Today we’d like to introduce you to Lorelei Starbuck.
Hi Lorelei, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been in the wedding business going on 30 years now. I started as a minister doing weddings for couples In my congregation as well as others that they would refer me to. After stepping down from the pulpit, I decided to dedicate myself to full time to events in people’s lives such as baby births, wedding memorials and other funerals, etc. I used to say I marry, bury and birth them.
I then moved from Colorado where I was born and raised to Las Vegas and purchased a wedding chapel there it was at that chapel that my husband and I got 1st hand college education on how to do quick simple and sweet weddings of course Las Vegas is a very different environment for weddings and it was very interesting to learn how to do it right and still with a measure of sacredness and goodness and importance to what the couple was creating. After that, I moved to California and opened a wedding chapel there that catered to the LGBTQ community then ended up in Austin, Texas.
It was here in Austin 11 years ago that I opened my business as a wedding officiant and for a couple of years all I did was go to other venues and perform wedding ceremonies. One day I met a couple who said we just really want something simple we don’t want to spend $40000 on a wedding and I thought hmm perhaps it’s time to open up a hybrid between Vegas quickies and more traditional like what we were doing in California. So we opened Elope in Austin. It took off like a rocket as the trend was emerging. We offer services and ceremonies to less traditional couples who do not want to spend a lot of money on a wedding. Those people who are looking for something less traditional and more intimate and special.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
For the most part, it has been pretty much a smooth ride. Knowing the business as well as I do, I’ve been able to really put together something that is special and really the only issue that may arise are the variables out of my control such as weather and pandemics.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work is extremely rewarding. I love to work with couples creating that perfect moment in their lives where they join themselves together as husband and wife. It is really one of the most enchanting and magical things that anyone could do with their time period. I absolutely love creating ceremonies that speak my couple’s words that are their words not mine that allows the ceremony to be truly personalized and something that reflects their love and their love affair. I am known for what I call love story ceremonies which is where I put together a ceremony from bits and pieces of the story of how the couple met, how they fell in love and why they are getting married.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I would consider myself a risk taker in that I believe risk comes from my history. When I look back on my life and the things that might have done, my history will tell me whether or not an endeavor that I choose to get into will be successful or not. If it’s something that I know and am comfortable with and have exhibited a certain amount of success then the risk is limited. I do not get into anything that I am not comfortable with or I don’t understand. If I can’t look back in my past and see successful history in the endeavor or something similar, I don’t get involved. For example, I would never try to open up a restaurant or a retail store or car lot because it’s not something I have ever done it’s not something I understand and therefore my chance of success would be very limited. I would say never risk what you can’t afford to lose.
Pricing:
- Small elopements 350 and up
- Micro ceremonies 1200 and up
- Micro weddings and receptions 3400 and up
Contact Info:
- Email: Hello@elopeinaustin.com
- Website: Elopeinaustin.com
- Instagram: Elope in austin
- Facebook: @elopeinaustin
