Intimate Wedding at Houston Botanic Garden in Houston, Texas
photographer: Ali Minetree | floral: Fleur de Vie | venue: Houston Botanic Garden
The Best of | Houston | Weddings

7 Outdoor Wedding Venues in Houston for Your Nature-Set Nuptials

Intimate Wedding at Houston Botanic Garden in Houston, Texas

Outdoor wedding venues in Houston reflect the city’s stunning green spaces. Sure, Houston may be famous for its space exploration centers. But for outdoor enthusiasts, Houston is the ideal city. 

With natural wonders like the Armand Bayou Nature Center and urban green spaces like Discovery Green, there are endless opportunities to explore the scenic side of Texas. 

We love how these outdoor wedding venues in Houston set the stage for an exceptional wedding celebration. From family-owned wooded acres to city-sponsored arboretums, there’s a wealth of natural havens awaiting your next celebration. These outside wedding venues in Houston won’t disappoint.

*In no particular order…

Timeless Wedding at Sugar Creek Country Club in Sugar Land, Texas
photographer: Reed Gallagher Photography | venue: Sugar Creek Country Club

For a country-club chic setting…

Situated on a traditional 27-hole course, Sugar Creek Country Club offers exclusive wedding packages for a memorable celebration.

The Southern-style Clubhouse boasts soaring columns for an impressive backdrop for a first look or outdoor ceremony.

Couples will love the recently renovated Back Lawn with over 6,000 square feet of customizable event space overlooking the championship Trent Jones Golf Course.

The Bistro Patio, a 2,450-square-foot curved patio, is just as picturesque with two custom-designed gas firepits. 

In case of rain, we also love the Garden Room. This sunny room features beautifully arched windows for an airy and elegant celebration.

Sugar Creek Country Club

Sugar Creek Country Club

Sugar Land, Texas
Intimate Wedding at Houston Botanic Garden in Houston, Texas
photographer: Ali Minetree | venue: Houston Botanic Garden

For one of Houston’s most beautiful green spaces…

Houston Botanic Garden features 132 acres of horticultural displays, walking trails, and beautiful green space.

Exchange vows in Woodland Glade for a romantic outdoor ceremony set amongst magnolia trees and manicured hedges.

Consider hosting a smaller reception in the Culinary Garden Tent for a weather-proof celebration in a climate-controlled tent — and spectacular garden views.

A cocktail hour is just as picturesque in the Alcoves where a covered walkway, lined with beautiful planter boxes, opens up to the Global Collection Garden.  

Make sure to stage your first look in one of the many garden spaces for an intimate moment before the wedding festivities begin.

We especially love how event rental proceeds directly support Houston Botanic Garden’s conservation and education efforts.

Houston Botanic Garden

Houston Botanic Garden

Houston, Texas

3. The Grand Texana

Bride and Groom Kiss at The Texana Grounds at The Grand Texana, a Wedding Venue in Houston | PartySlate
photo courtesy of the venue: The Grand Texana

For historic grandeur set in the countryside…

Houston, TX

Romance is in the air at this chic Texana barn venue.

The Grand Texana — which includes a historic dairy barn and farmstead estate — is a historical landmark with a rich history that begins long before Texas independence.

World-renowned architect Wyatt C. Hendrick later purchased the land and designed two famous dairy barns with iconic Dutch colonial gambrel roofs. Today, the Chapel Barn and Reception Barn serve as rustic and elegant settings to say, “I do.”

The Greenhouse Arbor, with an antique barn cupola, makes for a picturesque outdoor wedding ceremony surrounded by woodlands and countryside.

We especially love the Pecan Orchard for first looks and wedding portraits.

Designed exclusively with romance in mind, this boutique venue offers over 7,800 square feet of combined facilities for a celebration that will capture your unique vision.

The Grand Texana

The Grand Texana

Hempstead, Texas

4. Moffitt Oaks

Wedding Ceremony at Moffitt Oaks, an Outdoor Wedding Venue in Houston | PartySlate
photo courtesy of venue: Moffitt Oaks Instagram

For pastoral charm and one-of-a-kind photo ops…

Houston, TX

Moffitt Oaks is a charming, pastoral setting for rehearsal dinners, corporate events and all-inclusive weddings.

Five distinct venues can be mixed and matched to create your ideal celebration.

Located between two lakes, outdoor ceremonies and receptions at the spot are always picturesque.

The covered patio boasts a fire pit and lounge seating for a relaxed chic gathering. Guests can even strike a few poses with the stable horses against a backdrop of gorgeous green pastures.

Indoor events are just as memorable in The Barn, a restored and remodeled stable featuring exposed wooden beams and suspended chandeliers.

With a classic ballroom and additional cantina to choose from, Moffitt Oaks can easily accommodate a variety of events.

Moffitt Oaks

Moffitt Oaks

Tomball, Texas

5. Shirley Acres

Wedding Ceremony in The Garden Room at Shirley Acres, an Outdoor Wedding Venue in Houston | PartySlate
photo courtesy of venue: Shirley Acres

For picturesque scenery and stunning views…

Houston, TX

Shirley Acres, situated on 21 wooded acres, is a family-owned-and-operated all-inclusive venue.

The inspiration for Shirley Acres began with four weddings on a private estate. After witnessing the joy of their own children saying, “I do,” Ralph and Lou Shirley decided to open up their land to the public and host celebrations year-round.

For an outdoor wedding ceremony, The Courtyard features a romantic arbor and seasonal flowers.

Indoor dinners and receptions are always memorable in The Pavilion. Overlooking a pond, this intimate space features exposed wooden beams and rustic chandeliers.

For more vibrant celebrations, The Garden Room brings ballroom-elegance to the great outdoors.

Best of all, guests can rent out the Shirley Acres Guest House for a convenient home base just steps from the celebration.

Shirley Acres

Shirley Acres

Houston, Texas

6. Houston Arboretum & Nature Center

Bride and Groom at Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, an Outdoor Wedding Venue in Houston | PartySlate
photographer: Kristen Curette Photography | venue: Houston Arboretum & Nature Center 

For romantic backdrops in a lush natural setting…

Houston, TX

Situated in the southwest corner of Memorial Park, Houston Arboretum & Nature Center is one of the oldest nature education facilities in Texas.

With a dual mission of nature education and land conservation, this 155-acre arboretum provides a sanctuary for native plants and animals.

The Meadow Deck overlooks a native demonstration meadow and one-acre pond, making it a romantic backdrop for an outdoor wedding ceremony.

We also love ceremonies and receptions at The Lily Pond where guests can marvel at the arboretum’s pristine beauty.

All indoor spaces boast floor-to-ceiling windows, so even corporate functions can enjoy a backdrop of nature.

Children can also revel in the magic of the outdoors as the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center is a great setting for kids birthday parties — fun with a side of learning and sunshine.

We especially loved the “signs of nature” theme where kids become detectives and learn to track the many reclusive animals on the grounds.

Houston Arboretum & Nature Center

Houston Arboretum & Nature Center

Houston, Texas

7. McGovern Centennial Gardens

For spacious lawns and curated gardens…

Houston, TX

Located in the idyllic Hermann Park, the former Houston Garden Center is now a sprawling eight acres of magnificent green space named the McGovern Centennial Gardens.

Multiple themed garden rooms and a spacious central lawn create a beguiling oasis in the heart of The Museum District.

Tall hedges surrounding The Celebration Garden turn this outdoor event space into your own secret garden. The spacious lawn easily accommodates an outdoor wedding ceremony or tented pavilion.

For indoor celebrations, Cherie Flores Garden Pavilion, designed by Apple Store architect Bohlin Cywinski, offers a modern space with an adjacent patio. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide guests with uninterrupted views of a 30-foot garden mount across the Centennial lawn.

With such a picture-perfect backdrop, guests might easily forget they’re in a bustling, major metropolis.

McGovern Centennial Gardens

McGovern Centennial Gardens

Houston, Texas

People Also Ask…

Where can I find a Houston wedding planner?

Take the stress out of the planning process by hiring an experienced wedding planner. Your wedding planner will be your North Star from start to finish. You can expect a full-service wedding planner to save you from budget mistakes, unforeseen complications, and vendor miscommunications.

Click the button below to browse our curated list of talented Houston wedding planners. Make sure to click into a potential planner’s PartySlate profile to see real examples of their work. If you see a good fit, you can reach out directly through the directory or their PartySlate profile.

Where can I find more wedding inspiration for my Houston celebration? 

With PartySlate, finding the best wedding ideas is as easy as a click of a button. Browse our curated resources below to find the best wedding inspiration from real couples. You’ll discover the latest trends, classic ideas, and everything in between.