremony at the Houston Arboretum, the Avant Garden fit the bill perfectly for our reception - both literally and figuratively. It was a dream wedding day at an incredibly affordable price. Mariana and her staff at Avant Garden took care to get to know Grecia and I as a couple, listen to our vision, and use her space and her talents to help make it a reality such that the planning was easy and the day of we didn't need to worry about a thing except having a great time. Everything from the colors and the wildflower bouquets/boutonnieres were aligned with what we wanted. We had access to the venue in advance, and the day of, to get ready, take photos, etc. and Mariana was incredibly gracious with her time and fielding any questions we had along the way. The venue itself is stunning. Set in an old house in the heart of the city, the venue carries plenty of Houston history and has gorgeous spaces outdoors and indoors that are the perfect mix of classy elegance and cool vintage fun. We ate dinner outside in the back, hosted a live band downstairs, a DJ upstairs afterwards, and ensured there was plenty to drink for our guests the entire time. This review would be amiss without a special nod to dinner. The taco truck that is a permanent fixture of Avant Garden is THE BEST taco truck in the city. The owner works closely with Mariana to cater the event - taking specific order and even catering to my wife - a pescatarian - to serve some of the best fish tacos alongside the most deliciously seasoned pastor and fajita you can find. This with rice, beans, salads, etc. was fun, delicious, and honestly more than enough for all of our guests. When we were planning our wedding, my wife and I wanted to put our time and energy into what mattered to us: strengthening our relationship, inviting the right people, and making our wedding day a day that we could have a blast with our closest friends and family. Working with Mariana and the staff at Avant Garden, we were able to rest easy as they took care of the rest. Thank you for helping us make our wedding day the most fun day of our lives.

I cannot recommend AvantGarden enough! Mariana and her team did so well with the wedding and she was so helpful during the planning process. She took care of so many little things that I hadn’t even thought about and the wedding was so beautiful.

Today is my one year anniversary and wanted to share how much I loved my wedding at AvantGarden. The historic building and courtyard are totally unique in Houston and provided a gorgeous backdrop for the ceremony and reception. We chose to use their Taco truck as our catering and it was the best wedding food I’ve ever had. Mariana was very kind and flexible. My family can be stubborn and her ability to herd relatives and manage the event was incredible. I had an entirely stress free evening and if there were any fires, Mariana made sure I didn’t have to put them out. The stand out moment from the staff was a bartender chatting with my husband and I while he made our drinks. He said he was happy to be working our wedding because we looked so happy to be getting married. I still think about that all the time.

We are so grateful we were able to celebrate our wedding day at Avant Garden. Mariana and her staff handled almost every detail including the table center pieces, the bridal flowers, and all of the food and drink. The only vendors we hired outside of Avant Garden was our photographer. The flowers and decor turned out beautifully and just as we had envisioned and the food was excellent. We went with the taco truck and they seriously have the best tacos I've had in Houston which is saying a lot because there are lots of taco options in Houston! Mariana is the owner of the venue and she was there every step of the way during the planning phases to make sure we had all of our questions answered. She somehow made planning our wedding stress free. If you are looking for a beautiful historic venue that makes you feel like you're in a secret garden in the heart of Montrose, we highly recommend Mariana's place. We absolutely loved having our wedding at Avant Garden!

Shortly after our engagement, my future wife suggested Avant Garden as a venue. After a tour of the space and after meeting Mariana, we knew almost immediately this was where we wanted to get married. Anyone who wants a venue that screams the City of Houston, look no further, this is the place. Not only is in right in the heart of Montrose, but it is so special, so different than typical venues, you will never forget it. As beautiful as the space is, what really made our experience with Avant Garden was our relationship with Mariana, the owner. She doubles as a wedding planner and dealt with all of our needs - floral arrangements, decor, wedding day tasks, etc. As stressful as planning a wedding can be, every time we met with her, our concerns and worries were washed away due to her calming demeanor. Our wedding day was perfect, and it's undeniable that the location was the reason for that. As an added bonus, the venue is a bar during the week, meaning you can always visit the place you said "I do." We owe so much to Mariana and Avant Garden and my wife and I will remember our wedding day for the rest of our lives.

Avant Garden was an absolute dream reception venue. Our wedding was on March 7, and the weather was perfect for the covered patio vibe. Mariana completely transformed the venue - the greenery was lit up by christmas lights, the tables and centerpieces were beautiful and colorful, and the entire environment was intimate, organic, and vibrant. The taco truck food was delicious. The bartenders were great and there were bars everywhere. It was also so helpful to know that Mariana was also in charge of all the details of the day. I did not have to hire a wedding coordinator. The dancing was awesome as well. The 2nd floor balcony was fantastic to go outside and cool off and chat with friends! And the 2nd floor bar made getting drinks very convenient as well. The grand exit was also perfect - I had a dress change and Mariana helped ensure everyone was ready with sparklers as we walked out of the venue and straight onto the bus to our afterparty location. Overall great time. Thanks for making our wedding day so fabulous!

We choose Avant Garden because it's in the heart of the city yet you would never know it! The beauty of this venue is unique and genuine. My wife was very particular about how she wanted EVERYTHING and Mariana was amazingly easy going which calm both of us down instantly. Thanks to Mariana every little detail my wife wanted and more was taken care of. We were lucky to have our wedding a week before the coronavirus shut everything down. I'm writing this review because I felt lucky enough to experience my wedding at such a beautiful spot. For those of you bored at home for the last week looking up a million wedding venues , I would recommend this place with all my heart. That last comment was from my wife but I agreed this place was amazing and the taco truck was delicious!

Mariana pulled our wedding together in less than two weeks. We booked it sight unseen, and were over the moon with the beautiful venue and wonderful staff. I can't recommend this venue highly enough.

My husband and I had eloped and wanted to find a place that fit our personalities to hold our reception and everything about Avantgarden was exactly what we were hoping to find. Mariana was amazing and so helpful picking the right package for our night. The entire team was great- the bartenders, the people who set up and took down tables, just everyone was so helpful and made the evening go smoothly. It is probably the only place inside the City or Houston that is affordable and BEAUTIFUL. We did not want to spend a fortune on this night because we were already married and this was exactly what we hoped for. I cannot say enough good things about this place!! It really was a magical night.

The team at AvantGarden is a very well run and detail oriented team. They have hundreds of pictures to show you exactly what the event can look like if you so choose. They also allow you to make changes based on pictures you have. This is something we did and they made it look just about exactly the same as the picture. On top of the venue being extremely well decorated the food and drinks were just as well done. The taco truck got rave reviews all night as did the pizza that came out later in the evening. Overall, it was a great experience and AvantGarden took care of every detail leading up to the day and on the day.

We had our wedding reception at Avant Garden on 12/21/2019 and it was everything we hoped for and more. You cannot beat the value! From the beginning Mariana assured us not to worry and she was absolutely right. When we were initially interested, she was very prompt in her responses and even dealt with all the questions from my mother. She is very flexible with your needs. We opted for the All Inclusive Package with some modifications. We had a couple meetings before the big day to finalize some details and it was fantastic. Mariana was always there coordinating and keeping us on schedule. She even did a great job accommodating all my guests and we had at least 180 people. Please do the taco truck--these are literally some of the best tacos in town. And at the last minute we decided to do the pizza--highly recommend, it was a great late night treat for guests! I received so many compliments about how great the venue was, how tasty the food was and how it was the most fun ever. That's what Mariana cared about. Trust in Mariana and the team at Avant Garden and you won't be disappointed---you will be the chillest bride leading up to the big day!

I attended my best friend's wedding there and it was really amazing. The venue looked beautiful. They went with the taco truck and that was the best food I've had at a wedding! The staff was really friendly and did a great job at coordinating my friends wedding. And the DJ killed it! Everyone danced for a long time. They also had an open bar for the guests. It was really a blast! I would definitely recommend AvantGarden for a wedding!

When searching for the perfect place to host our big day , the search quickly halted when we found Avant Garden. We love Houston... more specifically Montrose , and this venue has all the charm , culture and edgy-ness you could ask for in a Montrose wedding. Plus it’s LGBT friendly! Mariana is the venue owner and operator , she also served as the day of coordinator. She worked with us to find a package that had all we wanted and for a good price. We highly recommend her valet service; it helped make the day run smoothly. Our guests LOVED the taco truck she has on her property; we strongly suggest using this for your catering needs! It was another fun way to bring more Houston into our wedding. Her daughter arranged all of our floral arrangements which turned out better than we could have expected. We wanted a fall themed wedding and they delivered! All in all, Mariana and her staff went above and beyond the call of wedding duty for our big day. I would absolutely say that value of what you spend here is more than worth it. Planning Tip: Mariana does really great with details the closer you get to your wedding. If you are a type A bride, like my wife, you will panic slightly but Mariana has all of this under control. Go over all the details a month out with her and you will feel more comfortable. She does better with the couples and less parents so save your final meeting with just her! All in all, she does a great job with the day of coordination and planning.

We had a fantastic wedding at Avant Garden - it could not have gone any better. Mariana is a true professional and her relaxed demeanor ensured that we had a calm, stress free wedding from the planning to the final event. Package: We went with the top package and I would recommend it. Mariana and her team crafted a gorgeous version of the colorful wedding we wanted complete with a bespoke arch, bouquet, and centerpieces. Venue: This place is a hidden oasis in Houston. It's so different from any other venue and was the first and only place we toured. If you're someone who appreciates people who take the time to restore and maintain old things you'll love this space. The house is beautiful and contains all kinds of space for your guests' needs without making anyone feel isolated or cramped. There's an upstairs, downstairs, patio and garden. We created a little cigar bar in the upstairs patio the dads loved. I recommend going for a bar visit in addition to a tour. We went on Friday evening with friends. It was so calm, people were playing chess and relaxing with friends. An impromptu jazz band broke out and we felt like we were back in New Orleans. Food: The food was amazing. I hear that so many brides never get the chance to eat but Mariana made sure that my husband and I got our food first. Guests loves the ability to order the tacos of their choice (including veggie options) from the food truck. They also had a long bar full of fresh toppings such as roasted jalapeños. We'd also recommend going for the pizza package. They have a wood burning pizza oven on site and carried trays of artisan pizza around on the dance floor. Being served pizza while I dress in a giant ball gown is the most glamorous I will ever feel; I have peaked. Also the churros! My sister wanted churros so Mariana made that happen and they. were. delicious. My husband almost ran out for the sparkler exit with a churro in his hand because I married that kind of food loving person. We're a good match. Music: Also the DJ! Loved the DJ and the guests loved him too. He played hits for the older folks coupled with more current music for us. Personally, I loved when he would come out and dance with me or my mom because he made the party. Overall, this was one of the best nights of my life and my husband and I are so grateful to have created this memory with friends and family. Mariana and her team are so relaxed and professional, you could not ask for a better crew of artists to help you get hitched. Thank you Mariana and the Avant Garden Team!

AvantGarden was the best venue to have our wedding! The house and gardens have such amazing character and charm. It made our big day feel like a dream. Mariana, the owner, was a pleasure to work with and has a ton of experience, you can really tell she is a pro and you can leave it all to her. Having dinner under the glass roof was magical and the dance party upstairs was the absolute best!!! All of our guests said they had the best time at our wedding and I know a lot of that is thanks to the fun and laid back nature of AvantGarden. It really felt like a cool fun house party as opposed to a stuffy overly produced wedding. I am thankful for Mariana and her team for all of their hard work in pulling off an incredible wedding day. We had a lot of personal details on our wedding day and Mariana made sure they all were in place. It was especially awesome of her to install our disco ball on the ceiling for the dance party! I would highly recommend this venue for brides looking for a unique fun venue in Houston.

The moment we toured AvantGarden for our wedding, we knew it’d be the perfect venue. Mariana helped us through every aspect of the planning process and kept us on schedule with important decision making milestones. The wedding went smoothy and was a blast! It’s a great layout, and months later we still get comments from our family and friends about how much fun they had. Mariana typically recommends using the on-site taco truck (Taqueria El Palomo) for the wedding, and while we were skeptical at first, it was absolutely the right decision. The food there is incredible and your guests won’t be disappointed. They can accommodate dietary restrictions (vegetarian, gluten-free, etc.) as well. Mariana, we can’t thank you enough for helping us on our wedding day!