Hotel Ella

e pool for cocktails, the ballroom for our ceremony / reception, and the private veranda for a post-wedding brunch. Each space is so unique and we received many compliments from our guests on venue selection. We were a COVID wedding so had 3 points of contact at Hotel Ella during our extended planning process, most recently Molly, and had a great experience with each person. They really worked with us to help make our vision a reality and the day of was seamless. Would 100% recommend!

Ella was miraculously available our original weekend, so we booked them, and after that, everything fell into place. The food was fabulous, they were able to accommodate everything we wanted to do, all of their salespeople and front desk employees were helpful, kind, and supportive, and we cannot get over how perfect our day was, and we have not stopped receiving compliments from our guests at how wonderful the wedding was! Highly recommend having your wedding at Hotel Ella, it is absolutely worth every single penny!

oom were amazing and had all of our guests raving! It also was a big relief that since they are a hotel, they were able to provide the linen, silverware, tables/ chairs, etc. and that was one less vendor I had to coordinate on. Also, the valet crew was so kind and helpful with unloading/packing up all of my wedding decor. We were so happy we had our reception here and can’t recommend it enough!

stions that our guests loved, such as pre-ceremony champagne on the lawn and a chicken tender bar towards the end of the night. Shannon was also amazing and set up our dining area for us perfectly. There was a high chance of rain on our wedding day and they were so flexible with the last-minute changes we made to accommodate the weather. Finally, I have to commend the excellent service we received from the wait staff. We have received numerous comments from guests about how wonderful the service was at our wedding. Now we can't wait to go back and eat at Goodall's for our anniversary!

this wedding will cost, double it. If you are not willing to stretch your budget, consider another venue. For our wedding our top considerations were good food and a full open bar and a venue which was not rustic and had more of an elegant feel. Right off the bat we knew the feel of the venue was perfect and there are not many other venues in Austin that aren’t rustic. Booking during covid we didn’t have an opportunity to walk through the venue in person or try out the food or beverages before signing a contract. We werent able to have a tasting until a month or two before our wedding. Luckily the food was delicious so that worked out. Unfortunately their open bar didn’t include lime juice, simple syrup, triple sec, or any common cocktail mixers. Only soda and juice was included. They said if we wanted to have margaritas we would have to pay per drink on top of our “inclusive” bar package. This price however was ridiculous. They also won’t tell you this up front so keep that in mind if you plan on having cocktails. Overall, the staff was friendly and our event went well but it was definitely way over our original budget because everything is an extra cost that only comes up if you specifically ask about it.

he food and drinks were great. If you stay at the hotel the rooms are cute. The one negative is that because Hotel Ella is right off of a pretty busy street, there is a fair amount of street noise if you're doing an outdoor ceremony/reception. Fortunately it was quiet during our ceremony, but there was some honking, engines revving, etc. during the reception. Overall I'm super happy with our wedding at Hotel Ella, but the noise is definitely something to keep in mind.

o have a boutique hotel feel and have all of our loved ones around for the weekend. Jaycie worked with us to book the venue during the pandemic, and I can honestly say she was an absolute God send. She was so helpfuk, comforting and truly put on the wedding of our dreams despite a whirlwind of a year. Hotel Ella was just so elegant and gorgeous and I couldn't imagine getting married anywhere else. I would absolutely recommend booking Hotel Ella for your wedding.

mic continued. In July, we started talking back up plans and she was able to help us make a Plan B with a small guest list (family and wedding party). They were so flexible to save two dates for us while we waited until October to postpone. Throughout the whole process, the Hotel Ella staff kept it fun and optimistic. We did postpone, and had our small wedding in February 2021. The weekend of our wedding the worst winter storm hit Texas, and the staff was so flexible to move our ceremony to be covered and cocktail inside the week of our date. Everything was perfect. Our guests loved the food and the space. We can't wait to have our postponed large reception in August with Hotel Ella!! If you want an amazing space and amazing people to work with, we definitely recommend having your wedding here!

g celebration that was safe, beautiful, and unforgettably fun! Looking back, our wedding was a dream. Everything about our day was perfect. Waking up and getting ready on the veranda was so nice. It was the perfect space for me and my bridesmaids- it also provided great light for our photos. We had a smaller wedding than originally planned (only 30 people), so we had our ceremony on the side steps and cocktail hour on the front lawn- it made taking pictures and grabbing a drink seamless for our family/guests. Our reception was in the ballroom- Jaycie and my planner (Ashley Nicole Affair) were able to make the space beautiful while also making sure it didn't look bare with such a small party. It was perfect. The food was amazing, the entire staff was on top of everything, and the whole weekend was taken care of because they are a well oiled machine that knows how make beautiful things happen. One thing we love most is that on our anniversary each year, we can visit the hotel for dinner or a cocktail- this isn't something you can necessarily do with some of those Hill Country big time wedding venues.

you will not find anything more beautiful. Jaycie goes above and beyond to take care of her brides and it is VERY evident that she takes time to get to know each couples wedding day goals when you meet her. If you are looking for the perfect wedding day venue, let Jaycie show you the beauty that Hotel Ella has to offer!!

Hotel Ella was more than accommodating. We were able to move to a date in October and with 90% of our guests flying in for the wedding so we had a large block of rooms reserved, the staff at Ella has been AMAZING with all the changes (and there have been a lot). Thank you so much to Jaycie and the whole Ella team, we cannot wait to celebrate in October!

got hitched on the front porch with our reception in Goodalls. They allowed our two dogs to stay the night with me and be a part of the wedding. The food and drink were excellent and the space beautiful. Truly, it was a wonderful experience and I can not say enough wonderful things about this venue.

xactly what we wanted. If you're going for classic and romantic, this is the spot! The hotel is so beautiful, so you need very little decor, or even flowers, to make the space your own. We worked with Heather Hamilton and really can't say enough about her. She completely made our wedding what it was. We had a longer engagement (17months), which really meant that Heather had to deal with us for longer than usual, ha! She ensured that all of my questions and concerns were addressed, even when they weren't her "direct area" which I felt was super professional, and honestly, just really refreshing when planning a big, stressful event. The food was superb (the tasting is so much fun!), and wine was amazing, and there was never a line at the bar. Heather traded Dos Equis for Pacifico (my husband's favorite) at no extra cost in our bar package. Again, just going above and beyond for no reason other than to make us happy. The ceremony setup was so beautiful, and the reception area was perfect! The cocktail hour by the pool was our favorite aspect of the event, so we made it a little longer so we could join our guests after taking family photos. I won't lie - this can be an expensive venue if you get all the bells and whistles (plated dinner, full open bar, add extra hours to your event, stay at the hotel), but it was worth every penny. I also think there are ways to cut back, and they really do work with your budget. From the beginning, Heather realized what was important to us and would help steer our budget towards those things instead of things we didn't care so much about. One thing we absolutely loved was renting all five rooms on the veranda floor for the weekend. The bridesmaids all stayed there Friday night, and then we got ready in those rooms throughout the wedding day. The ability to move back and forth between rooms (in just a robe if you wanted, bc you have the whole floor) was so convenient. We had lunch delivered and set it all on the veranda in the gorgeous fall weather.... and the natural light from all of the doors and windows made hair/makeup a breeze! Did I mentioned they're pet-friendly? I got to bring my best friend, a 9yo pit bull mix, to the hotel for the weekend. Truly special to get ready with her on such a once-in-a-lifetime day. Five stars for Hotel Ella and TEN STARS for Heather Hamilton!!!

ns, accommodate special requests, and have a wonderful attitude about everything. Their service is truly top-notch and the space is beautiful. We are so glad we had our wedding reception here!

!!! Megan Smith, a Hotel Ella team member, is a blessing from above. She was my go to girl and always had a smile on her face. Overall, everything and everyone (for the most part) were wonderful! They accommodated a large group really well! We had over 215 people comfortably in every space! Also - the food was amazing!! Hands down would choose them again and again and again.

service with the utmost professionalism. It was a memorable evening and everyone had a wonderful time. Moreover, our friends and family who stayed at Hotel Ella raved about the consistently sublime service they received throughout their stays. Thank you for helping us create some beautiful memories!

few lowlights to share about my experience: - I reviewed the cocktail hour food stations many times, and not only did they not serve the food as we requested, the overall presentation was horrendous. - The dinner was mediocre at best; half of the guests had no dressing on their salads and others had copious amounts. My mother commented "it looked like they threw salad on the plate." - The "donut bar" was the saddest thing I ever saw in my life. The donuts were on a tiny plate, and glazed with like 4 sprinkles on each. - The night of the wedding, the on-site coordinator had no idea what she was doing, and was referencing an old timeline my terrible wedding planner (Jen from Pearl Events) gave her, despite me spending hours at Hotel Ella days before and reviewing the timeline minute by minute. - The valet staff was incompetent and rude; they had no sense of urgency and were not professional to me or my guests. - The front desk stated that they can accommodate any request, especially delivering gift bags to the room, yet my first few guests did not get their gift bags. - They incorrectly billed parking and valet, even though we reviewed exact costs that should be billed to the master account. - When the new events coordinator came in, she asked me if I really needed to have confetti since "they weren't thrilled" about having to clean it up. I literally picked Hotel Ella because they could accommodate that request for my New Year's Eve wedding. - Negotiating for room blocks was awful and we still got ripped off. However I will admit, they were flexible with our attrition rate, which I was very appreciative of. Two highlights: They did customize our menu very nicely and allowed our vendors to come the next morning because it was New Year's Eve. And when I reached out with my grievances, they waived a few line items, but overall, we paid tens of thousands of dollars for a pretty terrible experience.

est of the events staff were incredibly helpful. She was prompt in her every response during the planning process, and I felt confident every detail was taken care of. The food/drinks were phenomenal, and the space is again...just beautiful! Accommodation-wise, the guest rooms are stunning. We had people in both the mansion and the back portion of the hotel. My now husband, a large portion of our families and a number of guests also stayed at the hotel leading up to and several days after the wedding festivities. Everything about Hotel Ella is lovely - the grounds, the parlor bar, the restaurant, the lobby, the pool and the rooms. The staff was friendly and helpful at every step of the way. The food at Goodall's Kitchen was delicious. We loved the intimate, on-trend pool area. We also enjoyed sitting out on the veranda of the mansion! Location wise - you're right next to the UT campus, and we found it to be a nice and quiet area. We also walked downtown a number of times and felt it was totally accessible from Hotel Ella (it's also a short uber ride). A couple logistical things: all of the rooms we had did contain small mini-bar fridges with enough space to stick ancillary items we grabbed from the store. We felt there was plenty of storage space in all the rooms -some had closets, others had large, roomy armoires. We do not live in Austin, so EVERYTHING we had for our wedding weekend fit into the rooms we reserved, and we didn't run into any problems. We also had the whole wedding party get ready in rooms at the hotel, and there was plenty of room.

Right off the bat, they tried to charge us for high season hotel block rates for a November wedding. It clearly stated that November was an off-season for hotel rates, and the nightly costs reflected that on their website. It was like pulling teeth to get them to admit that they were over-charging us for hotel rates for our wedding weekend. We told the hotel coordinator that we'd need a day or two to confirm if we'd like to buy out the entire hotel for the weekend, and she said she would hold that option for us for the next few days and give us the first right of refusal, in case another wedding party was interested. In the meantime, she was booking another wedding party (that wasn't even having their ceremony or reception at the hotel!) and she reserved half of the rooms at the hotel for them. We were calling and emailing the coordinator constantly to confirm that we did indeed want the whole hotel buy-out, but she didn't respond until the other group was booked. The issues proceeded from there. We showed up from out of town to complete our menu tasting (with our families in tow) and the coordinator had scheduled the catering staff at a different time than us. We showed up from Houston for this menu tasting and the catering staff had thrown away all of our tasting meals because, in their schedule, we were three hours late. We never received an apology from the coordinator for this error. The coordination team also had a very hard time with confirming how many rooms we really had booked for the weekend. The number and type of rooms fluctuated every time we called or enquired as to the status of our guests booking for the wedding weekend. Sometimes guests would call to reserve under our room block and the hotel staff would tell them that the block was full. I would call not twenty minutes later and there would be ten rooms left under the block. If you went to book a room on the Hotel Ella website as a regular customer for the weekend of 11/17, there would be rooms available to book. However, the hotel staff told us that there were no more available rooms to add to our block. Rates also fluctuated constantly, even though they should have been the same under the room block. The issue that really bothers us, is that the staff never apologized for the headache, frustration and extra work we had to put into this experience (that we were paying them for!!). Had we not had our wedding planner, my mother and myself constantly checking, double-checking and asking questions, our wedding would have been a total and complete mess. So was our wedding beautiful? Yes. It absolutely was. But unless you want to make double-checking the Hotel Ella team your new full time job... look elsewhere to host your wedding.

went so far as to watch the weather beforehand (I didn't have a rain plan for the ceremony) and she offered for the ceremony to be at Hotel Ella just in case 2 days before the wedding! We even needed an extra vendor meal that day and Robyn was able to accommodate that request. I couldn't believe it. I would definitely recommend Hotel Ella (and work with the Amazing Robyn if you can!). I met with tons of vendors beforehand, since our wedding was thrown on a tight budget, and Hotel Ella was definitely the best choice since they are totally accommodating and they don't "nickel and dime" you. My guests loved the venue, the food, and the rooms at Hotel Ella. Thank you so much to Robyn and Hotel Ella for my incredible wedding! For all the brides out there...definitely book at Hotel Ella if you can!

ntly updating or changing items, and she was so flexible and easy to work with. We bought out the venue and if you have the group size for the hotel rooms, I would definitely recommend this. Having the whole hotel to our group not only made it feel more intimate without other guests, but the staff was so attentive to all of our needs. At the time, they didn't have the wedding packages they have now, so I can't comment on that. We got raving comments from our guests on the food, the room quality, and the overall beauty of the hotel!

. Our wedding was black tie and we were looking for a venue that would accommodate that kind of attire. We had about 100 guests and it felt intimate without feeling small. This venue is beautiful and has a rich history. It is trendy yet classic, sophisticated and timeless - exactly what we were looking for! We had a rehearsal happy hour, our wedding & our reception here and I wouldn't have had it any other way. I felt like the number of servers & bartenders would be somewhat overwhelming, but it absolutely was not. It actually made our experience better - immaculate service! We had SO many compliments on the venue, the food, the drinks and overall, such wonderful feedback from our guests! If I could do it all over again, I wouldn't change the venue, this is absolutely worth the cost. I felt incredibly taken care of and a few of our guests stayed there and loved it. I can't conjure up enough words for how beautiful this place is!

questions or concerns I had during the wedding planning process. The venue was absolutely beautiful and magical. Goodall's Restaurant catered our reception and the food was delicious! We received so many compliments about it throughout the night. I highly recommend this venue!!

ng was amazing; the team at Goodall’s went above and beyond and exceeded all of our expectations! On the day of the event everything was perfect! We used the gorgeous side yard and porch for the cocktail hour and move upstairs to the ballroom for the reception. All of our guests absolutely raved about the event and venue! Hotel Ella truly helped us have an amazing wedding reception!

o they could close for renovations and name change. We have still not settled this matter (as of January 2013) and they have been less than kind. Their defense is they tried to shove us into 1 of a few other venues that they selected and feel this vindicates them. I believe most of the same management and/or owners are still intact at this writing.

the intimate garden wedding and grand ballroom reception I wanted. Also, the hotel staff, from the bell boys, to housekeeping, to the front desk was lovely and ensured a great stay, even with noisy neighbors and a last-minute room switch. The location can’t be beat. And having a day-of site coordinator was handy. However, the event staff was, at times, very difficult to work with, and on the big day, several important items we had nailed down in writing were not delivered upon. Amy did a fantastic job of selling us on the venue and was very prompt to finalize the contract and deposit. She also did a good job the week before of finalizing last-minute details. Between these two times, however, Amy was very difficult to get in touch with, did not respond to several questions I sent her in writing, gave us 3 different, confusing quotes for room blocks (such that we did not recommend guests stay here) and did not follow up with us at various deadlines, as all my other vendors did. It took us speaking with management twice to get Amy on the phone for clarifications we needed in order to finalize our dinner menu. Between the day I booked the Mansion and my wedding, new owners took over and made sweeping changes, removing much of the historic feel from guestrooms (fortunately not mine, although I had been bumped from the room I requested and was not told, but was able to switch back) and radically changing the food. Accordingly, the food I had at my wedding may have been the same in name as what I tried at my tasting, but the execution was totally different and did not taste nearly as good (because of a new head chef I was not told about). On the day: 1) My guests were forced to pay for parking when we were supposed to be charged for it; 2) Our cocktail hour was cut short, but the dinner was served later than agreed (leaving guests sitting at the table for quite awhile with no food); 3) Several tables were not tableclothed and ready for me to decorate the morning of the wedding, and I had a hard time finding staff to assist; 4) Miscommunication led to my new in-laws having to pick up the decorations we brought after the wedding and loading them in their car, instead of staff bringing the items back to our hotel room; and 5) Rental linens were not put in our room after, as requested, resulting in a linen hunt the morning we were trying to leave for our honeymoon. Although Amy and I were clear on what was expected prior to the wedding and had it in writing for event staff, there was a breakdown in either communication or performance somewhere along the way. The fact that Catherine, our day-of contact, was not more involved in the planning meetings led to redundant conversations and may have resulted in confusion about our written requests. To Amy’s credit, when informed of issues after-the-fact, she did her best to rectify them (refunded the parking paid by guests, etc.), but some of these issues could not be ameliorated and did impact our & our guests' enjoyment. I hope Ella's new management will prevent these kinds of problems in future, but be aware that even if you are specific and communicative, the end result may not be what you expect at this venue. I'm also sad to see that significant renovations are changing much of the Mansion's vintage charm.

tch. I would recommend this location to any bride, the venue is beautiful and always well manicured, and the staff are very pleasant to work with. They really made my life easy and my vision a reality. Thank you Carla and Catherine!

d venue is 5 star but so reasonably priced! And the fact that there are Kathy Womack paintings EVERYWHERE didn't hurt. I love this place and will go back for dinner or breakfast every chance I get.