When Caitlyn and Brian decided to get married at Cave Without a Name, they weren’t looking for spectacle. Their love may have grown quickly, but the cave is in no hurry. Here, water seeps through the limestone at its own pace, building stalagmites and flowstone curtains in spans of geologic time. There’s something fitting about exchanging vows in a place that understands permanence, that knows the difference between the fleeting and what endures. So they chose to unite before an audience of only epoch-old stone.
Above ground, Cave Without a Name draws thousands of visitors each year. The property has been family-owned since 1939, when the Horne family purchased the land. Today, Travis Wuest and a small crew maintain both the cave's natural beauty and its accessibility to visitors and couples seeking an unforgettable venue.
But down below—with just a photographer, videographer, and celebrant present—the space transformed into something private and personal. Celebrant Rudi Harst, a frequent performer in the cave, began the ceremony with a whimsical melody that echoed off the Cathedral Room walls as formations like the “Throne of the Gods” and “Tower of Babel” stood witness.
While the cave can accommodate larger weddings (ceremonies can include up to 100 guests in the Cathedral Room), there's something powerful about elopements here, too. No receiving line. No seating chart. Just two people, observed intently by millions of years of patient stone.
The photographer (the author) and videographer (Joshua Aldama of Americano Pictures) were the only vendors needed for an intimate event like this. The couple's ceremony took less than an hour. They emerged into clear Hill Country starlight as married people, carrying nothing but the memory of vows spoken in one of the oldest rooms in Texas.
Some moments don't need to be big. They just need to be true. And in this space that has witnessed countless ceremonies, each is treated with the same unhurried attention, timeless awe, and the echoes of eons of celebration.
In this space that has witnessed countless ceremonies, each is treated with the same unhurried attention, timeless awe, and the echoes of eons of celebration.
Meet the Author
Mae Czarnecki, Hey Miss Mae
heymissmae.com | 361-727-6097
Mae has been photographing weddings and elopements across Texas for over 15 years, with a focus on authentic storytelling over posed perfection. Her work has been featured in National Geographic and numerous regional publications. Based in San Antonio, she specializes in documenting intimate ceremonies and nontraditional celebrations for couples who want their photos to feel like a memory, not a performance.
Cave Without a Name
cavewithoutaname.com | 830-537-4212 | 325 Kreutzberg Rd.
Located right here in Boerne, Cave Without a Name offers year-round visits and private event space in one of Texas's most spectacular natural formations. The cave maintains a constant 66ºF and features stunning formations, including the Throne Room, Cathedral Room, and waterfalls. The site is open daily for tours, and you can also visit for special events throughout the year.
Videography Joshua Aldama, Americano Pictures | americanopictures.com Watch a video of the wedding at vimeo.com/americanopictures/cave
Celebrant/Musician Rudi Harst | rudiharst.com