6 MORE Great Places To Get Married in the Lubbock Area

It's been almost two years since I first posted my first list of favorite venues in the Lubbock area- and amazingly, there have been many more pop up in just the past year or so! A couple of these I had just not shot at previously, but several have been recently built (which means they are all nice and new facilities for you and your guests). 

Finding a venue is one of the very first things a bride will need to do when she begins planning her wedding. There are many venues in our area, but not all are well-known. While I love photographing at churches, I've excluded from this list as most people will select their church ceremony based on their individual faith or denomination. Here are 6 MORE wonderful venues around Lubbock you definitely need to check out: 

The next two venues are brand new to the Lubbock area and have both been built so thoughtfully, with the bride in mind. I love shooting at both:

Autumn Oaks Event Center

www.autumnoakslubbock.com   •   10210 Woodrow Road, Ropesville, TX   •   806-553-0532

Autumn Oaks has large and luxurious getting ready rooms for the bride and groom and I LOVE shooting with all the natural light the venue offers. 

Eberley Brooks

www.eberleybrooks.com   •   8602 CR 7000, Lubbock, TX•   806-777-0422

THE WOOD, CONCRETE, AND BRICK TEXTURES OF EBERLEY BROOKS ARE SUCH A BEAUTIFUL BACKGROUND FOR MANY DECORATING STYLES AND THIS VENUE ALSO HAS WONDERFUL GETTING READY ROOMS.

This venue has been around forever, but I don't get the chance to shoot there since I am usually doing larger weddings- but I LOVE St. Paul's for so many reasons!

St. Paul's Church on the Plains

www.mylubbock.us   •   40th & University, Lubbock, TX   •   806-767-3724

ST. PAUL'S IS PERFECT FOR AN INTIMATE GARDEN WEDDING AND HAS A ROSE GARDEN ADJACENT FOR A SMALL RECEPTION AS WELL.

You might notice a theme with these next three. If you're a wine-lover, prepare yourself for pure bliss here:

McPherson Cellars

www.mcphersoncellars.com   •   1615 Texas Ave. Lubbock, TX   •   806-687-9463

MCPHERSON CELLARS IS LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN LUBBOCK AND HAS A COLORFUL, COOL VIBE WITH AN OUTDOOR COURTYARD AND INDOOR INDUSTRIAL SPACE. OF COURSE, YOU CAN SERVE THEIR DELICIOUS WINES AT THE RECEPTION.

Llano Estacado Winery

www.llanowine.com   •   3426 East F.M. 1585 Lubbock, TX   •   1-800-634-3854

LLANO ESTACADO IS JUST SOUTH OF LUBBOCK AND HAS A GREAT SETUP FOR WEDDINGS WITH AN ADJACENT VINEYARD. I ALSO RATE THIS BRIDE'S ROOM TOP-NOTCH! I LOVE LLANO'S ROSÉ, AND SO WILL YOUR GUESTS. 

This last venue is actually a little south of Lubbock, near Abilene- but I loved it so I wanted to include it, just in case any of you Lubbock brides might be interested in a local "destination" wedding!

Christoval Vineyards

www.christovalvineyards.com   •   Christoval, TX   •   1-325-315-8077

CHRISTOVAL VINEYARDS IS A WIDE-OPEN, LOVELY PLACE WITH MANY CEREMONY AND RECEPTION OPTIONS- AND OF COURSE, PLENTY OF WINE!

I have not been compensated by any of the venues listed here or in my other blog post- this is simply my professional opinion. Happy wedding planning!

Phillip + Michelle • Wedding

One of my favorite parts about being a wedding photographer is that inevitably, at some point during the wedding day, it hits me- this is is a truly special event, and I get to be a part of it! I actually had several of those moments on Phillip + Michelle's wedding day.

These two are so intentional and true romantics- it was easy to be caught up in their love story. The way they approached their wedding day made it so special. Michelle had hand written notes for almost everyone involved that day, and each wrote their own vows which were so full of love and grace.  Phillip + Michelle were married just a couple weeks ago at First United Methodist Church here in Lubbock, and their reception was at McPherson Cellars. Rain threatened all day long but held off just long enough for us to get photos and some beautiful cloud coverage. 

We so enjoyed being a part of this wedding and couldn't be happier for these two! Congrats!

Ceremony: First United Methodist Church, Lubbock

Reception: McPherson Cellars

Coordinator: Jill Leven of Eat, Drink and Be Marry

Cake: Simply Decadent

DJ: Bo Garza

Photobooth: Fun 4 All

Floral: Market Street

randall + lenzi • wedding • mcpherson cellars

Couples like Randall + Lenzi are why I love my job. These two can major on the majors and still do it with style and intention. Their wedding day was full of so many wonderful elements- an awesome venue that totally fits their vibe, a great playlist, old books, board games, wine (duh!), and gorgeous florals. Top that off with popcorn, bundt cakes and great friends and family, and you've got a great time.

These two wanted an intimate ceremony, so they invited their guests to wait inside while they said their vows in the courtyard at McPherson Cellars. Not only was it gorgeous outside, but so special- especially when I realized that Shawn and I were essentially the only other people there, with the exception of the judge (who is the father of one of Randall's childhood friends), and sweet Estelle, Randall's daughter. I could photograph that little girl all. day. long. She's precious.

Thank you both for trusting us with your wedding day images- we loved capturing your new beginning!

Venue: McPherson Cellars

Dress: Maggie Sottero @ Bridal Designs

Suit: Knot Standard

Bride's Jewelry: Kate Spade, Laura & Lilly, Pandora, Chloe + Isabelle

Hair + Makeup: Chelsea Whittle @ Sophisticuts

Floral: Market Street

Cake: Nothing Bundt Cakes

Stationery: Minted.com

11 great places to get married in the lubbock area

One of the first things a bride and groom need to book is their wedding venue. Surprisingly, we have a ton of great venues in the Lubbock area and I thought it would be helpful to list some of my favorites. My biggest piece of advice to couples regarding venue is to select a place that already looks great. You'll spend less time decorating/covering up the ugly if you simply book a great location. All of these have space for a ceremony and reception, which is a huge plus when it comes to logistics! (There are several venues that you won't see on this list simply because I haven't gotten to shoot there yet!)

Spirit Ranch

701 Regis Street, Lubbock, TX 79403
(806) 762-6201

The Legacy Event Center

1500 14th Street, Lubbock, TX 79401
(806) 792-2723

Fulford Barn

1582 Pecan Dr. Brownfield, TX 79316
(806) 891-1540

The following 3 are all located on the Texas Tech Campus, and make for great ceremony/reception combos.

Kent Hance Chapel

806-742-0400

Merket Alumni Center

806-742-0400

Frazier Alumni Pavilion

806-742-0400

McPherson Cellars

1615 Texas Avenue, Lubbock, TX 79401
(806) 687-9463

Ransom Canyon Chapel

31 East Brookhollow, Ransom Canyon, TX 79366
(806) 829-2462, (806) 773-2447, (806) 745-2901

Cotton Creek Barn

608 County Road J, Tahoka, TX 79373
(979) 220-1318

The Watson Building

1109 13th Street, Lubbock, TX 79401
(806) 765-7171

Tierra del Corazon

4501 E FM 1729, Lubbock, TX 79403
(806) 781-2969

colten + sharlyn • wedding • mcpherson cellars, lubbock tx

"Pretty much the only thing that I'm not worried about is you," she said with a laugh.

That's the statement I heard from Sharlyn a few weeks before her wedding- in the thick of the last-few-things-to-get-done time, when wedding planning can seem quite overwhelming and you've got forty things that need to be checked off the list. Quite responsibly, she and her mother were meeting with vendors and checking and double-checking before the big day. Now, of course, she wasn't commenting on her marriage or her fiancé, or any of the big, life-changing stuff that happens on your wedding day...but hearing her say those words made me so thankful. 

I love that she trusted me that much- even before I had taken one photo of her. It made me want to work that much harder for her and Colten. 

The big day arrived, and it was unmistakably one of the prettiest November days I've ever experienced in West Texas. We began at McPherson Cellars for portraits, and then headed to Broadway Church of Christ for the ceremony. These two had a great group of people around them and it was a great celebration! Thank you, Colten, Sharlyn and your families, for trusting us. And congratulations!

allen + paige • mcpherson cellars wedding • lubbock, tx

Allen + Paige were married at one of my favorite venues in Lubbock- McPherson Cellars. The colorful and funky architecture perfectly complimented this fun, perfect-for-each-other couple. Throughout the day I noticed so many special touches that Paige had made sure to incorporate- sentimental table cards, customized cakes and even an ad lib worksheet for the guests. We hosted the Fancy Booth for this event, and got some of the funniest expressions I've ever seen- but you'll have to wait for another blog post to see those! Here are some of my faves from Allen + Paige's day.

ricky + amanda • wedding • mcpherson cellars, lubbock, tx

Ricky and Amanda were so much fun to watch on their wedding day. Amanda had planned it perfectly from the perfect venue (McPherson Cellars), to the fall decor and the flower girls' skirts. The best part, though, was watching the bride and groom together. Once they saw each other for the first time, it was as if every other thing didn't matter. They were intent on enjoying each other, their friends and family, and getting married. It was a beautiful ceremony and a fun-filled reception. Here are a few of my favorites!

This was the first wedding I've shot where the guests all stood up and clapped for the bride and groom as they walked back down the aisle. Loved it!

jeremy + kirby • wedding • lubbock, tx

I had been looking forward to this wedding since I booked it. A relaxed, intimate wedding at McPherson Cellars, a gorgeous bride who is in love with her groom, and lots of wonderful details. Besides being very cool people individually, Jeremy + Kirby are totally precious together. I loved getting to photograph them because in the midst of the crowd, they still had this silent connection between them. Throughout their wedding day, they got to enjoy each other- which, amazingly, is something of a rarity in weddings these days. I just love that they planned their day with purpose- and it was beautiful!

Here's what these two had to say about their first look:

Kirby: I was so nervous and I loved being able to see Jeremy for the first time alone, in a comfortable place to calm my nerves! We loved getting to finally just be together for a moment before everything began. It was a really sweet and intimate moment that I know we will both always remember! 

Jeremy: I loved getting to steal a few minutes of private time with her by ourselves. It was like the eye of a hurricane and it gave us a chance to reconnect and be on the same page before everything went into high gear.

Of course, I couldn't get enough portraits of these guys...so I hope you enjoy my indulgence!

Definitely one of my most favorite wedding party shots ever.

The ceremony and reception space had so many wonderful details- all coordinated by Kirby. One of the most unique things was the guest sign-in-- a thumbprint tree painted by the Maid of Honor, Amy. Everyone loved it!

The ceremony was simple and personal- Dusty, their pastor at Redeemer Church, did a great job inserting bits of Jeremy and Kirby and giving the glory to the God who made it all happen! 

Kirby found these adorable cake toppers from lovemonkey's shop on Etsy (of how I loooove Etsy). 

The best man's speech was definitely one of the funniest parts of the day. Nathan did such a great job. 

We also had a lot of Fancy Booth fun! More to come on that later...

A few words from Jeremy + Kirby looking back:

Any advice for future brides/grooms?

Brides- Enjoy your day! My MOH and I slipped away and got frozen yogurt between the busyness- and it was a great time to recharge! I also recommend that you get as many decisions made before the big day as you can. I tried to be as well thought out and organized as I could be, so when the big day came it was easy to delegate and trust others with any little things that needed to be done. I would also recommend to use the Fancy Booth- It was so much fun for our guests!

Grooms- Eat 1 hr before  (Lissa's note- Haha! This makes me laugh so much, mostly because like Jeremy, my husband forgot to eat on our wedding day. We got to the cake cutting and he was so weak and shaky! This is definitely good advice!)

If you could do it all over, would you change anything?

Jeremy: Nope, of course not!

Kirby: Maybe somehow had a rehearsal at the venue- we had to have it at our church the night before because McPherson was booked the night before our wedding. Other than that- not a thing!

Thanks so much you guys- it was an honor to capture your day! Congrats!

natalie • expecting • mcpherson cellars, lubbock tx

Natalie and her husband Nick are expecting baby Tenley very soon, so we had to get a session in to capture Natalie's new curves before sweet Tenley decided it was time! It was super windy and ugly in Lubbock the day of our shoot, and I knew that Natalie loves colorful, modern design, so McPherson Cellars was the perfect setting. We had a great afternoon and I am in love with the images! Check out this baby bump:

 

Isn't Natalie just gorgeous? I want to look this good 7 months pregnant! (CORRECTION- 8 1/2 months- BIG difference!)

P.S. Natalie has her own BLOG which is always a fun read. She is quite a talented lady in many ways!