Planning a 2024 Marfa, TX Elopement
2024 Guide For Planning A Wedding in Marfa, Texas
Texas is an enormous state, but so many parts of it are so special. West Texas is infamous for the desert and, of course, a town called Marfa, Texas.
Known as a spot for music, culture, and sunsets to die for, Marfa is also quite popular for elopements and weddings. It's a place of gorgeous weather (minus summer afternoons!), beautiful light, and a landscape that will have you wondering if you're still in Texas.
If you're here, that means you're looking for information on how to plan a wedding in Marfa, so let's get started!
A Little Bit About Marfa, TX
A mysterious, inexplicable quirk of Marfa is what's called the "Marfa lights." Are they aliens? The military? No one knows.
It's located less than three hours from El Paso, TX and almost seven hours from Austin, TX.
If you've seen photos of the Prada store, it's only thirty minutes from Marfa. And totally worth taking the time!
You may or may not have to hire wedding vendors located outside of Marfa. But don't worry—there are tons willing to travel!
Getting Started Planning Your Marfa, Texas Wedding
The first thing you'll need to do is decide when you want to get married in Marfa. More specifically, the best season to get married in Marfa.
Since it's in the desert, you're going to want to think long and hard about this. The evenings will be chilly no matter the time of year, but the summer days will be brutal.
My recommendation is the winter/springtime. If it's chilly, then plan ahead to add a warmer layer just in case.
Of course, if you really want the full desert experience, a July wedding works! Just bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and hats.
Finding a Wedding Venue in Marfa, Texas
One of the best parts of Marfa is the amazing options for hotels and venues. Not just that there are a number of them, but each has its own personality. When you have your friends and family drive across Texas for a wedding, you want them to enjoy their experience.
Investing in a wedding venue that is also a hotel will undoubtedly enhance their experience. Each venue features unique amenities and vibe. Some are great for an intimate wedding—others are big enough to host concerts.
Your wedding weekend deserves the story of a lifetime. If you're going to the middle of the West Texas desert, then here are the best recommendations to get that story started.
Quick Tip For Booking a Venue
A benefit of booking a hotel for your wedding day is a lot of them will offer a discount on a rental fee or guest rooms. Make sure that when you contact them, you make sure they're aware you'll have guests interested in reserving a block of rooms for the event.
Thunderbird Hotel
Built in the 50s, the Thunderbird Hotel is a boutique hotel with 23 rooms, a private pool and garden, a warehouse and a lighted pavilion for your cozy wedding reception at night. It's also pet-friendly, so if you're looking for your pooch at the wedding ceremony, then you're in luck!
Location: 601 W San Antonio Marfa, Texas 79843
Hotel Saint George
If you're looking for a more modern spot for your wedding, Hotel Saint George is a great spot to check out. For your wedding day, your friends and family can wake up and relax before heading to your wedding ceremony.
Their reception hall offers a dance floor and full catering option that keeps things even more simple. If you're looking to add magic to your cocktail hour, their pool makes for a romantic backdrop for relaxation and libations.
Location: 105 S Highland Ave, Marfa, Texas 79843
Cibola Creek Ranch
If you're looking for quintessential rustic West Texas, with a more classic feel, Cibola Creek Ranch is where it's at! Able to host up to 45 wedding guests indoors and up to 300 outdoors, it's perfect for a micro-wedding or a huge one!
Plus, the amount of amenities provided is amazing! Private airport, a restaurant, a pool, a media room, and most rooms have an in-room fireplace. How romantic!!!
Location: 97139 US-67, Marfa, Texas 79843
El Comisco
Arguably the most popular wedding venue in Marfa, TX, El Cosmico is the site where the cool things happen. Festivals, events, and weddings. It's perfect for micro-weddings of five guests or huge events of 400+ guests.
It's also a hotel and I'm sure you've seen photos of the teepees and trailers. Celebrities travel in from all over the world to stay in the Marfa desert, and this is where they go!
Location: 802 S Highland Ave, Marfa, Texas 79843
Calera Chapel
If you're having an intimate wedding or elopement, this tiny chapel in the middle of the desert might be your dream spot.
Calera Chapel is also surrounded by beauty, perfect for photos at sunset. Not many venues in Texas provide the intimate charm that Calera Chapel does. Granted, you won't be able to have a wedding reception here, but there are plenty of other spots you can choose from!
Gage Hotel
Wrapping up my recommended wedding venues in Marfa is The Gage Hotel. There’s just something about Big Bend that makes me swoon. The Gage Hotel is a restored mission-style hotel with varied style of rooms. They have Spanish-tyled bathrooms, a Southwestern touch, and multiple options for food!
Needing to relax? They have a spa where you can chill out and loosen the knots in your shoulders!
Location: 102 NW 1st St, Highway 90W #90w, Marathon, TX 79842
Hotel Paisano
This venue is a unique combination of the West Texas frontier and a historic hotel. The rooms are super cute, perfect for any bride or groom to get ready in. Looking for a wedding reception with elegance? Hotel Paisano has a ballroom or courtyard for that!
Aiming for a smaller event? They have a great space called the Rock Hudson Suite, where you can celebrate under the night sky.
Looking to keep things as easy as possible when looking for a scrumptious dinner? They offer on-site catering with Jett's Grill which, rumor has it, is quite delicious!
Location: 207 Highland St, Marfa, Texas 79843
Marfa, TX Elopement and Intimate Wedding Photographer
When I'm visiting Marfa, I can't help but fall in love each time. West Texas just has a magic that can't quite be put into words—it's meant to be felt.
The difference between a venue in Marfa and other venues is the personality and history infused into each one. Every wedding is enhanced by the intentional style, making wedding photos really shine.
My photography style is perfect for Marfa weddings since I focus on making my couples feel relaxed. And the desert's fresh air only complements this.
While I'm located in Lockhart, TX (right outside of Austin), I'll happily travel to Marfa for your elopement or big wedding! Traveling for weddings is one of my favorite things to do—variety is the spice of life!
I've been a wedding photographer for over ten years, and out of all the places I've been to, West Texas has my heart. My wife and I actually got married in Terlingua! So when you hire me as your photographer, just know that my heart will be in it 100%.
Tips For a Marfa Elopement
If you're looking to have an intimate wedding or elopement in Marfa, then I'm sure you're looking to have a wedding day that is simple and easy.
First, because the wedding venues in Marfa often have quirks and personalities, you can save on decorations. On top of that, a lot of them have on-site catering, so your reception dinner will also be easy.
I also recommend planning to spend a weekend, at minimum, in Marfa. Soak up the character of this small town. Keep the stress down—as well as take a nice break between the inevitable road trip to home.
At the end of the day, your intimate wedding is for you and your partner to celebrate your love. No matter if you choose to get married at a hotel venue or chapel, Marfa will leave an unforgettable impression.
Guaranteed.
Final Thoughts
Having a wedding in Marfa will be a fantastic time. Even though it's located essentially in the middle of nowhere, that's part of the charm. Below, you're going to see a wedding I photographed in Marfa—and it's a great starting point of inspiration.
If you're looking for a wedding photographer in Marfa, please contact me so we can get this party started!
Monique & Dane’s Marfa Elopement
Originally, Monique and Dane were planning to celebrate their wedding in Austin on April 2020 at Jennifer's Gardens.
Like many of my couples, when the pandemic hit, they had to postpone their wedding.
Shortly before their original wedding day, Sherry, Dane’s mom contacted me to see if I would come to their house to do a surprise, “drive by wedding” on what would have been their wedding day, April 18, 2020.
This was such a thoughtful and caring way to celebrate Monique and Dane, I could not miss it!
So on a very cool and rainy Saturday, I met Sherry and a handful of their family and friends to celebrate Monique and Dane from their front porch.
This was not how they had imagined their wedding day to be, but they made the most of it, laughed, cried and celebrated with their family and friends.
Fast forward to August, I received an email from Monique saying that she and Dane could not wait any longer to get married and they had decided to elope in West Texas. Marfa, to be exact.
So I packed my bags and headed to Marfa, Texas!
On their wedding day and just before sunrise, I met Monique where she was staying, El Cosmico. She finished getting ready and Dane met us shortly after for their first look.
After the ceremony, we walked around Marfa for their portrait session. The day before, I had met some cowboys and they were nice enough to meet us at the Prada Marfa Art Installation in Valentine, Texas with their horses.
I can’t make this stuff up…and we have photos to prove it. :)
Elopement Details
Ceremony Location: Faith Alive Cowboy Church
Florist: Lemon Leaf Florist
Monique’s Dress: Blue Bridal Austin
