Neill-Cochran House Museum
Nestled in a quiet, shady nook in West Campus you will find the Neill-Cochran House Museum. The building was built in 1855 by Abner Cook, who also built the Governor’s Mansion, and was mainly a home for the Neill family and then the Cochran family after that (hence the name of the museum). In the 1950s, the home was purchased by the National Society of Colonial Dames and has since been completely renovated. The Dames also built an extra addition onto the back of the home that now contains a modern kitchen and spacious ballroom.
The two-story home has so much to offer. The beautiful front lawn (that has been recently sodded) can be tented for $1,000 and has the option of being 30’x30’ or 30’x50’ for spatial preference. The brick laden courtyard has silver benches that are moveable and vine covered walls surrounding it. This space can seat around 100 people for a ceremony, or can be used for cocktail hour. The picturesque front porch is complete with towering pillars that would make the perfect ceremony backdrop, or can be used as a bar area or dinner area for small events. The indoor ballroom can be completely transformed with tables and piping drapes offered in 5 different colors, or be left open for dancing the night away. There is also a precious upstairs bridal suite complete with mirrors and large windows for natural light photo opportunities. The downstairs area is truly astounding – there are several rooms available that are complete with period furniture and chandeliers.
The space can be used in so many ways – whether you want an indoor gathering of 55 people or less or an outdoor hoorah for up to 200, the Neill-Cochran house has a certain historic charm that just might strike your fancy. At every turn, visitors will be impressed by the elaborate rugs, beautiful lighting, French-inspired wallpaper, wooden staircases, vintage china, and high ceilings.
Although their website says that the rental time is for 6 hours, the Neill-Cochran House is quite flexible, they just ask that events end at 11:00 pm. Another perk is that catering is offered in-house. Sterling Catering and Affairs provides all catering as well as alcohol and the average per person cost is $65. The menu options are seemingly endless as Sterling Catering and Affairs is capable and willing to work with almost any food choices, even if they aren’t on the menu. They only ask for no red wine, it is a museum after all! Cake and desserts can be brought in by whomever and there is no cake-cutting fee.
The Neill-Cochran House is open for any event from corporate luncheons, to bridal showers, to weddings on any day of the week, as long as there is no scheduled museum event on that day. The parking lot on site can fit 40 cars, which is typically great for about 100 guests. There is also street parking available and valet has been offered and worked well at this venue. As far as restrooms go, there are two downstairs and one upstairs in the bridal suite. For events of more than 200 guests, the Neill-Cochran House requires additional restrooms to be brought in.
Pricing to use the space is included in the catering per person price. The Neill-Cochran house charges a $500 refundable deposit and a 20% gratuity is added onto the final price. The final price includes ceremony and reception chairs, food, set up, clean up, dressed buffet tables, white or black drapes for the reception area, draping for service tables, cake, bar, registration, and gift tables, serving necessities, china plate, linen napkins, flatware, glassware, iced tea, and iced water.
Along with the use of the space for the day, the price includes 1-hour rehearsal time and a 2-hour photo shoot time frame for brides to use for their bridal photos if they so choose. To use the space just for bridal photos it would cost $150 for the first hour and then $100 for each hour after that.
This Venue Spotlight | Neill-Cochran House Museum was brought to you by The Simplifiers, Austin’s top event planning and personal concierge firm, offering full service event planning for corporate events, weddings, social events and beyond. For more information, visit thesimplifiers.com or call 512-695-7744.