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    New Wedding Venues

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

    Deborah Elias
    Feb 12, 2016 | 2:30 pm

    The question is popped, the answer leads to excitement and the hard work begins — finding the perfect venue for the perfect wedding.

    In previous stories (Houston's 10 Best Wedding Venues: A cheat sheet for smart brides and grooms and 18 hot and happening event venues: The best places to party special in Houston) we have discussed great wedding venues in the Houston area. Here are some exciting new options for hosting your wedding or special event:

    The Dunlavy

    The revitalization of Buffalo Bayou has delighted many and now there's more to love with the installation of the first venue/restaurant space along Houston's main body of water. The Dunlavy, which sits on the banks of the bayou in an area called Lost Lake, is a stunningly simple space with an impressive collection of crystal chandeliers that flicker off the windows and water. With the Clark Cooper Concepts team at the helm of the culinary experience, this space is surely going to be a force to be reckoned with.

    Houston Oaks

    Houston Oaks, located in Hockley about 35 miles from downtown Houston, is one of the most beautiful places in the area to have a wedding and reception in one place. The owners have installed a sweet little chapel on the property for the ceremony. There are many places to hold the reception but I love the idea of a clear span tent strategically situated under a gorgeous oak tree.

    Citadel on Kirby

    The Citadel on Kirby is a phenomenal new space. Gathering its inspiration from 17th century Scottish castles, it is both elegant and grand. Not only it is perfect for an indoor event, with its 26-foot-high ceilings, but the 30-foot indoor water wall and more than six acres of lush landscaped gardens, fountains, gazebos, and outdoor patios make it the perfect locale for an outdoor event. If you have dreamed of getting married in a castle, this is your space.

    Sylvan Beach Pavilion

    Sylvan Beach Pavilion is a landmark venue located in La Porte on Galveston Bay. Even though it is a historic property, it underwent a $15 million renovation in 2013 that creates a more modern feeling, with large windows and a teakwood deck space. Its most celebrated feature is the 10,000-square-foot glass-walled ballroom with a 3,600-foot circular dance floor. The is a special space that offers couples of all budget ranges a variety of robust packages.

    Waters Edge

    Waters Edge is waterfront venue located on two and a half acres facing the shores of Clear Lake. Guests can enjoy scenic views while sitting on the 2,500-square-foot patio that includes a fire pit to enjoy the spectacular view. The property also features a lighted pier and gazebo located over the water for those wishing to have a truly unique and romantic ceremony. The venue is decorated with modern touches, which makes a unique canvas for any event. One of the best features is the ability to launch a fireworks extravaganza, a rarity inside the Houston city limits.

    The Overlook

    Built on a secluded 22 acres with American Craftsman architectural elements, this charming space is located in Atascocita. The main building overlooks six acres of ponds in the woods near the Lake Houston area and has a lot of southern charm. Executive chef Julio Avila and wife Tiffany Avila of The Hometown Chef Catering Co. are sure to please the palate with their food and beverage selections.With a variety of ceremony and reception spaces to choose from and the ability to have a D.I.Y wedding or choose from all-inclusive packages, this venue can meet all budget ranges.

    The Bougainvilleas

    Located 20 minutes west of the Galleria area and only five minutes west of the Beltway, The Bougainvilleas is a true delight — featuring two ballrooms, a chapel, a wine room, a bridal suite, and a groom's room. The stunning floral entrance will surely captivate your guests' attention. The grand ballroom can seat up to 350 and with several package options to choose from with the basics including linens, cake, nonalcoholic beverages, and some decor elements, this is perfect for the budget-conscious couple.

    CultureMap contributor Deborah Elias is the founder of Elias Events.

    Houston Oaks, located in Hockley about 35 miles from downtown Houston, is one of the most beautiful places in the area to have a wedding and reception in one place.

    Houston Oaks
    Photo courtesy of Houston Oaks
    Houston Oaks, located in Hockley about 35 miles from downtown Houston, is one of the most beautiful places in the area to have a wedding and reception in one place.
    event-planner
    news/city-life
    series/wedding-planner-houston

    hottest headlines of 2025

    Houston's richest residents, best suburbs, and more top city news in 2025

    Amber Heckler
    Dec 22, 2025 | 3:45 pm
    Museum of Fine Arts, Houston gala 2025
    Photo by Wilson Parish
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    Editor’s note: As 2025 comes to a close, we're looking back at the stories that defined Houston this year. In our City Life section, readers will notice several of our local universities earned high praise from prestigious global and national publications. Houston's sprawling suburbs continued to skyrocket in popularity for their livability and safety, and no top-10 list is complete without mentioning the city's wealthiest residents. Read on for the top 10 Houston City Life stories of 2025.

    1. 2 Houston universities named among world’s best in 2026 rankings. These two high-performing local institutions – Rice University and University of Houston – are in a class of their own, according to the QS World University Rankings 2026. QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) compiles the prestigious list each year; the 2026 edition includes more than 1,500 universities from around the world.

    2. Richard Kinder is Houston's richest billionaire in 2025, Forbes says. The Kinder Morgan chairman is the 11th richest Texas resident right now, and ranks as the 108th richest American. Kinder also dethroned Tilman Fertitta to claim the title as the wealthiest Houstonian.

    3. 2 Houston neighbors shine as top-10 best places to live in the U.S. Pearland and League City, respectively, claimed No. 3 and No. 6 in U.S. News & World Report's annual "Best Places to Live in the U.S." rankings. The 2025-2026 rankings examined 250 U.S. cities based on five livability indexes: Quality of life, value, desirability, job market, and net migration.

    4. 5 Houston suburbs deemed best places to retire in 2026 by U.S. News. The Woodlands and Spring should be on the lookout for an influx of retirees next year, U.S. News predicts. Three more Houston-area neighbors also ranked among the top 25 best places to retire in America.

    5. Activist group calls out Houston highway as a 'freeway without a future'. A May 2025 report from Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) included Houston's Interstate 45 expansion on its list of highways with infrastructure that is "nearing the end of its functional life." CNU claims further expansion of Houston's highway system could eventually lead to the loss of the city's bayous, while also diminishing the remaining flood-absorbing land.

    6. 10 things to know about America's first Ismaili Center opening in Houston. After nearly 20 years in the making, the long-awaited Ismaili Center, Houston finally opened its doors to the public. The 11-acre site was painstakingly designed and constructed to offer indoor and outdoor public spaces for all Houstonians to enjoy, connect, and engage.

    7. Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta asking $192 million for superyacht. Fertitta, who owns the Houston Rockets and restaurant and hospitality conglomerate Landry's, decided to sell his 252-foot yacht, named Boardwalk, to make room for an even larger superyacht he is expected to receive in April 2026. Among numerous luxurious amenities, Boardwalk also features a helipad.

    8. 2 Houston neighbors rank among America's safest suburbs in 2025. Spring came in at No. 19 and West University Place followed at No. 21 in SmartAsset's August 2025 study, which is the first time the two Houston suburbs have made it into the top 25.

    9. Houston is one of America's most overpriced cities, study finds. This likely isn't a surprise to some Houstonians. The study, conducted by Highland Cabinetry, said Houston "struggles with heavy pollution and underwhelming income levels."

    10. 9 Houston universities make U.S. News' 2025 list of top grad schools. Among the newcomers this year are Houston Christian University and Texas Southern University. HCU's graduate education school ranks No. 21 in Texas, and TSU has the 10th best law school in the state.

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