About Austin
With the Colorado River running right through town, Austin is a popular spot for visitors as well as locals. The Texas capital boasts almost one million residents and has some fantastic attractions as well as museums and art galleries. With temps between 60- and 90-degrees F all year, outdoor fun is popular too.
Austin has a lot of parks and recreational spots to enjoy boating, swimming, and hiking as well. A funeral can be a joyous event to celebrate the life of a loved one or a serene and peaceful reflection of a loved one lost. You’ll have no trouble finding the right funeral space in Austin from historic churches to fancy restaurants.
Interesting Fact: Austin has the largest urban colony of bats in North America with around 1.5 million that migrate there every year to live under the Congress Avenue Bridge.
Funeral Space Options in Austin
A funeral is not something you plan every day unless you are a funeral planner, so it may be difficult to know exactly what you will need for your loved one’s services. Some of the obvious things include food, flowers, and furniture, but you may also want a eulogist, memorial boards, and memento displays. Let the experts take these important tasks off of your hands in this time of need.
- Catering
It does not have to be a large formal meal, but it is a good idea to serve some kind of food at a funeral either before or after the services. This is especially true for those who want to celebrate the life of their loved ones in a festive manner. Whether you just want hors d'oeuvres or a whole layout with a buffet, you can find the best in Austin.
- Flowers
Of course, flowers are customary at any funeral and many will typically be sent by loved ones. However, it is also good to have floral arrangements like bouquets, large standing displays, and casket sprays as well.
- Furniture
If you are organizing a funeral space in Austin at a church or funeral home, there will already be seating. But for anywhere else, you may need to provide some kind of furniture from tables and chairs to cozy couches and loungers. Indoor or outdoor furniture, décor, and tents are also available.
Funeral Space Companies in Austin
Florists, caterers, and decorators are easy to find in Austin with a vast array of choices. You will also find plenty of equipment rental companies for lighting, sound, and stage equipment and eulogists to speak about your loved one who has passed.
- Freytag’s Florist
From formal crosses outfitted in daisies, roses, and delphinium to lovely sprays of hydrangea, lilies, and carnations, Freytag’s has everything. Bouquets from small to large, casket spreads, and memorial wreaths are also available in many colors and floral choices. This family business has been serving Austin and the surrounding areas since the 1970s.
- Austin Catering
For more than a decade, Austin Catering has been providing full-service catering and has many awards. They do weddings, social events, and corporate functions whether you have 20 or 2,000 guests. Some of their appetizers include smoked chicken quesadillas, bacon-wrapped shrimp, and cheese plates. But the main entrées are the highlights with beef short ribs, maple-glazed tenderloin, and southern fried chicken.
- Premiere Events
From bars and beverages to tents, you can get just about everything you need from Premiere Events. Whether you just need some chairs and a table or two or you need the whole setup for an outdoor funeral space, Austin’s Premiere Events has it or can get it for you. All the way down to linens and phone chargers.
Pros and Cons of Funeral Spaces in Austin
Every city has its good and not-so-good features, so it is important to check things out before signing anything. Here are some of the pros and cons of booking a funeral space in Austin.
- Natural beauty
Outdoor spaces are scattered all over the city and with such great weather year-round, you will love being able to get out and enjoy it all.
- Great weather
Speaking of great weather, Austin boasts an average 250 sunny days a year and temperatures that everyone will love. Except those looking for snow. Austin does not get that.
- Music festivals
Because of the awesome weather, Austin hosts dozens of festivals all year long with some of the best music festivals in the country. The Urban Music Festival and Austin City Limits Music Festival are both popular choices.
Disadvantages
- Hot and sticky
Do not plan the funeral outdoors if the occasion happens to be in the summertime. The temps are typically in the upper 90s and the humidity is steamy.
- Traffic jams
Everyone in Austin seems to have a vehicle and they always seem to be out on the road. That is how it feels when you are anywhere near a highway or interstate during rush hour.
- High cost of living
Try to bring everything you need with you because Austin is one of the more expensive cities. In fact, it is the 12th most expensive city in the US.
Famous Locations in Austin
- Lady Bird Lake
This huge lake is about 468 acres with a maximum depth of 18 feet, so it is perfect for boating, fishing, and paddleboarding. The concessions rent out canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards but motorized boats are not allowed, and neither is swimming. It is also the site of the Reggae Festival, City Festival, and Spamarama as well as many other festivals and concerts.
- Austin Aquarium
If you would rather see fish than catch them, head over to Austin Aquarium while you are in town. They boast over 1,000 marine animals like tropical fish, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. See sharks, stingrays, macaws, lorikeets, and corals. You can also get friendly with sloths, kinkajous, and lemurs.
- University of Texas
This is more than just a school. The University of Texas boasts seven museums, 17 libraries, and several public art tours. The most popular include the Courtyard Gallery, which has artwork by alumni, the Harry Ransom Center with its collection of literature and exhibits, and the Blanton Museum of Art with over 17,000 pieces of artwork.
