The Gardens of Cranesbury View

Tucked into 32 acres of Texas Hill Country near New Braunfels, The Gardens of Cranesbury View brings a genuinely rare sight to the region: three acres of formal European gardens, complete with eight-foot hedges and a driveway lined by more than 100 rose bushes. Owner Amy Templeton, a Cal Poly-trained horticulturist who studied the Gardens of Versailles, spent 15 years shaping the grounds into what she calls "a little piece of Europe set here in New Braunfels" — a deliberate departure from the typical Hill Country look, and all the more striking for it. Ceremonies take place at an elegant 15-foot wrought-iron gazebo set among the gardens, with no extra charge for using the site. When weather turns, celebrations move indoors to the ballroom — designed in the spirit of an old English chapel, with a white marble floor and warm, elegant accents across 3,200 square feet — or to the fully covered courtyard, where crystal chandeliers hang above a garden view complete with a mobile bar and space for games. A bridal suite with multiple makeup stations and a garden-view balcony, along with a separate groom's suite, round out the preparations. The venue includes chiavari and padded chairs, tables, and a day-of facilitator with every package, and the grounds are gated, well-lit, and fully handicap accessible. With her recommended list of florists, caterers, and coordinators built from 29 years in the wedding industry, Amy and her team bring a personal, deeply experienced hand to every celebration held on these remarkable grounds.