Is a unique Houston wedding on your bingo card for this year? The city is popular with traditional southern brides for its southern hospitality and pretty gardens, but there's plenty of room in the industry for couples who want to do something different.
Maybe you'll complete your vision for your wedding weekend with an exposed brick warehouse down by the Brazos River, teeming with natural light from floor-to-ceiling arched windows. Or perhaps you'd prefer an outdoor ceremony space surrounded by lush greenery that can carry you through the night, into cocktail hour, and a reception under the moon. Whatever you've dreamed up, Giggster can help you find it.
If you haven't noticed, weddings in Houston, Texas, are exorbitantly expensive, but don't let that stop you from hosting here in the city. Our affordable and transparent pricing model can connect you with great spaces that can accommodate intimate and large affairs alike.
Tired of coming through the same list of Houston wedding venues over and over again? We've got every gorgeous gothic location in town right here on the Giggster app!
It may not be the first thing you think of when you picture Houston, TX, in your mind, but there are so many hidden gems around the city where you can get that romantic, gothic vibe, like these:
If you really want to lean into the dark and moody side of the gothic aesthetic, an underground lounge has all the right vibes. White leather furniture, neon lights, and bold pops of color—this is definitely a modern take that will fit in with trendy themes like “‘til death do us part”.
Along the same lines, a red-hued club could be dressed to fit the bill. With your '90s emo kid playlist blaring and some dramatic decor, this could be a dance party reception unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.
Not afraid of a big project? Build your gothic venue from the ground up with a massive parking lot rental. With views of the Houston skyline and plenty of space to party, you could have an after-dark ceremony under the stars to play up its romantic side or bring in big lighting rigs for an open-air rave vibe.
When taking the DIY approach, an industrial warehouse is the perfect match for a gothic affair. With accents and architectural features in a darker color palette and fewer frills around the edges, you can get all the amenities you’d expect from a light and airy wedding venue without having to rethink your aesthetic preferences. Pro tip: Breweries and distilleries will give the same vibe and are also seasoned event spaces.
Exceptional Variety & Quality: From grungy downtown nightclubs to red-carpeted theaters with a rich history, your trip to the chapel doesn’t need to match the cookie-cutter light and airy aesthetic of the wedding world. Give things a dark and moody twist with one of our 2 gothic ceremony and reception spaces.
Hassle-Free Booking: Allowing couples to shed that wedding day stress and celebrate in an unforgettable setting is our specialty. Rates as low as $325/hour with no hidden fees and an app that will help you search for a venue based on all your must-have features are just the beginning of what Giggster does differently.
24-Hour Free Cancellation Policy: There’s really no need for hidden cancellation fees to be a burden on your wedding budget. As long as you book your space with us more than 48 hours in advance, we’ll give you 24 hours from the time of booking confirmation to cancel without penalty—and that’s a promise.
Platform Protections: Every good host knows that the key to successful wedding planning is preparing for the worst-case scenario. For this reason alone, our optional protection plans, which allow us to take care of disruptions, damage, and liability concerns on your behalf, are a must when choosing a Houston wedding venue like Beautiful and Classy Dance Studio in Houston.
Whether you’ve lived in the greater Houston area your entire life or this is a destination celebration that you have in the works, there’s some local knowledge specific to weddings and special events that will impact your planning. We’d highly encourage you to brush up below:
Advantages
Houston is really family-friendly, which can be a relief for out-of-town guests with little ones. Whether you need some toddler-friendly food, a nanny to help out during your reception, or hotels with the right amenities, you should have no trouble fitting pint-sized guests into your party plans.
The wedding industry in Houston is thriving. You’ll certainly have your pick of talented professionals for all your vendor needs.
Did you know there are nearly 1000 hotels across Houston? That’s not including condo/house rentals either, so finding somewhere special to spend your first night as a married couple should be a breeze.
Disadvantages
Summer weather is not without its challenges. Bugs, humidity, dangerously high UV ratings, and hurricanes are all in season.
Traffic congestion is bad during the day but also during peak nightlife hours, which may inflate Uber rates for guests making their way home.
Noise ordinances are fairly strict for events. If hosting on private property, you may be limited by an 11 pm curfew if you want to avoid issues with nosy neighbors.
From getting dressed in the groom’s suite to getting down with the wedding party on the dance floor, you want every moment of your special day to be exquisite. If that Victorian, gothic aesthetic is calling your name, here are some of Houston’s top indoor and outdoor spaces that could make the perfect backdrop:
Historic Performance Halls – Take Center Stage. Have you considered a steampunk-era theater? Your inner drama kid will swoon over the eclectic lounge spaces, velvet chaises, vintage character, and quirky facade. You can even say “I do” under the spotlight.
Vintage Houses – Maximalist Charm. Victorian homes are the O.G. gothic wedding venue. With ornate furnishings, historic exteriors, and sprawling estates, they blur the line between elegant and spooky in a way that only true Victorian builds can.
Unique Studio Spaces – Dance Floor Central. For something a little more intimate, an urban dance studio could be your dark horse. With extravagant chandeliers and high ceilings, you’ve got a great foundation to build your gothic decor plan from.
You don’t need to be a professional wedding planner to bring your Pinterest-fueled dreams to life. Just give these tips a try and watch as everything starts to fall into place:
Map Out the Best Gothic Landmarks Around the City for Your Photos – Looking for bridal magazines, mega-viral worthy wedding snapshots? Editorial portraits at top venues like the Bell Tower on 34th, captured by a dark and moody photographer, are a must.
Opt for Atmospheric Live Music – The soundtrack to your special day will absolutely set the tone. Bring in some moody piano or snazzy jazz artists and do something different from the airy violin sets you typically see in the wedding world.
Spring for a Dramatic Sweetheart Table Backdrop – Carry your theme through your reception space, even in a hall that’s a bit more of a blank canvas, by giving your dining room a focal point.
Customize Your Ceremony – Remember that you can ask your officiant to tailor their script to you! To carry your gothic theme through your ceremony, ask for poetry readings to take precedence over scripture and pen some personal, romantic vows.
Wedding planning on a budget doesn’t have to be a drag. Here are ways you can be kind to your finances while actually enhancing your big day:
Get married in the dark.
Now, you will need to rent an absurd number of candles, but that’s pretty much all you need to do to set the scene.
Hit the thrift shops.
Antiquing can be expensive, but charity shops are a treasure trove of Victorian and vintage decor finds; you just have to be down for the hunt.
Trade white lace for something unique.
You’re already leaning towards the edgier wedding aesthetics, so don’t limit your attire hunt to cupcakey bridal shops. You’d be surprised what kind of jaw-dropping gowns you can find in unexpected places, without the markup: emerald green, unorthodox black, or even a tailored suit!
From an intimate celebration to a grand ballroom affair with family members from far and wide, the Giggster app knows there’s no one-size-fits-all scenario when it comes to planning an epic wedding. Especially where nontraditional couples are concerned, downtown Houston is chock-full of venues with a unique gothic flair, which makes us the perfect pair. Wouldn’t you agree?
