The Crystal Ballroom at the Rice : A Downtown Houston Landmark

The Crystal Ballroom at the Rice is one of those Houston wedding venues that has timeless charm. Its a historic landmark equipped with everything I love about an event space: great food, great space for entertaining and amazing backdrops for photos.

In the SwaLaRue Venue Tours, we’ve been here, here and here. And today we’re taking a trip Downtown to one of my all-time favorites.

The Crystal Ballroom is home of the original capitol of the Republic of Texas and has maintained its charm since 1913, in other capacities before settling in as an event space. It holds massive guests counts and it’s balcony and Empire room are THE place to be for engagement photos.

Here are some items to highlight when planning for your event:

	Yes	No
Are upgrades on-site?		x
Cocktail Space	x
Reception Space	x
Host multiple events at same time		x
Outside Catering? Buy-out fee required		x

Maximum Occupancy

	Max Occupancy
Reception	400
Standing	800
Empire Room	50-120

Rental Pricing Overview:

This venue charges per person for food and beverage with minimums outlined based on Monday-Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday rates. If you are concerned your guest count won’t meet the minimum for Food and Beverage you can always add on additional bonuses such as a midnight snack. Expect flexible pricing based on your budget and wedding vision. Emily and team are standing by to work with you your event to find the optimal solution for your needs.

How much time does this venue allow for set up?

At the Crystal Ballroom, 2-hours is allotted for set up and additional time can be purchased if needed.

What I love about this venue:

I love the charm at the Rice as well as stopping by Sambuca downstairs after client meetings! The venue has an amazing stage which is perfect for a band or special effects by your DJ/ Entertainers.

Buffet tables can be tucked away in an adjoining room so those tables don’t take away from the ambiance of your reception and with pipe and drape this space can be transformed into a completely different space for a ceremony vs. reception.

The Crystal Ballroom at the Rice is perfect for corporate events as well, equipped with a balcony for activities like a cigar bar and the perfect backdrop for any art-deco event. In-fact all of my art-deco themed weddings have been held at this venue!

The staff is extremely professional and caters to the vendor AND guest experience. They even help pack up at the end of events which is just a testament to their ability to partner to ensure clients go home with full bellies, warm hearts, and no worries.

To schedule a tour with this venue, send a request via their website or call (713) 227-7423.

And for more information, visit The Crystal Ballroom.

Now that you are more informed about The Ideson Library, do you feel you may need some help conducting a tour? If so check out my post on what questions to ask or give me a call.

Photos courtesy of WhoIsLeadingE Photography , the Jeffries and SwaLaRue Events