Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie West.
Hi Katie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
In 2012, I had my wedding at Camp Wandawega in Wisconsin. At that moment, I fell in love with the idea of creating my own version of that project and getting out of tech. In 2017, we found “The Grand Lady” for sale, it had been on the market for years and was vacant. Our friends, who were ultimately the project’s landscape architects, master planners and interior designers, sent over a link with “check this out”. I did, fell in love and started forming a vision. There was a lot of convincing to be done. Shortly thereafter, a real estate developer snatched it up before I could in 2018. I BEGGED the listing agent for his number. With my heartbroken, I called him and left a voicemail, saying “Listen, I am in love with that place. I wanted to buy it, you beat me to it. If I can buy it, or your plans change, call me first. Please. This is my dream.” He heard my voicemail, and his plans changed. We started renovating the property in 2018, planning the event hall and were ready for construction in March of 2020. COVID put the entire dream at risk, but people and family backed us the whole way to the fall when we were able to get started on building the complete vision of the property.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The greatest struggle was endurance. Having an idea is about 1% of the process. Having the endurance to see it through is a daily grind. It takes belief, but more than anything it takes persistence, self-discipline, and a lot of support. COVID put the entire Wedding industry at risk. We lost 2000 feet of frozen pipes in “The Great Freeze”. We’ve lost every plant on the property at least once, some twice. The ceiling has caved in three different spots. Every AC unit on the property has broken during an event. The list goes on. You can’t fix this stuff alone; find the right people, invest in those relationships, and bring everyone along for the ride.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We are a wedding venue in Manor, TX – 30 minutes East of Austin. We have a 3000 sqft historic home on the property and a brand new 3400 sqft event hall, connected by three courtyards. All set within native trees and meadows of Central Texas. We love the people who get married with us as much as they love their partners. We see weddings as a moment of explosive joy and love in peoples’ lives. There are only so many times you can gather your 200 closest friends and family, open the bar, feed them, dance till they drop. The place where that happens matters. We want to make your day easy, beautiful, and joyful, and we want your mom to be so happy she ends up following us on Instagram.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
People are the most valuable resource you have. Invest in the individuals working around you and with you. But also invest in your clients. They aren’t accounts or sales opportunities in this business. They are inviting you to a very intimate moment in their lives. Earn their respect and trust and don’t take it for granted.
Pricing:
- Saturday Weddings 2022-23, $9500
- Friday+Sunday Weddings 2022-23, $6500
Contact Info:
- Email: Info@grandladyaustin.com
- Website: GrandLadyAustin.com
- Instagram: @Grandladyaustin
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Grandladyaustin/
Image Credits
Sarah Tribbett, Lauren Maria
