Pure Imagination at Garden Grove Austin

One of the consistent topics that my social media following brings up is ‘weddings’. You wouldn’t think that a food blogger should have any expertise in weddings, but I constantly find myself fielding questions and offering advice to my readership. At first I was surprised and then I came to a realization: food and drinks are one of the biggest decisions couples make when planning their weddings. Which leads me to the main issue that arises when coordinating the edible portion of the festivities: location vs. food. Most wedding venues come with a built-in menu and drink selection. Which, let’s be honest, if you’re a foodie then these usually aren’t adequate enough. A mediocre hotel buffet is not going to suffice. The solution? Locations like Garden Grove in Austin, Texas.

Located in the rolling vistas of Texas Hill Country, Garden Grove is an ideal wedding venue for foodies. Situated on 12.5 acres of gorgeous land, the location offers access to serene ceremony spots, glamping cabanas, a barnyard discotheque, and an out-of-this world honeymoon suite. But the features I am most excited to share are obviously related to the stomach: Garden Grove is perfectly laid out to make all your foodie dreams come true. An entry roundabout is specifically set up for food trucks of choice to pull up to the venue (and if you’ve ever been to Austin, you know this opens the culinary flood gates). A full rustic bar is in place for you to bring in drinks and a mixologist of choice. A stunning gourmet kitchen is available for on-site entertaining. And lastly, a full Tidewater Sailcloth Tent is already in place for romantic outdoor dining of your custom menu. The possibilities are literally endless. With all of the foundations in place, Garden Grove is truly a dream destination for a food-focused wedding.

I had the pleasure of spending two days at the venue’s Glamping retreat last month. Let me tell you… it was fabulosity to the max! The purpose of the retreat was to showcase Garden Grove’s amazing versatility and boy-oh-boy did they succeed. Let’s go through the itinerary, shall we?!

Day 1:

Planned by arguably the best event coordinator in the U.S., Cari from Pink Parasol D & D, the first day was filled tours of the stunning grounds, delicious food & drink, and plenty of merriment!

Pulled right up to the venue were the Torchy’s Taco’s food truck and the ridiculously cool NXNW Beerliner. I really can’t think of anything more badass than having Torchy’s cater a wedding… I’m just saying! And the Beerliner?! It literally had taps coming out the side of the retro bus and was converted inside to a lounge vibe. Besides the cool factor, I was completely sold on their craft beer selection. Beer cocktails?! Like I’ve said before, these are the magical unicorns of the cocktail world. I am now officially in love with NXNW Brewery!

Okay, back to the festivities. We could then take our fare to enjoy on the stylishly relaxed, rustic furniture and decor from Bee Lavish Vintage Rentals that had been set up along the grounds.

The rest of the afternoon was filled with checking out the adorable glamping cabanas set up on the grounds. Seriously?! Eat, drink, and snooze. Garden Grove had everything covered! To also display the versatility of the locale for every wedding need, the afternoon finished off with mini makeovers by Dolce Austin in the Honeymoon Sweet, balloon consultation poolside with the crazy-talented Nate The Great, and coffee by the fireplace with special guest speakers from June Bug Wedding.

The night was topped off with a glamorous outdoor ‘picnic’ provided by Catering With A Twist and a guilty-pleasure movie viewing in the barnyard bar (with more drinks, of course!) and dessert by Sweet Treets Bakery.

Day 2:

But naturally I skipped the yoga to focus on the brunch set-up under the Tidewater Sailcloth Tent. I have a one-track mind, what can I say?! Dreamy tablescapes provided by Premier Events and florals by The Flower Girl set the stage for what was about to be an epic brunch to end all brunches.

And a Fro-Mosa bar by the Royal Fig?! It was like the fates aligned to put me here, at this moment, to serve as official ‘taste-tester’. Royal Fig Catering actually took care of all the food for the brunch and it became quite clear how fabulous it is to be in a picturesque location with the fabulous food of your choosing. They set up a stunning delectable biscuit bar with all the fixings: muffin varieties, bacon, quiche, and of course, biscuits! And with the sweet sounds of Terra Vista Strings floating in the air under the Tidewater Sailcloth Tent, it was music to both my ears and stomach.

Bottom Line: My foodie piece of advice to betrothed couples… find a locale like Garden Grove and it will be the wedding of your dreams! The versatility, serenity, attention to detail, and outpouring of pure heart by the lovely venue owners, Jani & Shon, will have you floating on cloud nine. Garden Grove has my official foodie-wedding stamp of approval! If you like all the other details you’re seeing the photos, make sure to check out all the events’ vendors below. From photography to coordinating to furniture rentals, some of Texas’ best vendors are at your fingertips!

All featured photography by The Frosted Petticoat.