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

ory + larkin • engagement • lubbock, tx

There are so many things I love about this couple. Having only known them for a short time, I feel like I already see so much depth to their relationship. These two are working their tails off to finish law and medical school while planning a wedding. But beyond that, they have a deep respect and love for each other- it is evident in their interaction. Ory is quiet and kind, and Larkin has a special regard for his preferences and opinions. Larkin is outgoing and colorful, and Ory watches her with complete adoration. Photographing them was so much fun. I also hugely appreciate the planner that Larkin is- she put a lot of thought into their engagement shoot ahead of time, and I loved knowing that it was so important to her. These two will be getting married this December- can't wait!

stephen + sarah • wedding • lubbock, tx

I had anticipated this wedding for a long time, since Sarah booked me almost a year in advance. I knew that A) Sarah was quite the organized bride, and B) this would be a fun wedding since she'd already told me about their milk + cookies favors. Yum! I had a great time with these two at their engagement session in the fall and was so blessed by them on their wedding day. I couldn't get over the gorgeous plum color of the bridesmaids' dresses and how everything coordinated so smoothly. The Merket Alumni Center was the perfect venue for their big day.

Wedding Gown: Brides of Amarillo

Tuxedos: Men's Wearhouse

Florist: The Market Plaza Flowers

Cake: Mylinda Wood

Catering: Top Tier Catering

Venue: Merket Alumni Center

DJ: Music to the Maxx

Hair: Angie Lewellyn of The Tobacco Leaf

Photobooth: Four Frames Photobooths

This was a first! The bridesmaid on the far left works for the Ringling Brothers Circus and provided all the ladies with a clown nose. Awesome!

When you get married at the Merket Alumni Center or the Frazier Alumni Pavilion, you get a brick in the courtyard with your names and wedding date on it. Stephen and Sarah came up with this sign that read "Forever Set". 

I asked Sarah what the most memorable moment about her day was and this was her response:

"The entire day was amazing so it's hard to choose just a moment. The ceremony was amazing and nothing beat finally seeing Stephen at the ceremony. We were both so nervous so it was fun when my Pastor lightened things up - after all I think everyone witnessed and remembered Stephen saying 'and I'll do anything she says'."

I hardly ever post family portraits, but this is exactly the type of image that I love to capture for families. Pretty light, outside, everyone is relaxed- not in some dark sanctuary where all you see is carpet. :)

Sarah created these custom made milk cartons, which they stuffed with Oreos. Yum!

Four Frames Photobooths were there and there was a constant buzz around the booth. Everyone loved it!

Stephen surprised Sarah by pulling out a GIANT pair of pink leopard undies instead of a garter. It was hilarious.

I can't remember his first name- maybe Troy? I hadn't worked with him before, but this DJ was super great- kept everyone entertained and the music pumping.

Sarah's advice for future brides:

"Enjoy every moment. We had a long engagment which gave us time to enjoy it and add some fun details. We had so much fun designing our save the dates, invitations and creating all the details. Last advice would be to recruit lots of help for the wedding day. We had so many amazing friends and family members that came to help set up which allowed my bridal party, parents and I to really enjoy the morning and hours leading up to the wedding."

Congrats you guys!

bobby + ashley • wedding • lubbock, tx

Bobby and Ashley are the kind of people who make me feel so privileged to get to document their wedding day. I knew they were high quality people after their Engagement Shoot, but it was reaffirmed time after time on their wedding day. Bobby stopped to check in on all who were "working" that day (including myself), just to make sure we had everything we needed- and to see the way he treasured and took care of Ashley, well...it was exactly why I am a wedding photographer. Ashley was excited, relaxed, organized, and fully in the moment the whole day- not to mention looking absolutely gorgeous! It was so awesome to get to see them enjoy each other and the company of their friends and family. I'm so thankful for couples like this one!

Some of their vendors:

Ceremony Venue: St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church, Lubbock

Reception Venue: Merket Alumni Center, Lubbock

Wedding Gown: Mori Lee

Bridesmaids' Dresses: B2 by Jasmine

Florist: DeVault Floral

Cake: Sweet Temptations

Catering: Top Tier Catering (Texas Tech)

Bands: Hogg Maulies & William Clark Green Band

Hair: Casey at Davidson Taylor

Makeup: Tiffany at The Radiant Lily

Chair Linens: Puttin' on the Ritz

Bobby bought Ashley some beautiful diamond earrings for Christmas to wear on their wedding day. She plans to pass them on to their children one day.

Bobby and Ashley chose to have a First Look before the ceremony. Here's what she had to say about it:

"Before our wedding day, I had some serious doubt about the first look but wanted so badly to be able to take the pictures before hand! Even on that day, part of me still thought we should wait till the wedding. But I am SO GLAD we did it! We were able to get all our crying out and tell each other all the things we were feeling and pray together about our day without hundreds of people watching! It felt so personal and amazing and took so many of my jitters away! Bobby was soooo happy we did it because he said it was still so emotional seeing me walk down with my dad that if he hadn't seen me before, he would have had a hard time keeping it together! One other thing that made it special is he didn't see me with the veil on till the wedding which made it different. My advice about the first look is DO IT! We were at the reception having fun almost immediately after the wedding!"

Seeing that little robin egg blue box is always a good indication you will soon have a very happy bride. :)

Seeing the reflections of the stained glass in the window, Ashley asked if we could get some shots with them in the aisle. I love my brides. :)

The Merket looked amazing. Ashley said her splurge on the chair covers from Puttin on the Ritz were totally worth it- and I agree!

There was quite a battle for the bouquet!

I asked Ashley what advice she'd give to future brides, and here's what she said:

"The planning processs gets so intense and stressful toward the end...just keep reminding yourself that this is the only time in your life you will do this and pray for peace and enjoyment of the whole process. Looking back, I think of times when I let myself get so worked up about minor details, and now I think "Man, I should have just enjoyed that moment of making that decision! It's the only time I'll be able to do that!"

lance + taleigh • wedding • lubbock, tx

Lance and Taleigh were married at the newly-remodled Merket Alumni Center on the Texas Tech campus. It was a beautiful, crisp October day and there was so much to photograph! From the get-go, I have appreciated Taleigh's intentionality and thoughtfulness in the planning of her wedding day. It was so neat to see it all fall into place- and to see she and Lance as husband and wife! I've been ogling over these images for the past week, and now it's time to show them to my faithful blog readers- thankfully, Lance and Taleigh sent me a little post-wedding feedback from their honeymoon in Costa Rica! (I told you I have AWESOME couples!)

Lance and Taleigh both exchanged notes to each other before the ceremony- and each was so sentimental and sweet. Taleigh started to laugh as she read Lance's note, because he'd written, "I have no doubt that this will not work!"- haha, he had a LOT on his mind that day. It made for a refreshing laugh in the midst of all the preparation.

Lots of gorgeous autumn-inspired florals from Market Street.

I love this moment between Taleigh and her mom.

Taleigh had seen Monica's wedding on my blog and loved the idea of giving her dad a gift before the wedding. She gave him a handkerchief and something I thought was awesome and funny...her Discover card!

Lance and Taleigh didn't want to "see" each other before- but they did get to talk to each other!

Hello October.

Something I didn't know till this wedding- when you get married at the Merket, you get a brick in the courtyard!

Taleigh's Mom and sisters put a lot of time and effort into the centerpieces at the reception. They were a perfect mix of Taleigh's vintage flair and Lance's love for hunting. So pretty!

Taleigh's advice to future brides: Enjoy it! Let everyone else take care of everything. Don't sweat the small stuff! Don't forget to have fun with your wedding party and guests! 

I totally agree.

Thanks so much, you guys! Congratulations!