Without question, Texas has a lot of great destinations for weddings. Cool hotels, fancy old mansions with gorgeous gardens, and modern museums in the state’s big cities always make best-of lists. But so does Cleburne, Texas.
What is it about this small town just outside the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex that brides love so much? Why is it one of the hot spots to get married in Texas, when there are so many competing towns nearby? Here are some ideas.
1. Cleburne’s Authentic Texas Venues
When it comes to planning an authentic Texas wedding, it doesn’t get any better than Cleburne. If you’re on Pinterest, you’ve probably noticed pins from brides-to-be for “rustic weddings” or “beautiful barn weddings.” This trend isn’t going anywhere. Texas brides want a Texas wedding, but they want it to be glamorous, memorable and romantic. That’s exactly what you get in Cleburne.
When Texas Outside magazine compiled its list of the best barn wedding options in the state, Cleburne’s Jones Barn at Willow Creek Ranch and Thistle Springs Ranch both made the list. Jones Barn was praised for its Texas-sized space and gorgeous rafted ceilings, and Thistle Springs Ranch for its surrounding lush garden and roaming horses as a backdrop. Both Jones Barn and Thistle Springs Ranch again made it on to another list, this time the top 10 barn wedding venues in Texas by Wide Open Country. Finally, Junebug Weddings called Thistle Springs Ranch one of the best wedding venues in the Dallas region, praising its magnificent three-story barn, roaming horses and gorgeous sunsets over the lake.
Another popular wedding venue worth checking out is the 800-acre Barn on the Brazos for an outdoor ceremony overlooking the line of the Brazos River. Or go for something off-the-beaten-path and get married at Chisholm Trail Rustic Venue, where couples can use hay bales as wedding pews and stay overnight at a cowboy hotel. There’s an entire old Western town here, something very unique to weddings. Another Cleburne wedding venue, the Stonebridge Wedding & Event Center, has majestic oak trees that tower over guests, begging for hanging lanterns during evening ceremonies. Whatever you’re looking for in terms of a rustic yet gorgeous Texas wedding, you can find the right venue in Cleburne.
2. Texas Weather
Two things about the weather in Cleburne: 1. It’s always relatively warm. The average high in the coldest months (January and February) is still around 60 degrees. 2. It doesn’t rain a lot here, either. There are only about 35 rainy days in a year—which is good news if you want to plan a beautiful, outdoor, rustic Texas wedding.
3. It’s Not Too Out of Town
Here’s a hard truth, brides: Destination weddings are tough for your guests. And expensive. But what if you could have a wedding in a place that’s novel and unexpected, but really not that far from home? That’s Cleburne, a gorgeous Texas town that’s a quick drive from Fort Worth, Dallas and Arlington—and really not too far from Austin, either—making it fairly easy for your guests to make the trip on your wedding day and, if they prefer, have a little weekend getaway, too.
4. The Scenery
Charming is probably the best way to describe Cleburne with a landscape that’s one of the most picturesque in the region. Choose between spacious meadows, lively gardens and stunning lakes for your engagement and wedding photos. There are several parks and recreation areas couples can explore as potential wedding/reception areas such as Winston Patrick McGregor Park, Hulen Park and Lake Pat Cleburne. And if you love historic architecture, check out Cleburne’s historic homes—filled with Victorian and bungalow-style houses.
If you want an authentic, Texas wedding in an easy-to-reach destination that your guests will be talking about for years, plan your wedding in Cleburne. You won’t regret it.