The Stephen F. Austin sits at 701 Congress Avenue near the Texas State Capitol and has been part of the downtown skyline for almost a century. Couples often marry at a nearby church and bring everyone back here for the reception. That pairing works well, as long as the transportation is planned as carefully as the party.
Hero photo: The Stephen F. Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel
The ballroom and the terrace
The hotel's signature space is the Capital Ballroom, about 3,600 square feet with crystal chandeliers and room for up to 300 guests. Floor-to-ceiling French doors open to the Terrace, which looks out on Congress Avenue and the Capitol.
For film, that balcony is the best five minutes of the night. On the day we filmed here, the couple stepped out for a balcony photo during dinner service.
Getting ready in the same building
Our couple got ready at the hotel, so hair, makeup and detail shots happened at the hotel while the florist, rentals and planner set up the reception from 1:00 PM. The band loaded in at 1:30 PM.
Having everyone under one roof makes the morning calm. The tricky part comes later, when the day moves to the church.
Church ceremony and the shuttle
The ceremony was at a nearby downtown church. SUVs ran the bride, bridesmaids, groomsmen and ushers over in waves starting at 2:30 PM, and we met them at the church at 3:00 PM for a first look and photos outside.
After a 5:00 PM ceremony, a 56-passenger charter bus took guests back to the hotel, then returned for family and the wedding party. The couple took an SUV to separate photos while guests enjoyed cocktail hour, and came back in time for a quick photo on Congress before their entrance.
Reception, band breaks and the exit
The band played in sets with three 15 minute breaks, and the planner used those breaks for toasts and cake. Ask your band for their break schedule early so the big moments do not land in silence.
The bar closed at 10:30 PM and the couple left at 11:00 PM through a sparkler exit to a classic car parked on Congress. Vendor cleanup ran until midnight, and personal items went up to a suite.
- Capital Ballroom: about 3,600 sq ft, up to 300 guests
- French doors to the Terrace over Congress Avenue
- Plan shuttles if your ceremony is at a church
- Exit car can wait on Congress Avenue
A real day here
A spring Saturday we filmed here (April 2025)
| 1:00 PM | Rentals, florist and planner begin reception setup at the hotel |
| 1:30 PM | Band arrives for load in |
| 2:00 PM | Photographer arrives at the hotel for details and getting ready |
| 2:30 PM | SUVs begin taking the wedding party to the church |
| 5:00 PM | Ceremony at the church |
| 5:30 PM | Charter bus takes guests from the church to the hotel |
| 5:50 PM | Cocktail hour at the hotel; couple away for photos |
| 6:50 PM | Couple back at the hotel, photo on Congress, guests seated |
| 7:00 PM | Grand entrance, first dance and a toast on the dance floor |
| 7:45 PM | Balcony photo with the couple |
| 7:55 PM | Champagne toast and speeches during the band break |
| 9:00 PM | Cake cutting |
| 10:30 PM | Bar closes |
| 11:00 PM | Sparkler exit to a classic car on Congress |
Sample timelines by season
Sunset in Austin moves by three hours across the year, and it decides almost everything else on the timeline. Here is how we would shape a day at The Stephen F. Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel in each season. Times are a starting point; your planner and venue will tune them.
Spring
| 2:30 PM | Coverage begins with details and getting ready |
| 3:30 PM | First look, then couple portraits |
| 4:05 PM | Wedding party portraits, then immediate family |
| 4:50 PM | Couple tucked away in the suite; guests arrive |
| 5:30 PM | Ceremony at the church |
| 6:00 PM | Cocktail hour at the hotel; extended family photos |
| 7:00 PM | Grand entrance and dinner |
| 7:25 PM | Couple slips out for golden hour, about 15 minutes |
| 8:00 PM | Toasts, then first dance and parent dances |
| 8:30 PM | Dance floor opens |
| 11:00 PM | Sparkler send-off |
Summer
| 3:15 PM | Coverage begins with details and getting ready |
| 4:15 PM | Bride with her bridesmaids, groom with his groomsmen, separately |
| 4:45 PM | Each side's family photos, still apart |
| 5:15 PM | Guests arrive; couple hidden in the suite |
| 5:45 PM | Ceremony at the church, first sight at the aisle |
| 6:15 PM | Family photos at the ceremony site |
| 6:30 PM | Wedding party photos, then couple portraits while guests enjoy a long cocktail hour at the hotel |
| 7:30 PM | Grand entrance straight into the first dance |
| 7:40 PM | Dinner |
| 8:05 PM | Golden hour portraits between courses |
| 8:30 PM | Toasts and parent dances, dance floor opens |
| 11:15 PM | Sparkler send-off |
Fall
| 3:15 PM | Coverage begins with details and getting ready |
| 4:15 PM | Separate portraits with the wedding party; no first look |
| 5:30 PM | Guests arrive to live music |
| 6:15 PM | Ceremony at the church, timed for the last of the light |
| 6:40 PM | Recessional; family photos first, while the light holds |
| 6:45 PM | Cocktail hour at the hotel into dusk |
| 6:55 PM | Golden hour couple portraits, about 20 minutes |
| 7:35 PM | Grand entrance, first dance, then dinner |
| 8:25 PM | Toasts and parent dances |
| 8:55 PM | Dance floor opens |
| 11:15 PM | Sparkler send-off |
Winter
| 12:30 PM | Coverage begins with details and getting ready |
| 1:30 PM | First look with dad, then a bridesmaid reveal |
| 1:45 PM | Groom's portraits with his parents and groomsmen |
| 2:30 PM | Wedding party tucked away in the suite as guests arrive |
| 3:15 PM | Ceremony at the church |
| 3:45 PM | Cocktail hour at the hotel; family photos first, then the wedding party |
| 4:15 PM | Couple portraits, about 20 minutes |
| 4:45 PM | Grand entrance and dinner |
| 5:00 PM | Quick sunset portraits, about 10 minutes |
| 5:45 PM | Toasts, cake cutting, first dance and parent dances |
| 6:15 PM | Dance floor opens |
| 8:35 PM | Private last dance, then sparkler send-off |
Common questions
How many guests fit in the Capital Ballroom?
The hotel lists the Capital Ballroom at 3,600 square feet with a wedding maximum of 300 guests.
Can we have our ceremony at the hotel?
Yes. The hotel lists the Capital Ballroom for wedding ceremonies, and the Terrace for dinners or ceremonies.
Can guests stay at the hotel?
Yes. The hotel offers wedding room blocks with a minimum of 10 peak rooms.
Planning a wedding here? Send us your date and we will tell you how we would film it.