FAQS

Please click here to see the price and the services and amenities that are included

We can comfortably fit 200 guests, including the bridal party, inside our hall. This still allows room for a DJ/band, cake table area, bar, serving buffet table, and dance floor.

Please click here to see the available dates.

Yes, a Date Reservation Fee is due at the time of signing the contract to hold your date(s). We require 25% of the package cost at the time of signing the contract, which is the Date Reservation Fee. Nine months prior to the event we require 50% of the package cost. The remaining 25% of the package cost is due 60 days prior to the event, along with the security damage deposit. If you are booking within nine months prior to the event date, then 50% of the package cost is due at the time of signing. The remaining 50%, along with the security damage deposit, is due 60 days prior to the event. You’re welcome to make small payments along the way as long as the above amounts are paid by the due dates.

The damage deposit of $500 is due 60 days prior to the event. These funds are reserved for any possible damage and/or excessive cleaning that occurs during the event. If there is no damage and/or excessive cleaning, then we will issue a refund of the $500 via check no later than two weeks after your event. If there is damage and/or excessive cleaning, but the costs do not require the full $500, we will refund any difference of the deposit from the costs.

• The process is easy! Just send us an email to carriagehillsranchtx@gmail.com with your name, your requested date, and a back-up date. We’ll then start the contract process and email you the information needed to create the contract. We process all of our contracts electronically, so it’s easy to digitally sign your contract and pay your deposit all on-line. A date is then reserved for you once you have provided the first payment at the time of signing the contract.

• Before booking a date, we would love to show you our family-owned venue in person, or by virtual tour. You can request a tour on our tour request page. You are not required to view the property before booking with us, but if you are out of the area and would like a virtual tour, we’re happy to send you our video, or when possible, we can have a Skype tour with you. We’ve had couples book with us without being able to tour the property in person, and we can easily handle the contract and deposit electronically.

So we can best serve our couples, all of our tours are by appointment only. You can request a tour time here.

Yes, we proudly offer a discount if the bride or groom is an active U.S. Military Service Member, U.S. Veteran, or First Responder, which includes EMT’s, Paramedics, Fire Fighters, and Police Officers on our Standard Wedding Packages. Just fill out the tour request form for additional details.

Wonderful question! We believe that the average total wedding budget of a couple getting married at Carriage Hills Ranch is between $15,000 and $18,000. This includes the total cost of a wedding (the venue, catering, photographer, DJ/band, florist, etc.). With the beautiful natural setting and all that is included in our packages, and with smaller guest counts and creativity within your budget, it is possible to spend less.

No. Many venues have a minimum guest count because they receive a commission from the caterers, or they require you to use their in-house catering service. We want you to have the flexibility to choose the food and caterer you desire for your special day.

Yes, we require professional caterers with liability insurance, however, you get to pick your caterer. This is an extra measure to help keep you and your guests from any foodborne illnesses and also to provide you with another layer of quality service.

We have a list of caterers that we think have wonderful food, varied budgets, and great customer service, but you are not required to use them. Since there are so many caterers to choose from, we do require prior approval of a caterer for events at Carriage Hills Ranch. All caterers must have liability insurance and list Carriage Hills Ranch as an additional beneficiary. Proof of this insurance must be given to us 60 days prior to the event. Also, we require caterers to collect and remove any trash created by the caterer or by the use of their product. Caterers are also responsible for providing their own linens and cleaning the kitchen before leaving the venue. It’s helpful to advise your caterer of these venue rules so they can prepare for your special day.

There is one standard-size refrigerator with freezer, a 3-compartment commercial sink, 2 prep tables, a small portable island cart, a microwave, a handwashing sink, and miscellaneous supplies. We also have a private side entrance for the caterers for easy unloading and loading of their food and supplies.

Yes. They are our in-house bar service. They are all TABC certified, are insured, professional, fun, and friendly. We want everyone to have a safe and wonderful time at your event, and we believe you’ll have fun with this company too.

We only host one wedding each day at Carriage Hills Ranch to ensure your event is special and uninterrupted. (Not including Elopements and Tie the Knot weddings due to their reduced time frames.)

Yes. The Blanco River Inn is one mile away and they offer group rates for wedding blocks along with transportation (contact them for details and pricing and let them know you have booked with Carriage Hills Ranch). All of their rooms are suites AND are sought after by many of the wedding venues in the Texas Hill Country. There are also several smaller hotels, cabins, and B&B’s in Blanco, as well as additional larger hotels only 20 minutes away.

We can fit up to 65 cars in our parking lot and up to 30 cars in our overflow area.

Typically, yes, children count toward the headcount, as we can fit up to 200 people inside our reception hall. If the child will not require a seat, because they will be sitting on the parent’s lap, and they are under the age of 2, then they do not count toward the total. Please make sure that the parent of the child is willing to have them sit on their lap for the entire reception as we will not have additional tables or chairs available for the children if they were not part of the original guest count.

We have (26) 5’ round tables; (4) 6’ rectangle tables; (2) 8’ rectangle tables. The round tables are primarily used for the guests and the rectangle tables for the bridal party. We also have (6) cocktail tables; (15) 3’ glass top tables for outside use and (1) kids’ table that seats four.

We provide 200 upgraded Fruitwood Chiavari chairs, with cushions, for use inside our reception hall. We have 200 large white folding chairs for outside use for an outdoor reception.

Yes! You are welcome to use our house linens for your special day. These are included in our Wedding and Intimate Wedding package prices. You are also welcome to bring in your own linens. Please note that caterers and DJ’s are required to bring and use their own linens.

Yes. You are welcome to use any of the table runners we have, and they are included in the Wedding and Intimate Wedding package price.

Yes, security is required for four hours during the reception. One security officer is required for a guest count of up to 150 people. Two security officers are required for guest counts between 151 - 200 people. The venue will schedule the officers for you. The Renter is responsible for the cost of the security officer(s). Payment for the officers is at their current hourly rate and is due 30 days prior to the event. The form of payment required for the security officers is a money order. If alcohol is served for more than four hours, then you are required to pay for the additional time needed for the security officers.

Unlike many venues that have outdoor ceremony areas, Carriage Hills Ranch has a climate-controlled reception hall, with 4 Heat/AC units for the building, that can easily be adapted for the wedding. Tables and chairs that have already been set up for the reception remain in place, and the stage becomes the ceremony site with the historic family barn as the backdrop. We have easy access from the bridal cabin to the reception hall that allows for a private and “grand” entrance for the bride and her bridesmaids. Having this option makes planning less stressful while providing another beautiful area for a wedding.

Since we only host one event a day, our package price remains the same whether you choose to have the ceremony, reception, or both at our venue. If you have your ceremony off-site, you are welcome to use the Groom’s Quarters and the Bridal Cabin to get ready for your ceremony. You can also take photos around the property during the day before your ceremony.

Yes, we do allow dogs to be a part of your ceremony, but for the safety of others, we do have certain guidelines that must be followed. We must give prior approval for use of the dog(s) at the ceremony and for photos. The dog(s) must be leashed and a responsible adult, other than the bride and groom, must care for them during all other times at the venue. Dogs are not allowed inside any of the buildings, due to health codes, and any “deposits” of waste must be picked up with your own poop bags, sealed, and put in outside trash cans.

Yes, if you want to use our tables and chairs, there is a $500 set-up/take-down fee for outside receptions only. This service fee is for Carriage Hills Ranch to set up and take down tables and chairs for up to 200 guests outside on our terraces.

We prefer checks however, we do accept credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express).

Yes, we provide a discount if you select this option.

Unfortunately, we do not have a cancellation waiting list. You can check our availability here.

You are allowed to decorate and have access to the venue according to the time frame noted on your contract. Extra time or days are available by purchasing the two-day package or paying for two additional hours on the day of your event. The two-package allows you an additional four hours the day before your event for your rehearsal, to decorate, or prepare the venue for your special day. You may also select up to two additional hours at the start of your rental at the current hourly rate.

No. Once you book a date with us we have many helpful tools to help make your special day run as smoothly as possible. We do require you to select someone to be the decision-maker for the day, to help make important decisions on the day of your wedding. This should be someone other than the bride, groom, bridal party, and immediate family members if possible. With that being said, although we don’t require a planner, we do thinks it’s a good idea to have one. If you choose to hire a wedding planning or coordinator, they must be approved by CHR before signing a contract with them. We supply you with so much helpful planning information, but it’s always beneficial to have at least a day-of-event professional wedding planner to help support you and your vision for the day. Let them take that stress from you so you can fully enjoy your special day.

Yes. There will be a Carriage Hills Ranch team member there for your entire event to help answer questions about the venue from your vendors and guests, and to do all we can to make your day as special as possible.

For the floor plan with the dance floor in the center aisle please click here. To see our floor plan with the dance floor on the right side of the hall please click here. We will reach out to you to confirm which arrangement you want for your special day. If you want a specific layout that is not one of our standard plans, you will need to inform us three weeks prior to the event of the modification you want to make.

Most of our couples have their rehearsals during one of our monthly open houses or the day of the event. Some couples select our two-day option to allow for the rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, and extra decoration time. See our investment page here for details.

• You may select one of our Pre-Designed Table Settings and we will decorate your guest tables and bridal table for you. We will also decorate the dessert table with items you have selected from our Decor Room. This decor package takes the stress off of you and your bridal party and family members from having to spend time decorating your tables. The cost for this service is $250 for weddings of 50 people or less, and $500 for weddings with 51 - 200 people, and includes set-up and break-down of decor items from the tables.

• If you choose to bring personal items, in addition to what is provided in the Pre-Designed Table Settings, then you will be responsible for adding these items to the tables.

Sparklers are allowed in the arbor area for the send-off of the couple if there isn’t a burn ban for Blanco County during the week of the event. All other fireworks are not allowed as we don’t want to scare the animals or disturb our neighbors.

Please contact us if you need to make prior arrangements for a vehicle to be left overnight.

Friday and Saturday events - All music should end by 11 p.m., as all events must end by 11 p.m. This allows you an hour to collect all of your personal items and also ensure that all other vendors, guests, and the couple are off property by 12 a.m. (midnight).

Sunday events - music should end by 9 p.m.

Monday - Thursday events - music should end by 9 p.m.

All deliveries and pick-up of items must take place during the standard rental period. If you have a two-day package, rental items may be dropped off the day before the event during the scheduled four-hour time frame of 3 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Our most popular area for the wedding ceremony is the gazebo overlooking our wet-weather lake with amphitheater-style seating. However, we also have the fireplace/patio area, numerous oak trees, in front of the streetcar, and inside our reception hall, as additional ceremony locations.

Yes. The streetcar is equipped with electricity along with a small freezer and fridge and a work area for preparing and serving drinks or appetizers. Caterers and bartenders have plenty of space to prep food and drinks for you and your guests. There is also ample room to enjoy your food and drinks inside the streetcar and on the extended patios of the streetcar.

Yes. We love food trucks and think they are a fun option for your reception.

We have a portable Bluetooth speaker with a microphone that you are welcome to use.

We allow battery-operated candles if you use our decor items. If you decide to use your own decor for candle holders, then real candles must be used following our safety guidelines. We do have several different types available in our decor room for your use or you may bring your own battery-operated candles.

Yes, you may move furniture belonging to us, but all furniture and decor must be returned to its original placement at the conclusion of the event.

The columns are 8’ 6” tall and approximately 9’ apart.

The cross is 9’ tall and 5’ wide.

For the comfort of your guests, we don’t recommend having more than eight people at a table.

We need your guest count and bridal party count three weeks prior to the event.

Contact The Buggy Barn Museum to select and book a carriage for your special day. They are an independent wedding professional so any arrangements for a carriage ride would need to be made with them in a separate contract.

You can get a marriage license at any Texas County Clerk’s Office to be used anywhere in the state of Texas. You can purchase a wedding license in Blanco County for $77 and you must purchase it at least 72 hours prior to your wedding ceremony time. A wedding license issued in Texas is valid for 90 days and once the ceremony is completed, the license must be returned to the county where it was issued for formal filing. The Blanco County Clerk’s office is located at 101 E. Cypress in Johnson City, Texas. You can also reach them at 830-868-7357 or by email at countyclerk@co.blanco.tx.us.

The use of bubbles, live rose petals, and birdseed are permitted. If greenery or any real rose petals are used, they must be cleaned up from the area in which they were distributed and removed by the end of the Event.

The use of rice, confetti, glitter, fake flower petals, or silly string is prohibited.

Yes, but please no glass bottles or alcohol.

Yes, we have electrical outlets at all of these locations.

Carriage Hills Ranch will take care of the standard deep cleaning after the event. Trash removal from the bathrooms will take place throughout the reception. Any decor items used must be returned to us by the end of the event along with any furniture moved back into its original place. You will need to remove any personal items from the Groom’s Room and the Bridal Cabin by the end of the event, along with picking up any trash and making sure the furniture is back in its original place. As a reminder, we require caterers to collect and remove any trash created by the caterer or by the use of their product. Caterers are also responsible for cleaning the kitchen before leaving the venue. It’s helpful to advise your caterer of these venue rules so they can prepare for your special day.

Yes. We have some favorite spots that our couples love, so please let us know, and we’ll point you in the right direction.

No. Our reception hall has a lot of family history and was built by several different family members, so we only allow magnets to be used on metal surfaces. No tacks, tape, nails, staples, etc. are to be used on wooden surfaces.  No wall penetrations shall be made.  We have beautiful romantic ceiling lights that can only be reached with tall ladders, so please, do not add anything to the ceiling. Our floor has been professionally stained, so we kindly ask that no tape of any kind be used on the floor.

Yes, decor or floral arrangements may be added to any outdoor space, such as the gazebo, bridge, fireplace, streetcar, trees, arch, etc. however, they must be secured in place by using fishing line, zip ties, or floral wire, only.  All items must be removed by the end of your event.

Yes. You may have piping with drapes attached to them inside our reception hall. The piping has to be able to stand by itself and support the drapes without attaching to any of the walls, ceilings, or poles and they cannot block any of the exits.

Yes. We ask that all floral arrangements be prior to arriving at the venue. This helps keep the reception hall clean for your reception.