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    Wedding venues abound

    7 new venues in and around Houston to host the perfect wedding

    Deborah Elias
    Oct 2, 2017 | 12:35 pm

    The Houston wedding industry continues to thrive, and with a host of new venues to choose from, brides and grooms-to-be are winning in the game of love. From budget-conscious to money-is-no-object, options go from rustic to sleek. All will have you swooning.

    Magnolia Flatts Ranch
    Magnolia Flatts Ranch and Carriage House is located on a 30-acre horse ranch in Katy. The property is perfect for the down-home couple who want a Texas-style reception. Good Ole Boys catering provides the fare of modern-day recipes with Cajun flair. If you're looking for a venue that is reasonably priced with a little country attitude, Magnolia Flatts is ideal.
    26403 Katy Fwy; 281-391-4333

    Life HTX
    Suitable for the modern, elegant couple, Life HTX, located in the River Oaks/Montrose area, features several high-tech elements, from contemporary built-in lighting to state-of-the-art projector systems and floor-to-ceiling projection screens. What's more, gorgeous chandeliers provide cool ambiance and a versatile background. The roster of caterers is robust and you have the option to bring your own alcohol.
    2512 Woodhead; 713-339-3779

    The Vine
    Elegant barn venue The Vine, located 45 minutes west of Katy, boasts two gorgeous ceremony spots: Union Bell Chapel for up to 300 guests and The Barrel Barn for up to 500 guests. The two locales allow for a choice of an intimate setting either in the courtyard under the stars or under the eaves of barn. A unique addition, and one the men in the party will appreciate, is the Lonestar Lounge groom suite, complete with billiards. Ladies, The Vine definitely didn’t forget you — get dolled up in the Wild Rose Cottage bridal suite.
    25642 Bernard Rd, New Ulm; 713-553-9797

    Sandlewood Manor
    Situated in Tomball, Sandlewood Manor sits on 27 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds. The Antebellum home is masterfully designed and offers a gorgeous medley of luxury and artistry. From terraces and balconies to a grand ballroom, romantic outdoor cocktail pavilion, and a pond with a walkout pier and gazebo, this setting will meet all your wedding needs.
    Tomball; 281-466-9487

    The Ballroom at Bayou Place
    Nestled in the heart of Houston’s Theater District, The Ballroom at Bayou Place is downtown’s largest private event space. Floor-to-ceiling windows and sweeping balconies allow for beautiful views of the skyline. The Ballroom can accommodate parties from a seated reception with a small stage and dance floor for 700 guests to a cocktail reception for more than 1,000 guests. Alcohol packages are provided by The Ballroom, which also offers a great selection of preferred caterers to meet your culinary needs.
    500 Texas St.; 713-400-1299

    The Pearl
    The Pearl is a classic ranch-style venue in in Angleton (about an hour from downtown) decked out with Austin stone and weathered cedar. Inside, The Pearl is 10,000 square-feet, while outside measures approximately 5,400 square-feet. The newly-open property, designed to accommodate a tented event should inclement weather arise, services the area in grand style.
    2500 North Hwy 288, Angleton; 979-464-9300

    The Space HTX
    The Space HTX is a white -on-white industrial warehouse located in east downtown, just a stones throw from Minute Maid Park. Neutral walls and polished concrete floors make for a sleek, minimalist backdrop. The 5,000 square-foot space can comfortably sit 200 guests, and can hold up to 325 standing guests without seating. Catering is offered through neighboring restaurant Tout Suite, but The Space HTX allows outside catering as well.
    2005 Commerce St.; 832-961-8000

    For other choices, check out these previous CultureMap stories:

    18 hot and happening event venues: The best places to party special in Houston

    Seven new area wedding venues guaranteed to exceed every couple's wedding day dreams

    Houston's 10 Best Wedding Venues: A cheat sheet for smart brides and grooms

    CultureMap contributor Deborah Elias is the founder of Elias Events.

    Suitable for the modern, elegant couple, Life HTX features several high-tech elements.

    Wedding Pugh Dascoulias overall shot at LifeHTX
    Daniel Ortiz Photography
    Suitable for the modern, elegant couple, Life HTX features several high-tech elements.
    weddings
    news/city-life
    series/wedding-guide-houston

    let's all take the bus

    Texas sees 5th highest surge in gas prices in the U.S. since 2025

    Amber Heckler
    Apr 3, 2026 | 1:00 pm
    Gas pump
    Photo courtesy of Pixabay
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    Houston residents who are feeling the sting at the gas pump aren't alone: Residents all around Texas are seeing soaring prices for regular and diesel fuel in 2026.

    In fact, the Lone Star State has seen the fifth-highest percentage increase in gas prices in the country from April 2025 to April 2026, a just-released SmartAsset study has found. The current cost of a regular gallon of gas is 36.1 percent higher now than it was a year ago, and diesel is 60.9 percent more expensive.

    The report, "Gas Prices Hit Records in 2026: State by State Breakdown," compared average gas prices from AAA from April 1, 2025 and April 1, 2026 and calculated the one-year change across all 50 states. The study looked at the price of a gallon of regular, premium, and diesel.

    According to AAA, the cost of a regular gallon of gas in Texas at the start of April was $3.77, while premium is $4.62 per gallon. Diesel ticked over $5 a gallon — ouch — at $5.11.

    Houston gas prices aren't much cheaper than the statewide average. A gallon of regular costs up to $3.76 at some Houston-area pumps, and diesel is $5.05 per gallon. AAA says the highest recorded average price for gas in the city was in June 2022, when a gallon of regular cost $4.68 and diesel cost $5.24.

    Though Texas' gas prices are continuing to climb, it ranks 35th in the national ranking of states with the highest cost for regular gas as of April 2026. Texas' diesel prices are the 14th highest nationwide.

    With the national average price for gas at $4.06, SmartAsset said the sudden surge in prices can be attributed to the United States' war on Iran, and "subsequent pressure on the Strait of Hormuz."

    "Many states have experienced a 33 percent year-over-year increase in the cost of a gallon of regular gas – and in some places it’s even higher," the report's author wrote. "Commercial and public programs may be feeling similarly pinched, with diesel prices upwards of $6.00 per gallon in many states."

    California currently has the highest average price for regular and diesel — $5.89 per gallon and $7.52 per gallon, respectively.

    Arizona leads the nation with the highest one-year increase in gas prices. Regular gas in the Grand Canyon State is nearly 38 percent more expensive than it was last year, at $4.70 per gallon, and diesel is about 69 percent higher at $6.04 for a gallon.

    The state with the cheapest gas prices in April is Oklahoma, where regular costs $3.27 per gallon, premium is $3.97, and diesel is $4.49.

    gas pricestexassmartasset
    news/city-life
    series/wedding-guide-houston
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