You could argue that destination weddings have been in hibernation since the COVID-19 pandemic started, but they certainly are not, as some media reports have suggested, on their way out.

 Quite the opposite. Travel Weekly reported in late 2020 that interest in destination weddings is on the upswing.

 We agree. The benefits of destination weddings — including extending your celebration, adding elements of fun and adventure to your nuptials, and seizing the opportunity to create special memories — are still very much alive.

 We know your options run the gamut, from beach resorts to exotic locales, but we’d like to add a recommendation to your list of options. With its rich cultural arts offerings, eclectic restaurants, and more, Houston is a fantastic choice for memorable destination weddings.

 The price is right, too. Houston has been ranked one of the most affordable places to travel to in the U.S. with an average airfare of $286 and an average hotel cost per night of $131. The average cost of a wedding venue here is $16,500, and you can find many quality venues here that offer packages below that amount.

 So, why not consider a destination wedding? And while you’re at it, why not consider having it in Houston?

 So Much to Explore

 We’ve heard people ask, “What can people do in Houston, besides visiting Johnson Space Center?” Plenty.

 Houston is one of the largest cities in the U.S., and believe us, there is a wealth of things to do and places to see here.

 In fact, in 2019, before COVID-19 brought travel to a standstill, Houston was named one of the best vacation destinations in the world by Bloomberg.

 “Only two other United States cities made the cut: Savannah, Georgia, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida,” Houston magazine, Paper City, reported at the time.

 “Just what do these far-flung wanderlust wonders have in common?” Paper City continued. “Bloomberg based its list on draws like brand new restaurants, major hotel openings and “skyrocketing cultural cachet.”

 Nicely described. And Houston’s rich cultural scene is still at your disposal, along with much, much more. Here’s just a tiny sampling of the fabulous finds your wedding guests can enjoy in Houston:

 Cultural and performing arts:

·      Arts District Houston: The district is home to 400 studio spaces for artists, designers, and makers. Among other historic and cultural attractions, the area is home to expansive murals, Foto Fest, and the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern, which displays art in a former underground drinking water facility from the 1920s,

·      Houston Theater District: Houston is one of only five U.S. cities with permanent professional resident companies in all of the major performing arts disciplines. The theater district, in downtown Houston, is home to Houston Ballet, Houston Grand Opera, Theatre Under the Stars, Alley Theatre, and more.

·      Houston Museum District: Here you can choose from 19 museums in four walkable and bikeable zones. Your choices range from free options, like the Asia Society Texas Center and Lawndale Art Center, to The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and the Houston Zoo.

·      Seismique: We couldn’t resist adding this new addition to Houston, which opened in December 2020. Seismique is a technology-fueled experiential art museum featuring 40 unique artist-curated galleries. Experiences range from terrestrial beings and artificial intelligence to dramatic displays of light, sound, and color.

 Foodie paradise:

Where to begin? We hesitate to include restaurant examples here because the food choices in Houston are so vast. Certainly, you can experience amazing Tex-Mex, barbecue, Southern, and Cajun delicacies here. Fine dining and amazing steak. But you and your friends and family also can try excellent food from around the world. You can go vegan or experience creative new experiences in fusion.

 Houstonia Magazine covered this topic in 2019 after celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson visited the city and praised Houston’s food scene. “It’s super-diverse,” he said. “America’s landscape of chefs is becoming more diverse, and Houston is a major outpost for that. West African, Vietnamese, Mexican … it’s all there.”

 Shopping:

The Galleria, the city’s largest and most luxurious mall with 400 stores and restaurants, an ice-skating rink, and two swimming pools has been synonymous with Houston shopping for decades. But Houston is home to other quality malls, too, along with unique shopping districts and markets.

·      Rice Village, for example, is a walkable shopping district near Rice University that has been described as an “iconic landscape for shopping, dining, and discovery.” Founded in 1938, the district features upscale stores, art installations, a bi-monthly farmer’s market, and other special events.

·      River Oaks District offers high-fashion luxury shopping, along with fine dining and entertainment.

·      For a more eclectic shopping experience, try the antique dealers, resale shops, art galleries, and boutiques along 19th Street in the Houston Heights, which Texas Monthly magazine recently described as a “funky, independent haven for shoppers.”

 Getting Star Struck

While we mentioned that there’s much more to do in Houston than visiting Johnson Space Center, this Houston landmark is a super-cool place to see. As the NASA/Space Center guide points out, “It is the only place in the world where visitors can see astronauts train for missions, touch a real moon rock, land a shuttle, and take a behind-the-scenes tour of NASA.”

 Research Tools

 Again, this is far from an inclusive list of the attractions Houston offers.

 Need help finding more? Many Houston venues are happy to act as your concierge, so to speak, and provide recommendations for local attractions. If you’d rather do more research on your own, Houston wedding and special events venue, The Bell Tower on 34th, features an interactive map on its website where visitors can find nearby restaurants, hotels, churches, airports, and other area points of interest. And if you’re researching Houston venues, you can find a similar resource on our website.

 The point is, if you’d like to try a destination wedding in Houston, your challenge won’t be discovering fun places and great food to experience. The tricky part is narrowing down your list.

 Note: All photos have been provided courtesy of Visit Houston.