Today we’d like to introduce you to Madlyn Lackey.
Hi Madlyn Lackey, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
When Natalie got engaged in 2016, our family began imagining more than just a space for her wedding. We (Natalie and Madlyn; sisters, along with our mother, Lisa) saw an opportunity to not only design the perfect venue but also to create a legacy we could build together. The name “Dove Hollow Estate” is a special honor for our mother, who raises doves—a beautiful symbol of peace, new beginnings, and home.
To say this venue is a labor of love would be quite the understatement. Every whitewashed board in Dove + the Chapel was hand painted by us, with the help of our incredibly supportive husbands. We designed the property, installed the landscaping, and even hung the four massive Restoration Hardware teardrop chandeliers in the great room ourselves. We do not have groundskeepers or staff, so every weed that needs to be pulled, or email that needs to be answered, is handled by us directly. Our venue is nestled right next to our parents’ homestead, which is where we were raised, along with our brother, Clay. Our parents, Lisa and Lowry Craven, have been an integral piece of making Dove Hollow Estate come to fruition by physically and emotionally supporting our dream.
Setting the Standard in East Texas:
From the start, we’ve been a trailblazer. We were the first to bring an all-black exterior chapel to East Texas, and later, one of the first with a clean, all-white interior space. Aesthetically, that makes us stand out. But what makes us truly unique is our commitment to service. We aren’t the kind of venue that simply unlocks the doors and leaves you to it. On your wedding day, you’ll find us—the owners—sweeping floors, taking out trash, cleaning toilets, and re-stocking the bathrooms. We do whatever it takes to keep the event running smoothly, and the venue in tip top shape. This commitment to both aesthetic quality and unmatched service is why our venue stands proudly apart.
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?
Starting the venue here in the East Texas piney woods was a huge job that we naively underestimated, but looking back, we are so glad we did, because we would have been too intimidated to try, otherwise. We took raw, undeveloped land, and had to clear and build everything from the ground up. Building a wedding venue from nothing requires a massive physical effort, large financial commitment, and we were also planning Natalie’s wedding along the way. The entire development was a constant process of coordinating with contractors, dealing with construction delays, sorting out our business plan, all while trying to build our brand, give hard hat tours, and book weddings before we even had a finished product to show. It’s been a true journey of blood, sweat, and vision. Once we started hosting weddings, we learned on the go, and have refined our services over the years while we slowly expanded by adding the chapel in 2020, and re-modeling our current spaces to stay up date with interior design trends.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Dove Hollow Estate is a wedding and event venue. We specialize in weddings, but also host showers, dinners, anniversary/birthday parties, etc. We are known mostly for our all black chapel, as we were the first and only one in ETX. What sets us apart is our hands on approach to owning this business. We do not hire staff. We are at every wedding and event taking out trash, cleaning bathrooms, lighting candles, and ensuring everything behind the scenes is taken care of. We are very proud of the high end brand we have created, having been featured in People Magazine and Southern Bride Magazine. Madlyn also owns MadLoveEvents at Dove which offers in house full wedding planning and day of coordinating services. She planned the wedding that was featured in People Magazine.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dovehollowestate.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dovehollowestate/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dovehollowestate/
Image Credits
Sara Claiborne Photo
Chelsey Hess Photo
Micahla Vaughn Photography
Holly Noelle
Jenny Johnson Photo
