8 Reasons To Have An UMLAUF Sculpture Garden Wedding
Here Are All Of The Reasons You Need To Have An UMLAUF Sculpture Garden Wedding
If you've spent any time on my blog, you know I'm in love with so many Austin wedding venues. After being a wedding photographer for over ten years, I've seen venues that are great. And...I've seen venues that are not so great.
But the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden and Museum definitely land in the former. This wedding venue in Downtown Austin is nothing short of gorgeous and versatile, capable of fitting hundreds of guests or catering to couples looking to elope.
So, let's go over some of the things that really make the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden special and perfect for your wedding!
My Favorite Parts Of The UMLAUF Sculpture Garden
I've spent time at this venue and even shot events here, and the space never ceases to charm me. The natural backdrops are hard to find in Downtown Austin, so when I first saw the tranquil ponds and stunning sculptures, I knew this was the kind of venue I wanted to shoot at more!
The UMLAUF offers covered areas for anyone's special day, with gorgeous art along the pathways. How many wedding venues can say that?
About The UMLAUF Sculpture Garden Museum
We can all thank Charles Umlauf for the inspiration for this gorgeous sculpture garden. The property was originally bought by him and his wife, Angie, in 1944. After living the dream next to Barton Springs, while Charles UMLAUF taught as a Life Drawing and Sculpture professor at the University of Texas’ Art Department, they gifted the property to the city of Austin and over 160 sculptures.
Since then, the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden has expanded past Charles Umlauf's art and now features art created by other artists.
The museum also began to expand in 1991 with the building of its iconic terrace. Then, in 2001, the Roberta Crenshaw Learning Center was built. All of it combined has created a beautiful wedding venue!
Things To Know About Weddings At The UMLAUF Sculpture Garden
This venue isn't just about having historic and romantic charm—it's about bringing Austin culture to life. If you're looking for a wedding with fairy garden charm with an upscale vibe, this venue is perfect.
When you invest in a wedding at the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden, according to their website, you receive the following benefits:
Exclusive use of the Terrace, Lawns, Arbor Ceremony Area, Garden, and Catering Kitchen
Exclusive use of the Crenshaw Room with large restroom to relax and get ready
Event security and venue manager to assist guests and vendors
Includes access to the UMLAUF's private parking lot with 22 parking spaces and convenient access to public parking in nearby lots
One-year family-level membership to UMLAUF Sculpture Garden + Museum
One-hour ceremony rehearsal scheduled the day prior to your wedding during Museum hours
Photo shoots can be scheduled during Museum hours, including engagement photos, bridal photos, day-of-wedding photos, etc.
I mean, you even get a family-level membership for a whole year! How fun is that? But keep in mind that this is still a museum, so here's a rundown on guidelines to keep in mind.
Possible Downsides Of Renting The UMLAUF Sculpture Garden
You aren't allowed to alter anything. Because this is an outdoor sculpture garden, you have to focus on the beauty already provided. Only certain kinds of alterations are allowed so as to prevent any potential damage to the museum.
No open flames. Like any other museum on the planet (and a lot of regular wedding venues), there are no open flames allowed. Don't fret! There are some great flameless wax candles out there with flickering "flames" that look so real that no one will notice unless they look closely.
No birdseed. This wedding venue focuses on the mantra, "Leave a place better than you found it." No traces of your event are permitted, and when people start tossing around birdseed, it'll encourage an undue amount of birds to show up later.
Limited vendors approved. Especially for tents, they only allow certain vendors. Make sure to ask them about any vendor limitations.
Extremely limited access prior to the ceremony. Everything above is relatively normal for the average venue, but one thing that is a real downside to this space is the fact that zero vendors are allowed to start loading until 4 p.m., when the museum closes. This can possibly make events run late if anything goes wrong.
Limited parking. The parking lot immediately in front of the museum has 22 spots—but a big party will certainly need more than that. Additional guests will need to find parking elsewhere, which is why I recommend a ride-share.
8 Reasons To Get Married At The UMLAUF Sculpture Garden Museum
Okay, while we discussed some limitations above, let's talk about the amazing benefits of getting married at the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden and Museum.
A Magical Outdoor Setting
The UMLAUF Sculpture Garden really thought out what the wedding reception space should feel like during the day and the evening. At night, you and your guests will be charmed by festive lighting hung along the limestone walls.
During the day, the venue has gorgeous winding pathways, stunning stone sculptures, surrounding lawns, and a ceremony arbor that filters in sunset light. During cocktail hour, your guests can meander the pathways and take in the art, an added bonus experience for them.
Another aspect of the natural backdrops is the tranquil ponds and streams that, especially on a hot day, will be a tempting pool to chill out in (but don't do that!).
Perfect For Large Events
Whether you're having a seated dinner for 100 or require a reception space for an elaborate affair with hundreds of guests, the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden can accommodate on their open-air limestone terrace.
The venue has the capacity for up to 250 guests, making it a wonderful option for a large party!
Centrally Located in Downtown Austin
Downtown Austin has some amazing venues for weddings! One of the main benefits to downtown wedding venues is that out-of-town guests have easy access to them.
Your friends and family coming in for your wedding can fly in and relax at one of the hundreds of downtown hotels before whisking off in a ride-share to the UMLAUF.
It also helps prevent people from being late to the ceremony!
Like Getting Married In A Museum, But Better!
I've photographed a few weddings inside museums, and let me tell you, they can be quite limiting for photography, especially if there are paintings on the walls! Flash photography is often prohibited, as well.
Unlike a normal museum, at the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden and Museum, there are no off-limit areas for photos!
Plus, unlike a normal museum, there is a gorgeous open-air backdrop, a unique ceremony arbor, festive lighting, and a romantic charm you can't deny!
Fantastic Option For Elopements
If you want to have an intimate ceremony instead of a big party with a seated dinner, you can say your wedding vows under the ceremony arbor, stroll the surrounding lawns to take in nature, and then head to dinner elsewhere to celebrate.
Because the venue focuses more on incorporating art with the serene beauty of the grounds, your small elopement ceremony will offer one of the most intimate moments of your life with your partner.
Cute Room To Get Ready In Or Store The Cake
If you're hoping to get ready at your wedding venue, the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden has you covered—literally. They have a climate-controlled space called the Crenshaw room, which is a round room with lots of windows (that people cannot see into) that offers a spot for couples to get ready in.
You and your wedding party can get gussied up in there, staying cool on summer days or warm on winter ones, without worry!
Is your wedding day during the summer? Even if your reception is on the covered terrace, you can have your cake inside this room so it doesn't melt!
A Venue Manager On-Site
Another wonderful benefit to having a wedding at the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden is having an on-site venue manager. A lot of Austin wedding venues have this, and the museum is no exception.
A venue manager is responsible for taking care of the venue on the day of, answering questions, orienting vendors, and making sure the event stays safe.
Discounts For Certain Seasons
Not every wedding venue offers this, but the museum says on their site that they offer discounts for off-season weddings. Off-season often means the winter months (Jan-Feb and July-August), so feel free to reach out to them to see if your event qualifies.
The Rental Rates For The UMLAUF Sculpture Garden
According to the UMLAUF website, these are the current rates. Make sure to reach out for the most up-to-date rates.
Friday Evening - $4,250
4:00pm-12:00am
Saturday Evening - $5,250
4:00pm-12:00am
Sunday Evening - $4,250
4:00pm-12:00am
Weekend Morning - $2,300
7:00am-12:00pm
*Monday - Thursday Evening - $2,850
4:00pm-12:00am
*They're closed on Mondays but open to discussion.
Wrapping Up
The UMLAUF Sculpture Garden and Museum has stunning, unparalleled historic and romantic charm that really adds something special to both an intimate ceremony and an elaborate affair.
If this article inspires you to see the museum, I recommend contacting them to book a venue tour!
Below, you'll see a recent engagement session I did at the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden with Michelle and Zach (who are also featured as the wedding in this article!). You can see the gorgeous beauty yourself!
And, of course, if you're looking to book a wedding photographer for your event, I'm happy to chat with you. Click the button below to reach out!
Michelle & Zach’s Engagement Session At The UMLAUF Sculpture Garden
