Hotel Ella Wedding in Austin: Montana & Jonathon

Montana and Jonathon were married at Hotel Ella in 2025, with KMW Events planning a day that moved from vows under the oak trees to a veranda cocktail hour to one of the liveliest dance floors I photographed all year. Julie Cope shot alongside me, and Content by Clarice captured behind-the-scenes video for the couple.

Hotel Ella as a wedding venue

Hotel Ella is a 1900 Greek Revival mansion just north of the University of Texas campus and about a mile from downtown Austin. It is a boutique hotel, which matters more than it sounds: the wedding party gets ready in the suites, guests can stay on site, and the whole day happens in one place. The front lawn and oaks host the ceremony, the wraparound veranda is made for cocktail hour, and the Parlor and Goodall rooms inside hold dinner and dancing. For photographs, the white columns, black-and-white tile and tall windows give the whole day a clean, editorial feel.

Montana and Jonathon's day

Adore Makeup Salon handled hair and makeup in the suites before the ceremony on the lawn, with Terra Vista Strings playing. Ida Mae's Floral Design dressed the ceremony and tables, and Austin Event Lighting lit the reception so the dance floor glowed once the sun went down. Matchmaker Band kept the floor full all night, Susie's Cakes made the confetti cake that the couple cut with champagne in hand, and the after party carried on past the official end. Guests stayed at the Otis Hotel and rode over with Elegant Transportation; stationery was by The Inviting Pear, and rentals came from Table Manners, Premiere Events, Imperial Floors and Whim Hospitality.

Planning tips for a Hotel Ella wedding

A few things I have learned as an Austin wedding photographer working at Hotel Ella. Schedule the ceremony so cocktail hour lands in the last hour of daylight; the veranda photographs best then. Getting ready on site means you can do portraits early and relaxed, then join your guests, which most couples love. And the hotel is central enough that an engagement session or next-day brunch photos around campus or downtown are an easy add.

See more Austin wedding venues I photograph, or check your date.

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Vendor Dream Team 🧡
📋 Planning: @kmwevents – Planner
📍 Venue: @hotelella – Ceremony & Reception
💄 Hair & Makeup: @adoremakeupsalon – Beauty
🎻 Ceremony Music: @terravistastrings – String Quartet
📸 Photography: @johndavidweddings & @juliecopephotography – Photographer
🎥 Content Creation: @contentbyclarice – Content Creator
💐 Florals: @idamayesfloral – Floral Design
🎶 Reception Music: @matchmakerband – Live Band & DJ
💡 Lighting: @austineventlighting – Event Lighting
🍽 Rentals: @tablemannerstx @premiereeventstx @imperial_floors_ @whimhospitality_ – Rentals
🍰 Cake: Susie’s Cakes
✍️ Stationery: @the_inviting_pear – Paper Goods
🚌 Shuttles: @elegant.transportation – Guest Transport
📍Hotel Block: @theotishotelaustin – Accommodations