Wedding venues abound

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

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.

The Ballroom at Bayou Place is downtown Houston’s largest private event venue.

Houston, new wedding event venues, September 2017, The Ballroom at Bayou Place

Photo courtesy of The Ballroom at Bayou Place/Facebook

The Ballroom at Bayou Place is downtown Houston’s largest private event venue.

weddings

Stretching the budget

A $100,000 salary in 2026 goes further in Houston than it did last year

Photo by Leo Yao on Unsplash

$100,000 stretches a little further in 2026.

A 2026 income study has good news for big earners in Houston: A six-figure salary goes further than it did last year.

A Houston resident's $100,000 salary is worth $84,840 after taxes and adjusted for the local cost of living, according to the new financial analysis from SmartAsset. That's about $1,500 more than Houstonians were bringing home last year.

The 2026 take-home pay is about eight percent higher than it was in 2024, when the same salary had an adjusted value of $78,089.

SmartAsset used its paycheck calculator to apply federal, state and local taxes to an annual salary of $100,000 in 69 of the largest American cities. The figure was then adjusted for the local cost of living (which included average costs for housing, groceries, utilities, transportation, and miscellaneous goods and services). Cities were then ranked based on where a six-figure salary is worth the least after applicable taxes and cost of living adjustments.

Houston ranked No. 60 in the overall ranking of U.S. cities where $100,000 is worth the least. If the rankings were flipped and the cities were ranked based on where $100,000 goes the furthest, that places Houston in the No. 10 spot nationwide.

Manhattan, New York remains the No. 1 city where a six-figure salary is worth the least. A Manhattan resident's take-home pay is only worth $29,420 after taxes and adjusted for the cost of living, which is 3.10 percent lower than it was in 2025.

SmartAsset determined Manhattan has a 29.7 percent effective tax rate on six-figure salaries. Meanwhile, the effective tax rate on a $100,000 salary in Texas (based on the eight cities examined in the report) is 21.1 percent. It's worth highlighting that New York implements a statewide graduated-rate income tax from 4-10.90 percent, whereas Texas is one of only eight states that don't tax residents' income.

Oklahoma City, No. 69, is the U.S. city in the report where a $100,000 salary stretches the furthest. A six-figure salary is worth $91,868 in 2026, up from $89,989 last year.

This is the post-tax value of a $100,000 salary in other Texas cities, and their ranking in the report:

Plano (No. 27): $72,653
Dallas (No. 47): $80,103
Austin (No. 53): $82,446
Lubbock (No. 59): $84,567
San Antonio (No. 62): $86,419
El Paso (No. 67): $90,276
Corpus Christi (No. 68): $91,110

According to the report, getting some "financial breathing room" by making six-figures really depends on where someone lives and what their lifestyle is. For residents living in the 42 states that levy some amount of income tax, their take-home pay dwindles further.

"And depending on how taxes are filed, reaching a $100,000 income may push a household from the 22 percent to 24 percent marginal tax bracket," the report's author wrote. "Meanwhile, locations with high costs across housing and everyday essentials may be less forgiving to a $100,000 income."

smartasset income finance six figures