Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor and Jacob Alvarado.
Taylor and Jacob, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
In 2015, Jacob drove down to Austin to buy a beat-up bus covered in daises and rainbows with the dream of fixing her up to turn into a VW photo booth.
It took A LOT of work to get her running and looking beautiful while keeping her classic charm. We lovingly rebuilt the VW bus; there were much push starts to pop the clutch, and even more time in and out of shops. It was a labor of love to get her on the road and fixed up over the years.
After we had her up and running, we built out the photo booth that is housed inside of the bus. We wanted to create a unique guest experience for events and weddings. Guest get to hop in the back of the bus and there they will find a photo booth set up that takes your picture and prints immediately to take away. It is so much fun to hear all of the guest reactions to our little bus. Some people love the vintage vibe, and others remember their own childhood driving around in their very own bus. It is a fun mix of excitement and nostalgia which was exactly the response we were hoping for.
Today, we have the pleasure of working with our darling clients, celebrating along side them at their weddings or other special events. We also love teaming up with other creatives for styled shoots and we have even hosted pop up weddings, elopements, and vow renewals- including our very own.
Has it been a smooth road?
NOPE. First and foremost, rebuilding a classic vehicle that was not well taken cared of since 1971 was an enormous undertaking. It was nearly impossible finding anyone willing or able to properly fix it, it took us three years to find a man in Oklahoma that specialized in our unique engine and build and ended up sending the bus up to Oklahoma for about six months to finally get it running. So, I would say that the rebuild was by far our biggest obstacle and hardest part of running Southern Bus Co.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Southern Bus Co. story. Tell us more about the business.
We are a photo booth bus company that offers guests and hosts a unique photo booth experience. The photo booth is housed inside of a 1971 VW bus. When rebuilding our bus, we kept it a cream color with natural wood floors to keep the look of the bus clean and classic so our clients have the opportunity to use it and decorate it as they wish. We love our classic look and love our classic but boho vibe.
We are most proud of the love we pour into running our business and loving on our clients. We are personally at each event attending with the photo bus to help guests, keep things cleaned up, and making sure everyone has a great time. There are a handful of other photo bus companies in Dallas that have popped up, we respect and admire each of them. We love being a part of the community, but I think what sets us apart is our classic charm and competitive pricing.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I think that the Dallas wedding and event industry will continue to boom over the next 5-10 years and the need for unique experiences is going to be more and more important. We hope to be a part of that movement.
Pricing:
- $1000 Rental Fee
- 4 Hours
- Fun Photos + Prompt Printing
- Props + Backdrop
- (travel fee may apply)
Contact Info:
- Address: 2020 Jasmine Valley Dr
Little Elm, TX 75068 - Website: www.southernbus.co
- Phone: 214-518-5110
- Email: hello@southernbus.co
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/southernbus.co
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/southernbus.co
Image Credit:
Taylor Alvarado Photography, Floral (Photo 1): Haute Poppies Floral, Venue (Photo 1): The Rosemary Barn, Venue (Photo 4): Chapel Creek Ranch, Floral (Photo 4): Stem and Flower, Rentals (Photo 4): Beautiful Event Rentals, Dress (Photo 4): Lewisville Bridal Boutique, Jewelry (Photo 4): Fox & Stone, Hair & Makeup (Photo 4): The Wildlife Wedding, Venue (Photo 7): The Nest at Ruth Farms
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
