Laurel and Caleb came to Shiraz and felt right at home on their first visit. Giving them a tour felt like they had already been there 100 times and every space they saw felt more and more like “theirs.” They knew very quickly Shiraz Garden was going to be where they exchanged their vows and started their married life together. We feel so privileged to have been chosen for their big day.

They wanted their wedding to feel very “Austin” and sentimental and that included making sure P. Terry’s was there to soil their guests at the reception for a bit of fun and the unexpected. Since this wedding, we’ve had several couples bring in this adorable and tasty food truck for late-night snacks and a compliment to their full-service catering.

If you are considering a food truck at Shiraz Garden, for savory or sweet (have you seen Amy’s Icecream truck!?) then this is the blog for you to look through! We welcome food trucks for wedding receptions in our Formal Garden as the “wing” off the dance floor makes for the perfect space for guests to walk up and get their treat!

Bride’s Review:

Shiraz Garden was the only venue we looked at after we got engaged. We instantly fell in love with the views of the hill country and beautiful cottages for the bride/bridesmaids and groom/groomsman. Kalli was so informative and responsive 100% of the time (even after she had her newest baby!), and anyone would be so lucky to have her insight. She was helpful with any question we had about vendors, timeline and just overall opinion on our wedding. The preferred vendors list was also incredibly helpful in helping us make headway in finding vendors that were wonderful, since they’ve already been vetted. The Shiraz staff was also amazing. From the start of the day to the end of the night, the staff was kind, fun and made sure that we had the best day. If you're looking for a venue that offers incredible views and has the capacity for both small and large scale celebrations, AND has a staff that is attentive and kind, you can't beat Shiraz Garden.

But first… their beautiful wedding ceremony at Sunset Vista

November is a favorite, if not our most favorite month at Shiraz Garden. Why? It is one of the most predictable weather-wise and nearly always a guarantee for that special wintery, golden light! Something about October-December in the Hill Country is particularly golden at golden hour and we love it! These sweethearts spoiled themselves with wedding photography from one of our recommended photographers Suarez Creative, aka Albert that man, who is a dreamy outdoor photographer with a special skill for capturing that golden hour.

Laurel and Caleb choose “The Window” backdrop and added in this fun arch from Festoon’s Rentals for something special. This space can easily accommodate arches of all shapes with the perfect hill country views peeking through. Or nothing but the trees and views are also a great options for this outdoor ceremony space.

Austin Newlyweds Start Social Justice and Environmentally Friend Pet Company

Here in the tech hub of Austin, TX, it is always exciting to host couples at Shiraz Garden who are starting new companies. Caleb and Laurel started Happy Basset to change the world one pet at a time. If you are looking for a way to hit the easy button when it comes to spoiling your furbaby but keep it socially responsible and do good with those purchases you would be making anyway you need to check out this pet subscription box!

ok, back to the party

Having Festoon’s farm tables rented for receptions in the formal garden add another design element we are big fans of and also eliminates the need for table clothes. For couples wanting a simple color pallet without linen colors adding rentals like farm tables is a great design option.

Why Shiraz Garden for your Wedding Venue?

Shiraz was a venue that Caleb found and immediately became interested in. We booked a tour about a week after the proposal and after touring the venue with Kalli, we fell in love. We booked it the next day because we knew this was the place that was not only beautiful but the place where we knew we would get married.

Advice for Wedding Planning in the Texas Hill Country?

I'm sure everyone says this, but start early! We started planning the next day and had started booking vendors the next month. It gave me such peace of mind knowing that we already had the big things like the venue, catering, photography, etc. when we were still eight months out. And take advantage of Kalli's preferred vendor list! When I was stuck and had no idea where to turn to, I was able to find some amazing vendors that were incredible to chat and work with. And use a physical planner, excel spreadsheet, or whatever you need to get yourself organized! Your day-of coordinator and Kalli are there to help with resources, but if you're like me, you like to have information in a few different places. Plus, I created a giant budget spreadsheet that was literally a lifesaver when it came to budgeting out a payment plan and reminding us how much we still owed certain vendors, as well as deadlines for all vendors.

THE COUPLES STORY

We met through mutual friends; Caleb was going to live with two of Laurel's friends and so they began to hang out more and eventually started dating a few months later. We found each other early fairly on in our undergraduate years but did break up because we both needed to do some growing and figure out where our heads and hearts were with career, friendships, etc., but we did find our way back to each other. We both felt that coming back together was the best to happen for us and we are so thankful for the life we have created and for the people that we have become both as a couple and as individuals. We are grateful for our friends and for Texas State forever, and we are so happy that our story did not end back in 2015 for good.

Caleb wanted to have a housewarming party at our house in Elgin, TX with family and friends so they could get down on one knee for Laurel in front of loved ones. But COVID had other plans, so Caleb decided to propose to Laurel in their backyard on July 4th. Caleb made sure to video the proposal to get Laurel's sweet reactions.

What moment are you most looking forward to on your wedding day?

Really looking forward to the first look! This is something so sweet and something that I know we will both cherish and enjoy. Albert Suarez is one of the best when it comes to capturing the little things and I look forward to seeing what comes out of this moment.

VENDOR TEAM This was a fantastic lineup full of Shiraz Garden’s recommended vendors who we know our couples will love!

• Suarez Creative

• Josh Klaus - DJ / Music

• P. Terry’s Food Truck

• HUM Harsha Lani

• Brenda Abbott Floral

• Perfectly Uncommon Weddings

• We Tend Bar

• Bougies Donut Shop

• Festoon Rentals