If you've ever been to San Antonio, TX,you've been to Paseo del Rio, the River Walk along the San Antonio River. The River Walk winds through the heart of downtown San Antonio on both sides of the San Antonio River. The cobblestone and flagstone walkways and beautiful arched bridges and steps were completed between 1939 and 1941. The blend of fine hotels, shops, cafes and restaurants, music creates a very romantic atmosphere.
Marriage Island is the most romantic spot on the River Walk. The small Island was the location of San Antonio's first Catholic mass in 1691. It is now a popular spot for lovers to become engaged or exchange their marriage vows. It is said if you become engaged or get married on the Island, you will have a long and happy marriage. It's not unusual to happen across a small wedding or proposal in progress as you stroll along the River Walk on any day of the year.
I first heard of Marriage Island while on one of the River Cruises shortly after I moved here. Being an incurable romantic, I loved the idea of getting married on the Island. I was already married so I never thought I would be getting married there. However, things change and here I am 11 years after learning about this special place, planning my wedding there. My fiancé, Don & I will exchange our marriage vows on Marriage Island on the River Walk surrounded by close friends and family on Saturday, November 3, 2007.
Yesterday, we drove downtown to get our Marriage License, visit with the Minister to discuss the ceremony and then visited Marriage Island. We relaxed there for a little while and enjoyed the beauty of the River Walk and Marriage Island. The photos shown here are photos that I took yesterday while we were there.
Watch for FROM ROMANCE ON THE RIVER WALK TO . . . ROMANCE IN THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY
Judi - I cannot wait to see those wedding pictures of you and Don MARRIED on Marriage Island!
I forgot to ask...will you be at work on Sunday? :) I'm JOKING!
Congratulations again and please extend my best wishes to Don.
Jackie
Jackie, thanks for stopping by. And thanks for the congratulations, I'll share the post with him. I can't wait to share the pictures with everyone too!
Work on Sunday? hmmm, nooo, but I'll be back to work on Tuesday!!!
Judi,
Wonderful description of this romantic place. I hope all goes well and that it's what you imagined it to be. My very wishes to you and Don. Don't forget the pictures! :)
Judi - That looks really neat. Beautiful and historic.
I wish you and don all the very best!
Wish I could make it. Congratulations!
ARRGGH..That was me:)
Sparkleberry! How appropriate. Good luck tomorrow:)
Karen, LOL, thank you for the good wishes. I can't wait to share the photos with everyone! Sparkleberry, that is appropriate!
I visited San Antonio for the first time last May and then came back again in June. We satyed at the Menger right on the river walk and loved it.
Sandy
Roberta, I'm sorry you didn't get here to visit, our River Walk is absolutely beautiful. You should plan a trip down to San Antonio.
Elaine, thank you, today has been a little hectic, but everything is in place now (thanks to my Matron of Honor) :) I'm relaxing now, yes, Active Rain is relaxing for me. :)
Judi,
Very nice. My Siter and Brother in Law were there last year and loved it....an great place they said My wife and I had to visit.
Vincent, Thank you so much. It was a beautiful day! :)
Scott & Jennifer, Thank you. I was at the Prudential Convention here in San Antonio. I stayed at the Menger Hotel. Even though I live here it was more convenient to stay downtown for the convention.
Congratulations to you both! I wish you a long, happy life together!!!
Lisa, thank you so much for stopping, and thanks for the congratulations. :)
Judi Very interesting. Thank you.
Tommy
Judi - if I click on Marriage Island, will I now see photo's of you and Don getting married on it? :)
Jackie
Judi - Oh - Good! Can't wait!
Jackie
Hi Meg, Thanks for stopping by. It is such a pretty spot on the River Walk and Saturday was an absolutely beautiful day! Thanks for the good wishes. :)
CONGRATULATIONS Don and Judi!
May all your most precious dreams and every fantasy come true!
JuJu, how is the honeymoon going? You should write some posts to let us all know how life is in your direction. What about the wedding and all? Did you get photos...or is it yet to come??? I forget when it is. Whew. Catch me up.
Later in the rain~Deb
Deb, I'll be blogging again...soon...I hope. I keep running out of hours and days (especially last week).
Daughters wedding plans are coming along nicely. The wedding is August 24th here in San Antonio. I'll be posting pictures of her wedding. :)
Honeymoon??? haha it's going great!! We'll be celebrating our 1st Anniversary in November. :) Maybe I'll write something about our First Anniversary Celebration. :)
Judi - It will be nice having the weddig in San Antonio, you won't have to plan long distance. Did you tell me one time you had twin daughters? One wedding at a time is plenty to plan. You have lots of good wedding planners on AR to help you if you get in trouble. - Ceil Wintrs
Hi Ceil, yes, thank goodness we don't have to travel for the wedding. Erin's fiance's family & friends are coming down here from New Jersey & PA. I think we have 99% of the details taken care of. She was here last week and was able to finalize many details.
Yes, I have twin daughters -- Becky got married a couple years ago. Of course, my son hasn't gotten married yet. So, we still have one more to plan after this. Too bad we can't plan their weddings in 2 weeks like we did ours.
Hi Judi, what a terrific romantic story about Marriage Island. While I've been to the River Walk I didn't know this aspect of it. Congratulations on your engagement and your life together with Don. I am so happy for you.
Hi Gary, thank you for stopping by and the good wishes. Don & I were married on Marriage Island on November 3, 2007. Now, I'm helping plan my daughter's wedding (Aug. 24th) -- mine was much easier to plan. :)
JUDI, Congrats!! How exciting is that and how romantic!! It looks like a beautiful place to have a wedding and it should be perfect in November. At least you won't be sweating.
I've stayed at the Westin at Christmas time, it was awesome. What would you say is the most romantic hotel on the Riverwalk?
Marchel, thanks for stopping by -- it was very romantic (November of 2007). It was a perfect Texas Fall Day -- clear blue skies, with temperatures in the low to mid 70's and we were surrounded by a few close friends and family.
Cindy, hmmm, the most romantic hotel on the Riverwalk? Good question -- I've never stayed at any of them so I can't really answer. I think most of the hotels use the Romance on the Riverwalk idea in their marketing. Marriage Island is just steps from the Hotel Contessa and I know it's a popular hotel on the Riverwalk.
I received a call just this week from someone who read this post and decided to come to San Antonio in the near future for a Romantic Weekend to propose to his girlfriend on Marriage Island. It's so nice to receive calls or emails from readers who have been inspired by this post to either propose or get married on Marriage Island.
Judi, I've only been to San Antonio once, and that was many many years ago. I remember the beautiful river walk and plan to return some day. I also remember the Alamo... Mike
Mike, thanks for stopping by. I love the Riverwalk. Glad you enjoyed it when you visited San Antonio. Next time, I hope you let me know you're going to be here so we can arrange dinner at one of the restaurants on the Riverwalk and maybe a one of the barge rides on the river. I have a bunch of pictures from when Tom Plant was here in April -- going to include them in a post one of these days. :)