After saying your vows in front of your loved ones, everyone can then make their way to one of the outdoor patios for cocktail hour. For added entertainment, you can reserve the Borracho Burros, Johnny and June. These donkeys’ services are a side business ran separate from The Chandelier of Gruene by Chelsea. For events, she dresses the donkeys up and equips them with saddlebags stocked with beer as they walk around socializing with guests during cocktail hour.

After drinks, guests can make their way into the 12,000-square-foot reception hall with a capacity of 500 guests and enough space leftover for a large dance floor. Additional seating is located on the 3,200 square feet of covered patio space situated on both sides of the building, with one side offering a gas fire pit.

When you first walk through the large, sliding barn doors of the reception hall, your eyes are immediately drawn to the centerpiece—a 5’x6’ chandelier. The venue is home to a total of seven major chandeliers, thus living up to its name. The venue’s large windows offer great views of the outdoors, making guests feel as if they are outside while enjoying the comfort of the indoors.

“When we were designing everything we really wanted to bring in a lot of textures,” said Chelsea Owens. “In the reception hall, we’ve got the exposed, Chicago brick and hand-troweled walls—we wanted to do that so people didn’t feel like they had to bring a lot of decorations, because it was already beautiful by itself.”

The space in the hall is flexible and can be transformed into almost any layout you desire. The venue comes with up-lighting that can be changed to any color, a rear-screen projector and a stage that is large enough to fit a 15-piece band.

At night, the outdoor lights capture an astrological effect when the string lights and in-ground landscape lighting illuminate the canopy of trees, symbolizing a full moon.

For getting ready on your big day, The Chandelier of Gruene has two handsomely furnished suites. The bridal suite has comfortable sofas and salon high chairs in front of well-lit mirrors, comprising a dream space for the girls to get dolled up. The venue doesn’t leave the guys out—there’s a suave groom’s suite complete with a foosball table and a bar mimicking the front of an old car with headlights that illuminate. There is no doubt that The Chandelier of Gruene really knows how to make their couples feel extraordinary on their big day.