How Wedding Pricing Works at Moonshadow Ranch: You Pay for Access, Not the Date

Most wedding venues price by the calendar. Saturdays cost more. Peak season costs more. And whatever day you land on, you often get a short window to set up, celebrate and clear out.

We do it differently. At Moonshadow Ranch, a wedding venue in the Texas Hill Country about 45 minutes from Austin, the price depends on how much access you book. The day of the week and the time of year don't change it.

Here is how that works, what comes with the venue, and what actually moves your total.

Does a Friday wedding cost less here?

No, and that is the point.

At a lot of venues, a Friday or an off season date is the cheapest way to get married because the venue discounts the dates it struggles to fill. Here there is no Saturday premium to discount from. The same access costs the same on a Friday in February or a Saturday in October.

That changes how you pick a date. If your family can travel in the fall, you don't have to talk yourselves into a winter Friday to save money. If a Friday or an off season wedding suits you anyway, it's still a good choice. It just isn't a pricing workaround.

The date can still matter for your vendors. Some caterers, photographers and DJs set their own rates by day or season, so ask each of them.

How much access do you need?

You choose between two options.

Four-day access is the one most couples ask about. Nobody is hanging string lights at 8am on the wedding day, the rehearsal happens where the ceremony will happen, and the day itself feels like a day instead of a deadline.

Day-of access still gives you a long runway. 7am to midnight is a full day for vendors to set up, for you to get ready, and for the party to run late.

Full details on both options are on our pricing page.

What's included with the venue?

More than most couples expect, and that matters for your budget. At many venues, tables, chairs and linens come from a separate rental company. Here they come with the venue.

The barn is 5,000 square feet and seats 200 at tables, plus 20 on the mezzanine. Included rentals cover tables, 200 ceremony chairs and 200 reception chairs, linens, chargers, church pews, a decor closet you can pull from, and more. On the wedding day, the Silo is yours for the bridal party to get ready.

The complete list is on the pricing page, so we won't repeat it here. If you're comparing venues, put that list next to the rental quote another venue would send you.

What do we bring ourselves?

Couples bring catering, bar service and a photographer. Our plates and glassware inventory is limited, so we go over availability on your tour based on your guest count.

We share a preferred vendor list of professionals who have worked on the property and come highly recommended. You are also welcome to bring your own vendors, as long as they are properly licensed, so you can book the caterer your family loves or the photographer you've followed for years.

Moonshadow Ranch requires a minimum of day-of management, which is booked separately. We also work closely with an independent wedding coordinator who is familiar with our venue and can provide coordination services separately. However, couples are welcome to hire a coordinator of their choice.

This is where your total gets decided. The venue cost depends on your access choice. Almost everything else scales with your choices:

• Guest count. It drives catering and bar costs more than anything else.
• Catering style. Plated, buffet and family style are priced differently. Ask your caterer.
• Bar service. What you serve and for how long.
• Photographer. Hours of coverage, and whether you want the rehearsal covered too.
• Coordinator. The scope of planning and day-of support you need.
• Sheriff's officers. Two officers are required for events serving alcohol and one for dry events, at $60 an hour per officer with a four-hour minimum. We handle the scheduling, and you pay the officers directly in cash on the day of your event.

Because tables, chairs and linens are already covered, more of your budget goes to the things your guests notice: the food, the drinks and the photos you'll keep.

Having the ceremony and reception in one place also removes costs like shuttles and a second setup. We wrote about that in why the ceremony and reception at one venue works.

How does lodging fit in?

Lodging is booked separately from the venue, so you only pay for what you use.

• The ranch house has six bedrooms, sleeps 13 and has six private baths, plus a hot tub on the porch. You book it on Airbnb or VRBO, where you'll find current rates and availability.
• The Silo sleeps 4, with one king and one queen. It's free on the wedding day for the bridal party to get ready. Overnight stays are booked directly with us. Ask us for current rates.

Some couples fill the ranch house with family for the whole weekend. Others don't need it. Either way, it doesn't change what you pay for the venue.

You can see the rooms on our lodging page, and read where your out of town guests actually sleep.

Frequently asked questions

Do Saturdays or peak season cost more?

No. Pricing is based on how much access you book, not the day or the time of year.

Does four-day access have to run Thursday to Sunday?

No. Thursday to Sunday is the most common, but it can start any day.

What are the hours for day-of access?

7am to midnight.

Can we bring our own caterer and bar service?

Yes. Any properly licensed vendor is welcome, and we also share a preferred vendor list of professionals who have worked on the property.

Do we need a wedding coordinator?

Yes. Moonshadow Ranch requires a minimum of day-of management, which is booked separately. We work closely with an independent wedding coordinator who knows the venue, and you are welcome to hire a coordinator of your choice.

What deposits are required?

Two. A $1,000 non-refundable booking deposit secures your date and applies toward your venue rental. A separate $1,000 security deposit is due 60 days before your event. It is not included in the venue rental rates and is refunded about two weeks after your event, provided there are no damages.

Is lodging included in the venue price?

No. The ranch house is booked on Airbnb or VRBO, and the Silo is booked directly with us. The Silo is free on the wedding day for the bridal party to get ready.

Can we bring our dog?

Yes. Dogs are welcome with a deposit.

Where can I see prices?

We send a pricing guide on request. It covers both access options, deposits and how lodging works with them.

Get the pricing guide

Send us your date and we'll send the pricing guide. Request it here, or contact us to set up a tour. Planning the drive? Directions are on our getting here page.