Hot Springs Weddings: From Start to Finish

When it comes to planning a wedding in Arkansas, Hot Springs is an ideal destination. Not only does it boast lush gardens, sparkling lakes and scenic mountains, its central location in the state makes it just a short drive from anywhere in Arkansas. Plus, it’s an intimate, charming city where you’ll find historic buildings and unique attractions around every corner.

Whether you want a lakeside wedding, a garden ceremony or a grand indoor fête, Hot Springs has venues and vendors to fit every wedding style and budget. It’s no wonder TheWeddingReport.com reports almost 1,500 couples choose to get hitched in Hot Springs each year.

Everything You Need in One Place

Hot Springs may be a relatively small town, but its wedding vendors are first-rate and plentiful. The Spa City is home to every type of service you need to plan the wedding of your dreams — from caterers like The Green Herb, Ambrosia Bakery and The Haute Chocolatier (color-coordinated chocolate, anyone?!) to talented musicians, popular bridal boutiques like Gayla’s Gowns and photographers like the up-and-coming Lindsey Landrum Photography. You’ll even find everything you need to take the party up a notch at Service Liquor & Wines.

The abundance of easily accessible vendors means Hot Springs is a one-stop-shop, making your wedding as stress-free as possible.

“Everything is in close proximity to each other inside the city,” says wedding planner Randi Slick of Hot Springs’ Signature Events. “You can get from downtown to the lake in 15 minutes or less.”

Plus, Hot Springs’ close-knit family of wedding professionals often work together to make your day the best it can be. “All of our vendors are small, locally owned businesses,” Slick says. “We enjoy working together, and sometimes we’ll be out there at 3 a.m. after a wedding cleaning up or doing what we need to, together.”

Diana Bratton has been providing brides with the same creativity and culinary mastery that earns her deli-style restaurant Café 1217 and Texas-inspired Taco Mama rave reviews. With a wide variety of price points and culinary genres, Bratton says what sets her catering apart is a dedication to fresh, homemade dishes and creative customizable menus.

You’ll find all the blooms you need at Hot Springs’ family owned and operated florist House of Flowers. Service dedicated to getting you fresh florals and mastery of both modern and traditional arrangements make this vendor the go-to choice for Hot Springs weddings large and small.

Or drop by Lauray’s—The Diamond Center on historic Bathhouse Row for a special something. Offering breathtaking wedding pieces since 1924, Hot Springs’ premiere jeweler offers an ever-changing collection of bridal jewelry and men’s wedding bands.

And if you ever get stumped, trusty resources are at your fingertips: visit HotSpringsBridalGuide.com or ArkansasBride.com for vendors or inspiration.

A Variety of Venues

Hot Springs’ venue options are diverse, ranging from scenic lakeside ceremonies to lavish affairs in ballrooms and even art galleries. No matter what type of rehearsal, ceremony and reception you desire, or what size budget you’re working with, Hot Springs can deliver.

Looking to wed in a lush, verdant garden or a chapel with beautiful views of the great outdoors? Garvan Woodland Gardens offers both. The 210-acre woodland gardens are surrounded by 4 miles of Lake Hamilton shoreline, offering several different outdoor backdrops for your perfect day. The elegant Anthony Chapel, which features floor-to-ceiling glass walls, is one of the most popular wedding sites on the grounds. Suzie Burch, Garvan’s wedding director, says brides can also choose to wed in the gorgeous Evans Celebration Garden, the Garden Pavilion or the Klipsch Amphitheater. “For small groups of 20 or fewer, we also have our ‘No Frills, No Fuss’ package at any of the bridges or waterfalls in the gardens,” Burch says.

Lookout Point Lakeside Inn offers couples intimate lakeside ceremonies, and the inn’s attentive staff will tend to all of the details, from planning the ceremony and reception to handling itineraries and appointments for guests. Receptions are held in the dining room or outdoors on the dining plaza by the waterfalls, and the entire inn may also be reserved for a wedding party and guests. “It makes a fun time for the couple and their friends and family — like a happy family reunion,” says Kristie Rosset, Lookout co-owner. You don’t have to worry about booking an officiant either, as Rosset is an ordained United Methodist Clergy.

Another lakeside option is the beautiful Hamilton House Estate Bed & Breakfast Inn, which has accommodations for not only the bride and groom, but also the wedding party and some, if not all, of the wedding guests.

For more traditional couples seeking an indoor wedding, there are numerous chapels, churches, ballrooms and even an art gallery to choose from. The Old Mill Wedding Chapel, located in Hot Springs National Park, offers a 4,000-square-foot facility nestled at the foot of a mountain. The chapel, which has an adjoining reception room, can accommodate up to 150 guests.

With a backdrop of art from around the world, popular Museum of Contemporary Art–MOCA, located in the historic Ozark Bath House on Bathhouse Row, boasts 14,000 square feet of event space as well as a veranda and front lawn. MOCA can accommodate up to 250 guests seated at tables, or 300 guests standing, and its architecture makes for a beautiful setting for photos.

Convenient & Affordable

For many couples, Hot Springs is a destination wedding without the headache of planning from afar — and it’s more affordable. According to TheWeddingReport.com, in 2012 the average wedding in Hot Springs cost $21,359, compared to the national U.S. average of $25,656.

A wedding in Hot Springs is easier on your guests’ pocketbooks as well. Accommodations in Hot Springs – especially hotel rooms – are typically less expensive than in other parts of the country, with a broad variety of accommodations including traditional hotel rooms like those at Embassy Suites, bed and breakfasts like Spring Street Inn as well as lake houses and condo rentals.

There’s a Lot for Guests to Do, Too

From outdoor beauty to history, arts, culture and more, your guests will never lack for fun things to do while they’re in town for your special day.

Hot Springs’ three lakes – Ouachita, Catherine and Hamilton – are huge tourist attractions; Slick says Hamilton is the most popular. “The wedding party and/or guests can rent boats and spend a day on the lake, swimming, having drinks and just enjoying the lake,” she says. “There are also many restaurants on the lake where you can dock and eat, including The Boathouse, Back Porch Grill and Fisherman’s Wharf.”

Oaklawn Racing & Gaming is a popular wedding weekend destination for the wedding party and guests. Guys can spend a day at the races to unwind before the wedding while girls can enjoy lunch and mimosas. Drop by the gaming area for all the sights and sounds of Atlantic City or Las Vegas right here in Arkansas.

Other fun activities include horseback riding at Panther Valley Ranch or Brady Mountain, golf at one the area’s acclaimed courses, hiking, or just strolling the historic bathhouses, museums, shops and galleries downtown.

Stress? What stress?

In a town nicknamed the Spa City, you’d be remiss to not have a day (or a weekend!) of R&R. With dozens of local spas and bathhouses, brides who wed in Hot Springs quickly find the experience is a lot less stressful than they expected.

Destinations Day Spa offers special bridal packages for massages, facials, manicures and pedicures in themed rooms, each featuring the sights and sounds of scenes like a thunderstorm, jungle, lighthouse and garden. Destinations owner Angela Riggs says one thing that sets the spa apart is its qualified staff — each massage therapist, aesthetician and nail tech has more than three years of experience. And with rooms for couples, even the groom can leave feeling refreshed.

If you’re looking for a trendy bridal updo or flawless wedding day skin, A Beautiful You has you covered. Owner Jennifer Horton uses professional-grade, waterproof airbrush makeup custom-blended to match your skin tone. Horton says that in addition to being hypoallergenic, the makeup won’t rub off on clothes and offers flawless coverage for photos on your big day. Go all out with false lashes, hair and airbrush, and bring your bridesmaids for a discounted rate.

Marriage License Requirements

You can’t get hitched in Hot Springs – or anywhere else for that matter – without the proper paperwork. Here’s some basic info you need to know about obtaining a marriage license in Hot Springs. Visit or call the Garland County Courthouse at (501) 622-3610 for more info.

•    18-year-olds:  You’ll need a birth certificate and a photo ID. There is no waiting period.
•    19 or older:  You’ll just need a driver’s license or identification showing date of birth. There is no waiting period.
•    For those younger than 18:  You’ll need parental consent, a birth certificate and a photo ID. There is a five-day waiting period.
•    Marriage licenses cost $58, and only cash is accepted; no checks or credit cards.

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