The Grand Lady, Austin's 1881 mansion reimagined.
A restored historic estate on twenty acres of oak trees, with a modern reception hall and a working flower farm tucked into the back. There is nothing else quite like it in Texas.
A wedding gift, passed down across centuries.
The Grand Lady was built in 1881 as a wedding gift for Mrs. Walton in Bartlett, Texas. In 1911, the family redesigned the original Victorian into its current Colonial form, adding a second floor and two wraparound porches while keeping the ornamental woodwork and original stained glass. In the 1970s, the entire house was relocated to its current spot in Manor, just outside Austin.
The current chapter began in 2018, when Katie West and Sean Kane began a careful revival of the property. A full restoration kicked off in 2019, and the result is essentially three venues in one. A historic two-story mansion with stained glass and milled details. A modern event hall built for large receptions. And Grand Lady Floral, a half-acre regenerative cut-flower farm tucked behind the property, where the in-house team grows blooms for the weddings hosted on site.
The property runs across approximately twenty acres of oak trees. The drive in feels like leaving Austin entirely, which is a feature, not a bug. You are about fifteen miles east of downtown, close enough that hotel-bound guests do not feel stranded, far enough that the property feels like its own world.
A note worth flagging up front. The Grand Lady requires couples to select their caterer and wedding planner from their approved vendor list. Outside vendors in those two categories are not permitted. Bar, floral, and rentals are in-house. If you already have a planner or caterer in mind, run them by the venue first before signing anything.
The Grand Lady, on a wedding day.
Stills do not do this place justice. Here is what it actually looks like when the day comes together.
What comes with the venue.
The Grand Lady operates as an integrated venue. Bar, floral, and rentals are in-house. Catering and planning come from the venue's approved vendor list.
Customizable packages based on guest count, hours, and selection. Signature cocktails available. All bar service handled in-house.
Curated, in-house collection of tables, chairs, and styling pieces. No delivery fees or hidden costs, per the venue.
Grand Lady Floral, the venue's in-house studio with three designers and a half-acre regenerative cut-flower farm grown on-site. Optional add-on to your venue rental.
The venue offers tiered collections that bundle bar, floral, and rentals with the rental fee. Custom configurations available on request.
Property access from getting ready through last dance. Mansion suites, hall, and garden all included in the rental.
The Grand Lady requires couples to choose their caterer and wedding planner from an approved vendor list. Outside vendors in those two categories are not permitted.
If a couple tells us they want history, hospitality, and a venue that handles the details themselves, The Grand Lady is on the shortlist every time. It costs more than most. The reason is visible the moment you walk the property. The flower farm is real and the team treats your wedding like the first one they have ever cared about. We know because Toast was there for that one.
Who this venue is right for.
The 1881 details, the in-house floral garden, the integrated services. This is a venue for couples who notice and care about how things are made.
The modern hall comfortably handles up to 250 guests, with three distinct spaces letting the day flow naturally from ceremony to cocktail hour to reception.
The mansion exterior, the flower garden, and the oak grounds give photographers an unusual range of environments in one rental. The light is genuinely exceptional.
Bar, rentals, and floral all in-house means fewer contracts, fewer points of failure, and fewer day-of coordination headaches.
The Grand Lady does not publish exact pricing publicly. Our $$$ tier is an estimate based on published starting prices and typical guest investment for venues in this category. Actual pricing varies by date, day of week, and package. Our concierge team can help you reach out to the venue to get pricing for your specific date.
Get Help with PricingLet our concierge make this easier.
Our Austin concierge team has worked with The Grand Lady directly. They can help you check availability for your date, research pricing, or walk you through the planning logistics. No charge, no obligation.
About The Grand Lady.
Find The Grand Lady.
Austin, TX 78653
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About the Author
Walter McClellan founded Toast Entertainment in 2010 with less than $1,000 and grew it into one of the most reviewed wedding companies in America, earning The Knot Hall of Fame status. Toast Entertainment is a full-service wedding DJ, photography, and videography company serving Austin, the Hill Country, and Central Texas.
