Texas Style Venue and Chapel
$4,000 starting price
North Houston Cypress Montgomery Conroe
Service area
251 to 300 guests
Holds ceremonies and receptions
Melissa Carswell
OWNER
Typically responds within 24h
AWARD WINNER (10X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Balmorhea is a secluded wedding venue in Magnolia, TX. Many breathtaking backdrops are available on these 32 acres of land, including mature oaks, sparkling lakes, and serene meadows. The expansive grounds can accommodate an array of event themes, from rustic gatherings to elegant, extravagant receptions.
Located less than 45 minutes away from downtown Houston, Balmorhea acts a picturesque retreat away from the fast-paced city life. Its various indoor event spaces and extensive outdoor areas can easily accommodate ceremonies and receptions of up to 320 guests. Each of the onsite structures boasts natural stone and cedar architecture, making for a stunning backdrop both inside and out. The main ballroom offers over 9,000 square feet of space, and boasts a bucolic, nature-inspired aesthetic with sophisticated touches. Exposed wooden beams and detailed chandeliers adorn the ceiling, while a robust stone fireplace stands with a deer head mounted on its mantle. For a more classically-themed ceremony, The Chapel features traditional pew seating, and a large window behind your altar. Their outdoor setting is surrounded by flourishing oak trees, and provides a clear view of the lake and fountains. You and your wedding party will have access to their dressing suite, which features lounge furniture, hair-and-makeup stations, and ample lighting.
The team behind Balmorhea will happily connect you to their most trusted local vendors, which include florists, caterers, and wedding planners. Tables, chairs, and two custom bars are available, and can be arranged into any formation you prefer. You will also be free to host your engagement photo sessions here, to get the most out of the lush gardens and surroundings.
Pricing details
Starting prices
Reception
$9,500
Reception
$9,500
Ceremony
$9,500
Bar services
Contact for price
Catering
Contact for price
- Couples usually spend $7,500
- Starting prices don't include service fees, taxes, gratuity, and rental fees.
- Guest count and seasonality may also affect prices. Peak season for this venue is Jan-Dec.
Are you interested?
Reach out and share your wedding details.
Amenities + details
Amenities
Ceremony Area
Covered Outdoors Space
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Liability Insurance
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Ceremony Types
Civil Union
Commitment Ceremony
Elopement
Interfaith Ceremony
Non-Religious Ceremony
Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Guest Capacity
Up to 300
Settings
Barn
Farm & Ranch
Beach
Waterfront
Estate
Garden
Park
Religious Setting
Trees
Venue Service Offerings
Bar & Drinks
Bar Rental
Planning
Service Staff
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Meet the team
Melissa Carswell
Owner
I'm thrilled to be in such a fun industry. Who isn't happy when planning a wedding, they're such a joyous and memorable occasion. I have been blessed by my family who has helped get me where I'm at in the wedding industry. It all started back when my husband and I got married and the family had a vision about property to make it a bride and groom's dream come true. I'm blessed with a loving husband of 8 years, 2 adorable boys and 2 furbabies . Can't wait to meet you and Happy Planning!
Availability
Reviews
5.0
out of 5.0164 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Balmorhea is described by multiple reviewers as a fabulous and stunning wedding venue with beautiful grounds, a lovely chapel, and a spacious reception hall. The venue is neutrally beautiful, saving on decoration costs, and offers a bride/groom cottage and helpful staff like Melissa and Ashton. Reviewers highly praise the venue's well-kept property, accommodating owners, responsive and professional team, as well as ample photo opportunities. The venue offers inclusive packages and helpful vendor recommendations, making wedding planning seamless and enjoyable, with guests consistently impressed by the charming atmosphere and exceptional service.Review photos
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April M
5.0
4/21/2025
The Balmorhea was a beautiful place to have our wedding! There were so many gorgeous spots for photos, and we received tons of compliments on the venue. It was also nice to have our wedding at a family owned venue - Melissa was amazing to work with: helpful, responsive, and genuinely kind. I’m so happy we chose to get married here. Everything was perfect!!
Katie B
5.0
12/22/2024
This place is FABULOUS. My husband & I instantly fell in love with this venue when we toured it. He especially loved the bride/groom cottage, which had stadium seats from the old astrodome in the groom’s loft!
The chapel & reception hall are stunning & accommodate a large amount of guests. This venue is also neutrally beautiful, so you don’t have to spend tons of money on decorations.
Both Melissa and Ashton were a huge help throughout the wedding planning process! They helped make this day the best day of me & my husband’s lives. This is the PERFECT venue for your wedding!
Any questions?
Bonnie G
5.0
12/21/2024
Melissa is the best of the best- truly. A heart of gold and extremely great at what she does! She provides a table layout software that helps you design table arrangements that is especially helpful for your big day. Additionally, I rarely would find a venue website with recommendations to other vendors. She makes sure to recommend good quality vendors, that work best on wedding/event days! The venue is so well kept as well, and makes for amazing photos and memories. My wedding sat 150 people comfortably- and it was a blast!!! love love love Balmorhea!!!
Shannon S
5.0
11/27/2024
Balmorhea was the perfect venue for us. The on-site chapel is stunning along with the reception hall and grounds of the venue. They were very accommodating and responsive throughout the process. I even got the opportunity to meet the owners who are incredibly kind. If I could do it all over again, I would still pick Balmorhea!
Also, we used Ashton Hunt as our wedding planner and she was amazing!! I could not recommend her more!
Mia O
5.0
11/15/2024
Can't recommend Balmorhea and the team there enough... they were fantastic to work with through a fairly short timeline for my wedding. The property was absolutely beautiful, my guests haven't stopped talking about it! It was the perfect place for our wedding, I couldn't have asked for anything better! Having the cottage space to get ready, plus the chapel and reception space all in one spot was a huge plus.
Melissa and team were very accommodating & went above and beyond to ensure a fantastic experience. They also had a lot of vendor recommendations which helped me in the planning process tremendously. Far exceeded my wedding day expectations!!
Kathy T
5.0
5/01/2024
Balmorhea is a beautiful venue. The property is spacious and intimate, Very clean! The cottage, I could live there, lol. It was a pleasure working with Melissa, Allison and Anna Lauren. They are very professional and helpful and wonderful to work with. The outdoor photos were gorgeous. The ceremony, I feel in love with. You definitely will not regret getting married at this place.
Abby L
5.0
5/01/2024
Balmorhea was absolutely perfect for our events! We had an American Wedding/Reception Friday night and then an additional day of events that were all to celebrate the Indian culture! While both days were at the same place, it did not feel close to the same event! There is so much space at this property to utilize for different types of events, and we could not have been happier!
Melissa and her team were phenomenal to work with as well! She communicated very clearly to us what all the requirements were when signing the contract and was patient during our multiple tours haha!
The venue is also close to many hotels, restaurants and has an abundance of Ubers! We didn't have any issues with our guest accommodations whatsoever! This venue is affordable and the staff is excellent! We love Balmorhea and will recommend to any and everyone!
Noelle T
5.0
2/23/2024
Beyond satisfied with this venue. Melissa the venue director and Allie are amazing. They were always there and available to help and answer any of the questions I had. Not to mention the venue is beyond stunning. There are so many places for you to take pictures for your engagement and your big day. The price is reasonable compared to others and they have so much to offer. My wedding day was beautiful and all our guests were taken away by the venue. 100/10
Morgan S
5.0
12/27/2023
Our wedding was absolutely perfect! This venue made us feel connected to all of our guests but still allowing plenty of spaces to spread out. We utilized the chapel for the ceremony and it was just beautiful and quaint. Highly recommend!
Kassie D
5.0
10/07/2023
Wow! Just wow! I am in love with this venue and the people that run it. After touring about 10 venues, I felt something so different and special about this one! It is beautiful and managed so well. The people who run it, especially Melissa, are AMAZING!!! They were so helpful from the start through the end of the process. Even after the process! They were so responsive, friendly and helpful! I can’t say enough about how much I loved having my wedding there and working with Melissa!!
Kelly P
5.0
9/28/2023
If I could rate this vendor more stars I would. The location is great. Its in the country, very rustic and the elegant beauty in the acreage speaks for itself. Melissa made this whole experience so flawless. Anytime I had any questions she replied right away and was super flexible with our schedules and just everything about the wedding. The venue is 10/10 down right gorgeous. The bridal suite is so adorable. And there are TONS of photo opportunities. I would recommend this venue to absolutely anyone. If your looking for a venue with a ton of space, this is for sure is the right one.
Dwayne H
5.0
8/15/2023
Melissa at Balmorhea is incredible! She really helped us understand everything we needed to do to plan for our wedding. We only had a couple of months to plan and Melissa's knowledge and expertise provided exactly what we needed to get everything accomplished. She was always very friendly and easy to talk to. The venue itself was perfect for us. The property provided many places to take great pictures. The cross between country cottage and upscale Tuscan villa provided just the serene atmosphere we were looking for. You will not be disappointed in this choice for your venue!
Laura L
5.0
7/23/2023
We absolutely loved the venue for our April wedding. From the first tour we could tell it had everything we were looking for and more. The property is gorgeous and well maintained. It was very important for us and our guests to have an easy experience and with everything on-site it was just perfect. We utilized the cottage, the chapel, the outdoor patio area, as well as the main reception hall. Everything was beautiful and just so accommodating. Extra shout out to Rainey who was our wedding coordinator and made sure that every detail was handled leading up and on the day of. We could not recommend her more as she made everything happen for us and truly helped us to maximize our budget. I think this place has everything and more at for a reasonable price. Also, we used all the recommended vendors except for maybe 2 and honestly they were all so great too which made the planning process so much easier. Seriously a 10/10 - our family & guests couldn't stop raving about the place either!
response 07/24/2023
Thank you, Laura! Your review of our wedding venue means so much.
Leah M
5.0
6/22/2023
When we toured this venue my husband and I knew immediately that this was the perfect location for our wedding venue. The size of the venue was the first thing that was very impressive and our guests/vendors were never crowded yet it did not feel oversized for approximately 150 people. The owners were absolutely amazing and worked with us so great, the have been in the business for years and it really showed. When it came to the venue itself it was by far and large the prettiest place we had seen out of all the other ones in the north Houston area and the best priced. We have nothing but compliments from our guests on the venue being so nice and the pictures were great!
response 07/24/2023
Thank you, Leah! Your review of our wedding venue means so much to our business.
Mindy S
5.0
5/28/2023
Make sure you add Balmorhea to your list of venues to look at! This place is absolutely incredible & the owners are so wonderful & easy to work with. From my first tour this felt like the right fit for me. I was lucky enough to get Melissa on my tour, and it really felt like I’ve known her for years! Balmorhea as a venue is absolutely gorgeous! I fell in love with it based off the pictures alone. It is exactly as advertised, and I would say, even better in person. You feel like you are on a remote ranch somewhere in the hill country. The grounds & buildings are so beautiful I didn’t feel like I had to do a ton of decorating to try to make it look pretty. I can’t wait to get the pictures back because there are so many perfect places for photo opportunities. I did my bridals there & they are all so amazing! I really can’t say enough wonderful things about my experience with Balmorhea for my wedding. A week later & everyone is still talking about how beautiful it was! I promise you won’t regret booking Balmorhea!
response 07/24/2023
Thank you for your 5 star review, Mindy! We absolutely loved hosting your wedding at Bal...
morhea.
Kelli N
5.0
3/30/2023
Melissa was great to work with and so accommodating, felt like I was working with a good friend that was genuinely concerned about our needs. Balmorhea was a beautiful venue inside and outside. We had 300 guest and had room and a big dance floor. I highly recommend it for any event.
response 04/01/2023
Kelli, what can I say besides I’m going to miss seeing you and Natalie! Thank you for you...
r sweet words.
Claire L
5.0
3/30/2023
I don’t have enough good things to say about my wedding at Balmorhea! First of all Melissa and her team are lovely; they are responsive, kind, and professional. The venue is beautiful, well maintained, and provides space for indoor and outdoor options with ease. Melissa's preferred vendor list made our vendor selection so easy and we loved everyone we worked with that day.
response 04/01/2023
Claire, I loved getting to know your mom and the rest of the family! Many blessings to al...
l of you.
Marcy B
5.0
3/11/2023
The venue was absolutely perfect for our Daughter’s Wedding! You have been so great to work with and always quick to answer any questions! I would highly recommend Balmorhea to any of my friends for their upcoming events!!
response 04/01/2023
Marcy, your family were a joy to work with, thank you for your kind words!
Paige B
5.0
1/30/2023
Wonderful place to host a larger scale wedding! The place is stunning so we didn't go overboard with decor, staff was kind and easy to get a hold of, and the preferred vendor list was really helpful! Highly recommend!
Brittney R
5.0
12/14/2022
All I can say about this place is omg how amazing. From the first day we toured It to the wedding day itself, Melissa made me feel like I was home. She helped me throughout the year to help me get ideas on planning and was so helpful through the payment of It all. The day of my wedding my dress had popped a button and Holly and Melissa were on It almost instantly. They are dedicated and determined to provide the best day possible.
Holly my day of coordinator was amazing as well. So kind and so patient, especially with my crew of people. She helped make sure my day went flawlessly as It did . If something did go wrong I wouldn’t have known cause Holly was 5 steps ahead.
This venue is definitely breathtaking and worth the money. Would love to come back and see other familiar couples get married here 🫶🏽
Lizzi A
5.0
10/25/2022
I was married a month ago at Balmorhea and let me tell you that the venue and team exceeded expectations! Balmorhea was the first venue we visited during our initial wedding planning, and though we did go on to visit other venues, we ultimately ended up booking our special day at Balmorhea due to the beautiful grounds, having both a chapel ceremony space and reception space on site, and also having bridal party suite on site as well. What put Balmorhea over the top was how personable the team was– at the beginning, when we were showing interest and had any questions, we worked with Holly and after booking, Melissa was our main contact. Both were so kind, responsive, and patient as I was a bride who had a lot of questions and wanted to do all my research and preparation for the big day. Their team was always responsive and easy to communicate with every step of the way.
During the planning process it’s easy to become overwhelmed with finding and selecting vendors, and Balmorhea has a great list of preferred vendors that were reliable and delivered on our big day. A bonus was we were able to use one of their preferred bartending vendors and could buy the alcohol for our wedding to be served by the bartenders- which ultimately went on to save us a bit of money. We found that not many venues in the area have that as an option.
On our wedding day we received many compliments from guests about how beautiful everything was at Balmorhea. You will also find that at Balmorhea there are so many places to take beautiful pictures (I also took my bridal portraits there). I am grateful to Melissa and her team at Balmorhea to helping make my wedding day an absolute dream.
Elisabeth H
5.0
10/22/2022
If you’re thinking about getting married here, DO IT!
I got married here a year ago and our families and friends still talk about the venue. It was nice to have everyone on the dance floor but it made me happy seeing everyone enjoy the outdoors as well. Not only is the venue and bridal suite STUNNING on its own but their team is such a breeze to work with.
I had Rainie as my day of coordinator and I 10/10 recommend. I had a vendor cancel last minute and when I mentioned it to her within a couple hours she had already reached out to other vendors for me to get a quote and we even had a quote returned! She absolutely saved me. Balmorhea is family owned and operated and I truly felt like they cared about me and did everything in their power to ensure my wedding day was a breeze, and it was!!
Shelby B
5.0
10/18/2022
My now husband and I fell in love the second we pulled into the property. It was everything we were looking for, which was beautiful grounds, a chapel, and a cottage for us to get dressed in. Everything was absolutely perfect!!
Marissa E
5.0
8/22/2022
When we were shopping around for venues most of the tours we went on left us feeling like we had just interacted with a used car salesman. Holly was genuine and fun-loving, a sharp contrast to the other tours we had been on. Additionally, the venue was beautiful and Melissa genuinely cared about my views and desires for how the venue would look on the big day. The professional attitude and care were a huge deal to me and I was so glad I chose Balmorhea for my big day. I got so many compliments on the venue and it's all due to Melissa's hard work and dedication to keeping the venue beautiful. They even allowed us to use the bridal cottage for childcare after the ceremony.
Ryland D
5.0
8/18/2022
Look no further as this is the best venue ever! The staff is very accommodating and make you feel like family. Melissa is amazing and showed us around on our tour. She even threw out other venues to check out. We looked at other venues but kept coming back to Balmorhea. They have a chapel on site that is breathtaking and perfect for our wedding in June. The grounds are beautiful with the trees, bridges, and water fountains in the ponds. The stonework at the venue itself is stunning. We even took our engagement photos on site. So many photo opportunities! We also had Ashton (in-house coordinator) as our day of coordinator. She did an amazing job and we were so pleased with all of her hard work and help to make our day perfect! We received so many compliments on the venue and are so happy we chose Balmorhea! Check out Balmorhea....you won't regret it!
Melanie D
5.0
8/10/2022
Balmorhea Weddings and Events is fabulous! We held our wedding ceremony and reception at Balmorhea on July 30, 2022, and it could not have gone any better. The owners are wonderful people and a pleasure to work with. The venue and grounds are meticulously kept. The chapel and reception areas are beautiful and speak for themselves when it comes to decorating. The brides/grooms quarters are extremely useful and lend themselves to larger parties and getting ready on site. Communication with venue personnel is top notch, and everyone was so kind in guiding me through the planning process. I highly recommend Balmorhea to anyone planning a wedding or any event.
Cheyenne M
5.0
7/18/2022
From the moment we booked our wedding with Balmorhea they were so helpful! Anytime I asked a question I could shoot them a quick email and always would have a response within the hour. Everyone there was punctual, helpful and nice. The Balmorhea team played a big part in making our day perfect!! Not to mention the venue is absolutely GORGEOUS!
Brodi O
5.0
6/22/2022
TEN STARS!!! There are so many things I love about Balmorhea!!! The gorgeous scenery, the bridal cottage, the lighted patio, the rustic windmill, the pond, THE ENTIRE VENUE!!! Aside from the beautifulness that is this wedding venue, Melissa was also a breeze to work with. She was extremely welcoming since the beginning, responded very quickly to any questions I had through the wedding planning, and recommended the most outstanding vendors. My husband and I got married at Balmorhea on 6/10/22, and we even had family and friends coming to us to tell us how much they love the venue! I would recommend this venue to anyone getting married in the area!
Heather F
5.0
6/10/2022
Where to start ... I guess from the beginning. When our daughter (and now son-in-law) were looking for wedding venues there were two non-negotiables ... amongst various other must haves. 1) it needed to have a chapel and 2) it needed to represent "them". Finding a venue with a chapel ... in South Texas ... is NOT as easy a mission as one would think. When Avery and Laithen (Crow) started looking for venues that met their criteria we started the search. Not going to lie, we did look at a couple of other places, BUT when we first drove up on Balmorhea the grounds took our breath away. It is beyond beautiful. Chapel (check), the "them" vibe (double check) ... bonus points for the meticulously manicured grounds and water ponds. Our initial meeting with the owner, Melissa Carswell, was more than we could have imagined ... we honestly left our initial meeting with her gob-smacked. She was a dream and extremely accommodating. Melissa truly wants only the best for her bride and groom ... she was in constant communication with us throughout the planning process to see if there was anything she could aide us with. There were a few pretty pleases we threw at her and she was more than happy to try to accommodate. The site for day of preparation was awesome ... it actually turned out better than we could have imagined. Dad's "First Look" ... yes, there were tears. Seeing our daughter walk down the aisle of the chapel ... more tears. The Chapel ... The simplicity of the Balmorhea chapel honestly was the deciding factor when they were searching for venues. The simplicity and beauty gave our couple the opportunity to shine. Avery and Laithen wanted simple elegance and watching them begin their forever took our breath away. Balmorhea is a hidden jewel amongst the hustle and bustle of Houston. From the moment you pass through the gates (and they are gorgeous!!) you enter ahhhhh. Melissa ... from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU for helping bring our daughter (and son-in-law's) Pinterest page to life. Your venue was the canvas they always dreamed of.
response 06/20/2022
Heather, thank you so much for your sweet, kind words! It was an honor to serve your fami...
ly and you all were a joy to work with.
Sarah W
5.0
5/19/2022
If you're looking for rustic elegance, this venue is for you.
The venue is family owned and operated. They are easy to work with and actually pretty funny too. We got so many compliments on our venue both during and even weeks after the wedding.
The chapel is beautiful, the grounds have so many photo opportunities. The reception area was spacious and there is a bell tower! During the reception a lot of guests (and us) went outdoors and enjoyed the grounds. Can't say enough good things about it.
It's not all-inclusive, which means that you get to use your own vendors, which saved us a lot of money. (We got our favorite Mexican place to cater which is MUCH less expensive than wedding catering.)
response 05/31/2022
Thank you so much for this amazing message! We are so happy to hear that your special day ...
was fantastic and it was truly an honor to make your dreams come to life!
Reagan K
5.0
5/04/2022
This venue is so beautiful and the staff was very communicative and easy to work with!! They answered all of our questions promptly and they offered very competitive pricing compared to similar venues! I’m so glad I had my wedding here, the chapel is stunning and the reception area is perfect!!
response 05/31/2022
We are so glad to hear you had a great experience with us! Thank you for your feedback and...
glad you chose our venue to celebrate your special day!
Amanda P
5.0
3/18/2022
This venue was everything we wanted and MORE! I had my absolute dream wedding and couldn’t have asked for a better place! The scenery was amazing and the staff were so attentive!
response 05/31/2022
Thank you so much! Our goal is to always make sure we go above and beyond to satisfying th...
e hopes and vision of our brides. We are so happy to hear your special day was a dream come true!
Becca Q
5.0
3/07/2022
I cannot say enough about this venue and the people that work there. We are so glad we went with them. Their day of coordinators are 10/10. They always responded to any questions I had and took the anxiety away that this venue was about an hour from where we live so everything was mostly done via email or phone. Holly helped me tour the place and was there every step of the way and we were so happy that she was able to be our day of coordinator as well. She's bubbly without bringing in any anxiety, accommodating, and just overall a joy to work with. I always felt and trusted she was going to take care of it, or make the right call if I was not available, and she absolutely did. We had a lot of different moving parts in our wedding to fit in both of our cultures and then some....and her and Rainie handled everything with such grace and ease. Like even figuring out how to get greenery on to a bounce house on a windy day exactly as I wanted. They literally made my entire wedding vision really come to life and flow effortlessly. Thank you Holly, Rainie, and Melissa for being always kind and genuine and with a Yes-we-can-make-it-work attitude. It made our big day absolutely perfect. We can def tell you all love genuinely what you do and get excited when we throw something at you that might be a challenge or new! Thank you ladies!! So many people expressed how impressed they were by my day of coordinators!
response 05/31/2022
Awww we are so thrilled to hear that everything went smoothly and to what you had hoped fo...
r! Wedding days can be very stressful but when you know you have a strong team on your side, the stress rolls off and the fun and relaxing moments begin! Thank you for sharing your story with us!
Stephanie K
5.0
3/05/2022
I can not say enough about Balmorhea! From our tour, to the days after the wedding was everything that my daughter and I could hope for. Melissa was our original contact and she was so friendly and extremely helpful. Balmorhea has everything on site and the property is beautiful. You feel like you are so far away from everything when it’s actually so conveniently close to everything. The chapel felt like church to me, the cottage was the perfect size for all the girls to get ready and the boys to hang out and the reception hall was beautifully perfect!! We used Rainie Crawley for our “day of” coordinator, which was recommended by Balmorhea, and she was amazing! Once you see this place you will fall in love with it! Add it to your list of tours, you won’t regret it.
response 05/31/2022
Thank you so much! We have an incredible team who work hard to making sure our brides are ...
happy, stress free and excited for their special day! :)
Jennifer A
5.0
2/28/2022
We got married here on 2/12/22 and couldn't be happier with our decision to choose Balmorhea! Balmorhea was actually the first venue we toured and we immediately loved it but kept our options open. However, every other venue we toured, we kept comparing it to Balmorhea and knew it was the right one for us! The venue is BEAUTIFUL and had everything we wanted and at a very reasonable price! I was a little nervous about the bride and groom sharing the wedding cottage the day of but honestly, there was no issue at all with it! My bridal party and I were so busy getting ready on "our side" of the cottage that I didn't even notice when the guys were there. The entire staff of Balmorhea was also so patient and accommodating the day of; we wanted our ceremony outdoors but the weather kept changing and they allowed us until noon the day of to decide where we would have it at. That truly shows how much they want their brides and grooms to get what they want and be happy! Melissa and her team were SO helpful from the very first day and any questions I had, Melissa made sure to answer! She also reached out throughout our planning process just to see how everything was and to see if we had any questions. We hired Rainie as our coordinator through Balmorhea and she was THE BEST!!! Even though Rainie is a "month of" coordinator, she answered any questions I had before then regarding recommendations for vendors and decor ideas and she never made me feel like a burden. I could truly list SO many ways Rainie, Melissa, and Holly helped me throughout the entire planning process and especially our wedding day! Thank y'all so much for everything!
Jarimie H
5.0
2/16/2022
What more can I say other than "Absolutely Wonderful"! They covered every base and meet or exceeded every need we had. Thank you to Melissa and her team. Their knowledge and expertise help us achieve the most perfect wedding we could have ever imagined.
response 02/17/2022
Thank you so much for your kind words, Jarimie and Laura!
Tiffany P
5.0
1/27/2022
WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN!? Multiply your highest expectations x 10 and that is the level of service you will get at The Balmorhea! I recently had our Christmas themed wedding there (December 4th, 2021) and we have literally been showered with compliments and guests telling us how perfect the venue was for our special day. Online pictures will never be able to show how absolutely stunning the grounds, reception space, bridal house and chapel are. Do yourself a favor, and go see it in person because you will fall in love with everything! The venue director Melissa is probably one of the nicest people I have ever met! She was always attentive and responsive to not only my needs/questions but also when my coordinator needed her. She incorporated every special detail we wanted and helped me feel at ease about any and everything to do with planning out the whole day. I truly wish I could live our wedding day over and over because it was perfect!!! THANK YOU so much to The Balmorhea team for everything!!!
response 02/17/2022
You're too sweet, Tiffany! We're so happy your day was so lovely.
Kensey K
5.0
1/25/2022
The most beautiful venue! It felt like the location of our dreams!
The team is super great to work with -- Melissa and Justin really made our whole experience seamless. While it was a drive for our guests in the Houston area, everyone raved about how gorgeous the chapel, reception hall, and grounds are. It made for some dreamy photos as well.
We super appreciated the Balmorhea's help with picking vendors, the coordinator option with Rainie Crawley who was superb and really helped us in the planning process and provided the best day-of coordinator service I've ever seen! Also, this venue gives you flexibility on setup -- we were able to setup the day before which made the day of our wedding that much more enjoyable! I cannot say enough great things about this place -- we loved it!
Brittney B
5.0
1/18/2022
Melissa is absolutely wonderful and everyone at Balmorhea was incredibly helpful every step of the way! We are so thankful we chose Balmorhea for our wedding and loved that our entire event from start to finish was enjoyed at one location. The bridal cottage is huge and includes a full kitchen! The chapel was perfect for our ceremony and sat everyone comfortably. The reception hall is absolutely stunning and we loved the outdoor fireplace for our cold day! I can’t recommend Balmorhea enough!
Emily C
5.0
12/06/2021
Melissa was just fabulous to work with. She made sure everything was perfect and our event went smoothly. Definitely coming back here for future events!
Kimberly M
5.0
12/06/2021
This venue was absolutely perfect!! It had the small touches we were looking for in a venue. The owners and staff were very accommodating to every request from the moment we signed the contract. We had great weather for our outdoor wedding and it was beautiful. We also were very pleased with the back up option of the chapel. If we had been rained out, the chapel would still have been the perfect ceremony spot. The large glass windows would still allow for a beautiful background with or without rain. The wedding party house was just what we were looking for as well. It allowed for us to be together when we wanted, but then apart when it was time to get ready. The photo opportunities for sunset and night pictures were AMAZING!! We highly recommend Balmorhea!
Staci L
5.0
12/04/2021
Highly recommend! From the day we first toured the venue we knew it was the venue for us. Rainey did an amazing job of giving us the tour and answering all of our questions. They made securing our date easy, and they were very responsive throughout the whole process. The sip and see night at the venue was very helpful. That's where we chose our dj and catering. We loved the cottage where we got ready and the fact we could bring lunch and drinks. They were great with communication about what needed to be done next and a suggested sheet for tipping our vendors. We are so glad we decided to get married at Balmorhea.
Rebecca C
5.0
11/23/2021
We had a wonderful dream of a Wedding at Balmorhea. Not only was it picturesque they were so communicative and available when we had questions or wanted to come out to the venue.
Monica P
5.0
10/24/2021
The Balmorhea Weddings was absolutely amazing. This venue had everything we wanted and needed. The Bridal house was big and accommodated our bridal party and then some, the Chapel was perfect, and reception building was hands down beautiful. The property itself is amazing not to mention the owners. Melissa was so helpful from beginning to the end. No doubt we chose the best venue to get married at!
Louise A
5.0
10/20/2021
Amazingly beautiful venue! Our day was perfect and we received so many compliments on the venue. It's stunning. We can't wait to get our pictures back with this amazing scenery. Melissa was a dream to work with!
Maddie R
5.0
10/14/2021
Melissa and her team are great!
Not only is Balmorhea beautiful, but it’s FUNCTIONAL! We had 12+ women in the bridal suite all morning, and had plenty of space to hang out and get ready. The chapel was the perfect setting for our ceremony and the grounds made for drop dead gorgeous photos.
We received so many compliments on our wedding location from our guests!!! We couldn’t have been happier.
Leslie G
5.0
10/04/2021
Melissa Carswell and her team at Balmorhea were incredible! She is extremely service oriented and goes above and beyond to help a bride plan her wedding . As a parent, all of her guidance and advice were extremely helpful. The grounds are gorgeous and the end result for pictures is breathtaking! They are family run and care deeply for every wedding to be extra special. I cannot brag enough about the experience from beginning to end on service, beautiful grounds, stunning chapel, bridal cottage, and indoor venue.
Katie O
5.0
9/29/2021
Amazing venue everyone is extremely organized and professional! Absolutely stunning grounds and buildings.
Erin C
5.0
8/14/2021
Having our wedding at Balmorhea Events was a dream come true! The wedding venue is absolutely stunning on 32 secluded acres. It has an indoor chapel, outdoor ceremony site, a bridal suite for everyone to get ready in, a gorgeous hall for the reception and MORE! So many beautiful spots on the grounds to take lots of pictures too. Melissa and the entire staff went above and beyond for us leading up to the wedding and also on the wedding day. They were professional, responded to all emails so quickly, and had all the answers to my many questions. They were so knowledgeable, available, and just a breeze to work with. I will recommend the venue Balmorhea Events to everyone. I really feel like this venue is looked over and it should not be. Seriously, check out this beautiful venue and you will not be disappointed!!
Damali V
5.0
8/05/2021
Besides the venue being absolutely gorgeous, Melissa and her team do such a great job of communicating and trying to make the process as stress free as possible! The venue really is absolutely perfect and the team was so great I am just beyond pleased with how the wedding went!
Lauren S
5.0
6/08/2021
This Venue from beginning to end has been top notch! When my husband I a first started looking, it was at the start of the pandemic when everything was shut down and completely unknown. The crew at Balmorhea was so generous to offer a virtual tour to help give us a better idea on what we could expect. With that, they also offered different venue layout types, vendor options for things such as florals, catering, beverage, etc. We were not tied to using any single service and ultimately was sold on the fact that this venue was the most DIY when it came to determining what we could bring in and decorate with. The best part about this venue is you truly do not need much to decorate because the property, chapel, and reception hall are so beautiful on its own. Additionally, once we were able to start coming around with less COVID restrictions, we were able to set appointments to visit before our selected date and I even had the chance to take some Bridal portraits during the week which was something I would recommend every bride to do! Melissa was our main point of contact and she was sooo professional, kind, and just understood the amount of time and effort that goes into planning a wedding. Her communication was effective and efficient, never overwhelming and she was so kind to give her advice when requested. The whole staff was never pushy and instead felt more like a family, because at the end of the day this is a family owned business and you can tell they truly enjoy doing what they do. I would 110% recommend the Balmorhea to any brides looking for their perfect venue! This is what brought my whole wedding to ultimate perfection!
Kristen S
5.0
5/31/2021
Melissa, Holly, and the rest of Balmorhea staff were always so kind and helpful! They were willing and wanted to do whatever was needed of them to make our day go well. The venue is beautiful and we got so many compliments on how stunning it was. The staff checked in with me multiple times to make sure everything was going well and to ask if we needed anything! Melissa even brought over more umbrellas to the bridal/groom suite to make sure everyone had one since it rained some on our wedding day. Our wedding day was amazing and that is in large part because of Balmorhea, we are so grateful! I highly highly recommend booking this venue for your bid day!!
Fernando N
5.0
5/31/2021
There are no words that can describe how incredible this place is and how perfect our wedding was here. This venue has everything you can dream of for you wedding. Starting with a well-accommodated groom and bridal suite that served to get ready for the day; moving to the beautiful chapel that held our ceremony; and ending with a beautiful reception hall that everyone loved due to its rustic color and contrast. There is nothing bad that can be said about this place due to how great it is. If you want the perfect wedding, this is the place to book!!
Emily M
5.0
5/28/2021
I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful venue! The staff was amazing and helped every chance they got! The amenities were just perfect for our whole bridal party to relax and enjoy our special day. I wish the weather would have held up for beautiful pictures to capture the amazing scenery and landscape! Melissa and her team went above and beyond to make my day a dream ❤️ I wish I could do it all over again!
Amanda G
5.0
5/24/2021
Balmorhea was the first and only venue I visited, I immediately fell in love with the property and Melissa made me feel confident that we would be well taken care of. Everything from big picture questions to little details were thought through and assisted with!
Would highly recommend utilizing the coordinator package, specifically Holly! She made sure that both me and my family could enjoy our day without stress.
Yes, it’s as beautiful as the photos online and yes you should have your wedding there!
Amanda L
5.0
5/21/2021
I could not be more thankful for the team we had at Balmorhea. The location is perfect with about a 30 minute drive from downtown that somehow makes you feel like you’re in another country. The chapel, reception hall, and bridal cottage are STUNNING and made it easy for this indecisive and minimalistic bride to add small touches because it’s pretty all by itself.
Melissa was always so on it with checking in on me and making sure I had everything I needed during this process. Even with Covid drama going on, the Balmorhea team kept everything moving smoothly.
Brides. If you do nothing else during your wedding prep, FIND YOURSELF A HOLLY. Holly is on staff at Balmorhea and acted as my coordinator. Let me tell you she seriously thought of every single possible little detail to keep our day running smoothly. She is also one of the sweetest people and could keep up with my husband (!!!) and his friends which is a FEAT.
We loved every minute of our day thanks to this amazing venue. I would recommend them to anyone who asked!
kaylie f
5.0
5/14/2021
I could not have had a better experience. Balmorhea is such a hidden gem. The property is breathtaking & the staff goes above and beyond to meet/exceed every one of your expectations. I can’t recommend this venue enough!
Christine L
5.0
4/27/2021
Melissa and the team at Balmorhea were all AMAZING to work with! We had the best experience planning with them all. Ashton H. was a fantastic coordinator who did absolutely everything in her power to help coordinate and plan for the wedding day. We are so thankful for this beautiful venue which has all that one could ask for! The site is breathtaking and so spacious. This place was perfect for our intimate wedding during Covid, and would be amazing to have so many more (hundreds more) enjoy this space with lots of room still! The outdoor ceremony and reception were perfect for our spring wedding. The chapel is beautifully lined with pews for many guests to sit at and enjoy a beautiful view. The bridal cottage was wonderful to get ready in and so convenient to have a ladies and gentlemen side so the family and bridal party could all be together easily while the bride and groom can easily avoid one another. This was also very easily located and not far for travelers out of town to reach. We had the best memories made here for our wedding all because of how wonderful Balmorhea is!
response 04/30/2021
Thank you, Christine!!
Hannah C
5.0
4/07/2021
Balmorhea was the absolute perfect venue for our wedding! We were in awe of the property the minute we drove up to tour, and only grew to love it more during our year of planning and on the big day! Lynsey, Melissa, and the entire Carswell family treated us so well- quick responses, kind hearts, and consistent care for any need or question we had. Our wedding was beautiful, and Balmorhea was the perfect back drop for it. From the start of the day with breakfast and pampering at the cottage, to a breathtaking ceremony in the white chapel, and to end the night dancing away in the reception hall, we could not be more grateful for Balmorhea Events.
response 04/30/2021
Thank you, Hannah!!
Kameryn Z
5.0
3/13/2021
My husband and I got married at Balmorhea on December 20th, 2020. We were originally supposed to get married on July 3rd but decided to postpone due to Covid. We first toured the venue in December 2018 and immediately loved the grounds and owner, Melissa! She was so welcoming and friendly. We particularly appreciated how she always said “we look forward to celebrating your wedding.” The staff and owners of Balmorhea are accommodating, they are a family owned business that don’t have the big wedding venue corporate feel where you and your husband are just a day in their calendar. They truly want to give you everything for your special day. When we decided to reschedule our wedding, Melissa and other staff could not have been nicer and more helpful! My husband and I had a difficult schedule to work with and only a few dates that we could make work- and Melissa opened up the calendar and gave us as many dates to choose from as possible. We went out to the venue several times to look around, take engagement pictures, and plan. Between the time we booked the venue and the day of our wedding (2 years after our first tour), they had done so many upgrades. They are constantly looking for ways to make it better. Whenever we asked if we could do something, the answer was never “no”- it was always “yes and here’s how to make it happen.” The venue itself is gorgeous all year around. The chapel, reception hall, and bridal cottage have so many hidden details that make it so special. One thing that impressed our parents so much was after the wedding, we had so many Christmas trees and decorations clean up. The staff from Balmorhea and the cops jumped right in and helped load things in to car and pack it all up. Most wedding venues will stand and watch with the clock running waiting to charge you more. I HIGHLY recommended getting married at Balmorhea and working with the staff there. You can trust that they will take care of all the stress wedding planning brings in the midst of a pandemic or not. They are truly the best in the wedding business. Thank you so much Balmorhea and Melissa!
From the husband: Working with Melissa and the rest of the staff at Balmorhea made planning so easy. Any time I had a request, they were more than happy to oblige. Seriously, as the husband I have to tell you this... The Groom’s side of the bridal cottage was the perfect place to relax before the wedding. All great things from us! Thank you, Balmorhea!
response 04/30/2021
Thank you for the review and kind words, Kameryn! It was our pleasure!!
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Balmorhea Weddings & Events
Melissa Carswell
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