How to do it at The Gallery

The Gallery on Montana is a house on San Antonio's East Side filled with art, collected furniture and a big yard. It holds up to 40 people inside, and the yard has held more than 100, so most micro weddings fit without feeling empty.

The rooms at a glance

The yard. An open lawn with a red pavilion at one end and mural-painted fences around it. This is where most couples picture the vows.

The salon. Lamplight, collected furniture and a gallery wall. A warm place for portraits and for guests to settle in.

The front porch. The black door, wood porch and steps make a natural spot for couple portraits and a send off.

Up to 40 people inside, and the yard has held more than 100. Bring the caterer you love; the Gallery does not cater and never sells, provides or stores alcohol, but hosts may bring their own alcohol, served by a TABC-certified bartender they hire, with service ending by midnight.

Through November 1: shoots and meetings from $55 an hour, events from $60 an hour. Golden hour runs a little more. Peerspace shows the final price.

How couples use the rooms

• Ceremony in the yard, with the red pavilion and mural fences behind you.
• Dinner and toasts at the dining room's long communal table.
• Portraits in the salon, in front of the wall of gilded frames.
• Couple portraits and a send off on the front porch and black door.

A sample flow for 30 guests

1. Vendors arrive and set chairs in the yard, florals on the long table and food in place.
2. Couple portraits in the salon and on the porch before guests arrive.
3. Guests gather in the yard with music on, ceremony around 20 minutes.
4. Group photos by the murals.
5. Dinner and toasts at the long table, cake, then a send off on the porch.

For a group above 40, plan to keep most of the day in the yard and use the house for portraits and a smaller seated moment.

Walk this flow on your tour. Stand where you would say your vows, then walk to the long table the way your guests would. Note how long it takes, where people would set down bags and where an older guest would sit while the photos happen. Those notes go straight into your timeline.

Food and drinks

The Gallery does not cater, so bring the caterer or food truck you love. Your food vendor brings what they need to serve, so confirm tables, plates and setup time with them early. A food truck can serve right from the yard.

The Gallery never sells, provides or stores alcohol and has no bar. Hosts may bring their own alcohol, served by a TABC-certified bartender they hire, with service ending by midnight. You can also toast with cider, lemonade or a mocktail cart.

Decor: less is more

Because the rooms are already furnished and full of art, you need very little decor. A few florals on the long table and something simple behind you in the yard is usually enough. Skip the big backdrop rental and spend that money on food or photo hours instead.

• Low centerpieces on the long table so guests can see each other.
• Candles or small lamps for warmth as the light fades.
• Place cards and a short printed order of the day.
• One floral piece or arch near the ceremony spot in the yard.

Ask on your tour what can be moved or hung, and plan decor that sets down rather than sticks to the walls. Your florist and rental company should also know the booking window so delivery and pickup fit inside it.

Weather and a backup plan

With the yard as your ceremony spot, keep an indoor fallback in mind for late spring storms and hot summer afternoons. With up to 40 inside, a smaller wedding can move into the house; a larger one should plan a later start time and shade in warm months.

Make the call on weather the day before, not an hour before, and tell every vendor and guest at the same time. Ask your rental company about a tent or extra shade early, since summer and spring weekends can book out.

Booking and touring

Tip: See it first. Bookings are by the hour on Peerspace, where current rates are listed. To walk the rooms first, book a tour with Nathan.

Nathan walks you through the house and the yard himself, so bring your guest count and timeline and ask anything. Bring the questions from this course: where the food vendor parks, where the ceremony faces at your time of day, and how long setup and pack out need.

Your next step

• Write your guest count and two dates.
• Request a tour and walk the path from parking to the yard.
• Check current hourly rates on Peerspace and book 4 to 5 hours.
• Send your timeline to every vendor a month out.

See the full layout on the space page.

Previous: Mistakes to avoid · Course overview