After spending a few days exploring San Antonio, we quickly realized it’s the kind of city that naturally lends itself to a wedding weekend. Between the River Walk, historic landmarks, incredible local restaurants, and unmistakably Texan culture, there’s plenty for guests to experience before and after the wedding itself. 

While planning your wedding weekend itinerary, think beyond the ceremony and reception. Where will guests grab a coffee the morning after they arrive? What can they explore while you’re getting ready? Where will everyone gather for one last brunch before heading home? Choosing a central location where your guests can stay, celebrate, and explore allows everyone to spend less time coordinating logistics and more time enjoying the city together.

During our stay at Junebug venue The St. Anthony Hotel, we called the historic John Wayne Suite home while exploring downtown San Antonio. Inspired by our experience, we’ve put together our ideal San Antonio wedding weekend itinerary, complete with local recommendations and a few favorite discoveries from our stay. 

Day One: Check In, Explore, and Welcome Drinks

Invite your guests to arrive in the afternoon so everyone has time to settle in before the celebrations begin.

One of the biggest advantages of staying downtown is that many of San Antonio’s most iconic attractions are just a short walk or ride away. Encourage guests to spend their first afternoon exploring the San Antonio River Walk, whether that means grabbing a drink along the water, taking a guided river cruise, or simply wandering beneath the cypress trees before the festivities begin. 

As evening approaches, gather everyone back at The St. Anthony Hotel for welcome drinks at the historic St. Anthony Club. We loved how the elegant atmosphere immediately set the tone for the weekend, giving everyone a chance to reconnect after traveling without needing to coordinate another destination. If your guests aren’t ready to call it a night, end the evening with cocktails overlooking the downtown skyline before turning in.

Day Two: Coffee, The Pearl, and the Rehearsal Dinner

Ease into the morning with coffee from Anacacho Coffee & Cantina, right on site at The St. Anthony, before encouraging guests to spend a few hours exploring The Pearl District. 

One of our favorite neighborhoods in San Antonio, The Pearl blends historic charm with a modern food and shopping scene. Guests can browse locally owned boutiques, visit galleries, enjoy brunch, or simply stroll along the river. If your wedding falls on a weekend, The Pearl Farmer’s Market is absolutely worth adding to the itinerary. 

Meanwhile, you’ll have a relaxed morning to lounge by the rooftop pool and get ready for the rehearsal dinner while guests experience another side of San Antonio.

That evening, gather everyone for a rehearsal dinner at Esencia, Chef Leo Davila’s signature restaurant inside The St. Anthony. Inspired by the chef’s multicultural heritage, the menu blends Mexican and Chinese influences into an unforgettable dining experience. 

Our dinner at Esencia was such a highlight of our stay. Chef Leo greeted us personally, and after learning about our dietary restrictions, surprised us with off-menu dishes created just for our table. Throughout the evening, he and the staff shared how accommodating guests is at the heart of their approach—from customizing dishes for dietary preferences to maintaining a dedicated gluten-free area of the kitchen for guests with celiac disease. That level of hospitality made the meal feel incredibly personal, and that’s exactly the kind of thoughtful experience we’d want our wedding guests to have. 

Day Three: The Wedding Day

One of our favorite parts about a hotel-hosted wedding weekend is how relaxed the wedding morning feels. Guests can enjoy breakfast together, take one last stroll through downtown, or get some sun at the rooftop pool while you spend the morning getting ready with your wedding party.

During our visit, we stayed at the iconic John Wayne Suite, which offered plenty of space to spread out, enjoy a quiet morning, and soak in the excitement before the day began. Couples celebrating at The St. Anthony also receive access to a dedicated changing room on the wedding day, giving the wedding party even more room to prepare before walking down the aisle. 

When it comes time to say “I do,” The St. Anthony offers a variety of spaces that each bring their own personality to the celebration. If you’ve always dreamed of an outdoor ceremony, the nearly 5,000-square-foot St. A Sky Terrace overlooks the twinkling San Antonio skyline and accommodates up to 160 guests. Prefer something more traditional? The hotel’s grand ballrooms, each adorned with sparkling chandeliers and timeless architectural details, can host celebrations ranging from intimate gatherings of around 100 guests to lavish receptions of 400. Connected by elegant French doors, the spaces flow beautifully for larger celebrations, while the Draper Room offers a more intimate setting for dinner receptions of up to 120 guests.

One space we couldn’t stop admiring during our visit was Peacock Alley. With its soaring ceilings and iconic chandeliers, it feels like stepping into a grand European hall. It’s the kind of space that instantly elevates the guest experience, and makes an unforgettable setting for cocktail hour.

As golden hour approaches, sneak away with your photographer to explore the property. Between the sweeping staircase, historic architecture, elegant ballrooms, and beautifully restored interiors, every turn offers another timeless backdrop. It’s easy to see why couples choose The St. Anthony for engagement sessions, bridal portraits, and wedding-day photography alike.

Junebug Tip: Build a little extra time into your portrait schedule. Some of our favorite images from our stay came from simply wandering the property and letting its historic character lead the way. You can also find Junebug’s favorite San Antonio wedding photographers here. 

Then dance the night away before ending the evening exactly where it began—surrounded by your favorite people, with nothing more to do than ride the elevator back to your complimentary honeymoon suite.

A touch of Hollywood history: Since opening its doors in 1909, The St. Anthony has welcomed an impressive roster of guests, including Princess Grace, Lucille Ball, Judy Garland, George Clooney, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Lyndon B. Johnson, and John Wayne. Wayne even made the hotel his home while filming The Alamo, and today the hotel’s iconic John Wayne Suite—where we stayed during our visit—still pays tribute to his time there, complete with an autographed photo from his stay. That sense of history and old Hollywood glamour is woven throughout the property, adding another layer of timeless charm to every celebration.

Day Four: Farewell Brunch and One Last Adventure

Before everyone heads home, gather for one last brunch at Gallery on the Park. 

One of our favorite spaces inside The St. Anthony, the restaurant is housed in a stunning glass atrium overlooking Travis Park. Filled with natural light and crystal chandeliers, it feels elegant without being overly formal.

These slower moments often become some of the most memorable parts of a wedding weekend: sharing stories, laughing over photos from the night before, and enjoying one final meal together before saying goodbye. 

If guests have extra time before their flights, recommend a stop at the Historic Market Square. As the largest Mexican market in the United States, it’s filled with colorful artisan shops, local food vendors, handmade goods, and live music. It’s the perfect place to pick up a souvenir and experience another side of San Antonio before heading home. 

More Things to Do in San Antonio During Your Wedding Weekend

If your guests are arriving early or staying an extra day, here are a few more experiences we’d recommend adding to the weekend itinerary. 

• Visit The Alamo. One of Texas’ most recognizable landmarks, it’s worth experiencing whether it’s your first visit or your fifth.
• Stroll the River Walk at sunset. The atmosphere completely transforms in the evening as restaurants fill, lights reflect off the water, and live music spills onto the walkways.
• Explore San Antonio’s architecture. Downtown is full of beautifully preserved historic buildings that make simply wandering the streets part of the experience.
• Eat your way through the city. San Antonio’s culinary scene is one of the best in Texas, from classic Tex-Mex to contemporary restaurants showcasing the city’s multicultural roots.
• Build in free time. Some of our favorite moments happened when we weren’t following an itinerary at all. Leaving space for guests to discover the city on their own makes the weekend feel less scheduled and more like a vacation.

Why We Love a Wedding Weekend at The St. Anthony Hotel

While San Antonio provides the perfect backdrop for a wedding celebration, where your guests stay can shape the entire experience.

Beyond its central downtown location and timeless architecture, we appreciated how thoughtfully The St. Anthony’s wedding offerings are designed for couples. Wedding packages include:

• A complimentary guest room for the newlyweds on their wedding night with valet parking
• A courtesy room block for up to 10 guest rooms
• A dedicated bridal changing room for wedding-day preparations
• Tables, linens, glassware, china, silverware, and a parquet dance floor
• Marriott Bonvoy members can also earn two Bonvoy points for every eligible dollar spent on their wedding celebration

After experiencing the hotel firsthand, it’s easy to understand why so many couples choose to make it the heart of their wedding weekend. Combined with San Antonio’s walkable downtown, rich history, and welcoming atmosphere, The St. Anthony creates the kind of celebration guests will be talking about long after the last dance.