Happily Ever After Starts At The Gruene Estate

The Gruene Estate sits on 17 acres of land just 1 mile outside the town of Gruene. With a house that dates to 1855 and a newer pavilion and open-air chapel complete with bell tower, this is a place to truly experience Texas hill country life. “We started out as just vacation rentals, but after people did a few weddings on the property, we decided that it would be a great place for an actual venue,” explains owner Nolan Bluntzer.

The Bluntzers have owned the Gruene Estate lands for about 10 years turning what was once a roughly 6,000-acre cotton farm into a country wedding experience over two years ago and, as Bluntzer says, we have been “doing vacation rentals, weddings and events ever since.” Conveniently located on Loop 337 and near Austin and San Antonio, the Estate provides Old World charm, as if you stepped back in time.

“Nothing on the property is prefabricated,” Bluntzer states, including the crystal chandeliers or the open-air pavilion and chapel that seats up to 200 guests with handmade tables build from reclaimed barn wood. “Our venue has a rustic vintage feel that a lot of brides seem to like,” he continues. “The chapel was designed around antique stained glass windows from a church in England.” Even the bell rung by a newlywed couple upon exiting the church was made especially for the Estate by fifth generation bell makers in Michigan.

Couples, wedding guests and vacationers can all enjoy The Gruene Estate. Twelve guests can sleep overnight onsite, which is different than other wedding venues. Guests have easy access to downtown New Braunfels or Gruene, which was begun by a Gruene family member in the late 1880s and now has the State of Texas designation as a Historic Town. It is a quaint town that houses the oldest dancehall in the state. New Braunfels has Schlitterbahn (a water park) and many historic buildings, nightlife and tubing on the Guadalupe River.

“I think since we are a small family-owned and family-operated business,” Bluntzer says, “we strive to provide a personal customer service experience that brides and grooms will appreciate as they plan their event.” Happily ever after begins at this historic country estate in Texas.

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