Inspiring Conversations with Beatriz Forbes of Adriana Estates: Venue & Gardens

Today we’d like to introduce you to Beatriz Forbes.

Hi Beatriz, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
We are the Forbes family. After dating since age 19 and marriage 6 yrs later, our family finally got some new additions! Over the years, we’ve been blessed with 3 beautiful daughters: Alesia, Adriana and Siena.
In 2014, I was pregnant with Adriana while teaching Kindergarten. We were overjoyed that Alesia would soon be a big sister and that we’d have all of summer break with our girls!
God had other plans for us. After a sickness I thought to be the flu, but left doctor’s stumped, I wasn’t doing well. Adriana was much worse. The doctors made a life saving decision to take her at only 27 weeks, before losing all blood flow into her body. She was delivered by emergency c-section on December 23rd, weighing 1 lb 15 oz.
After 2 weeks of tests, and daily blood transfusions for Adriana, we received a diagnosis that would change us forever. I had contracted Cytomegalovirus while teaching, and had given the virus to her. This virus was the worst diagnosis we could’ve received. Not because it causes deafness, blindness, brain damage, mental retardation, and possibly leave my daughter wheelchair bound. The worst part was that if she could defy death, it would be nothing short of a miracle.
We were ready to deal with those handicaps at any cost. I could quit the career I loved to take care of her. We could learn sign language. She could wear glasses and hearing aids. We would buy a minivan for a wheelchair. But how could we function if we lost her?
Adriana had already endured surgery, 16 different IV medications, a respirator, an oscillator, and 1-2 blood transfusions per day. She had great weeks and terrible weeks. We prayed non stop asking God to save her life. We were trying everything modern medicine permitted. We wouldn’t give up. But we knew that when it was her time, there was nothing we or the doctors could do to save her.
On January 27th, 2015, our nightmares became a reality. A piece of my heart was lost forever that afternoon. Adriana died in her daddy’s arms while I held her little hand. She was still on oxygen, as our final grasps at saving her life were failing.
Our world had collapsed, but we had to stay strong for Alesia. She constantly asked about her little sister and mourned the loss of her as we had. She begged us to give her a sister again one day. Our rainbow baby, Siena, was sent to us 18 months after Adriana’s death. She was a true piece to our puzzle we didn’t know we were missing. Our girls are our greatest achievement, all of our unconditional love, and our treasure.
Adriana Estates is named in the memory of their sister, our middle little girl. We hope that her legacy will bring years of joyous memories to families who visit our estate. Since inception, Adriana Estates began, and continues to host non-profit events for families in need, and children with special needs to make new priceless memories with us! God had a plan for us. We lost Adriana too soon, but just maybe this is what he had in mind for our future.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Our 6,200 sqft castle was purchased almost entirely unfinished, and even its acreage was like a scene from Sleeping Beauty after the vines and thorn bushes grew several feet tall encasing the castle!
I spent my life savings a couple of times to complete it, make it safer, and make sure the space was usable, not to mention giving it the modern amenities with elegant and unique charm. After 4 years of owning it, it’s still a constant work in progress. We are full of ideas for its future, but also pour so much of it’s income back into our community and free events for those in need, that it often feels like we are still so far from so many of the goals and plans we have for it.
But, that being said, it’s why we started up the venue in the first place. The reward of seeing the pure joy in these families faces at our community events make it all worth while. The struggle was real for my husband and I growing up. I grew up having to learn English in a new country as a kid from Chile, and even grew up very hungry for many years of my life. What better way than to give back to those in need when we are finally able to make a difference for those in need around us?!
Along with the continual improving and repairing things here, we are also juggling 3 other businesses we own, 2 kids and 2 dogs. We have even put our own home building plans on hold for many years to be able to pour into the castle and our other businesses.
Adriana Estates holds a special place in our hearts to make every event spectacular for all of our guests. Since it’s in memory of our little girl, I feel like we will never want to stop making this a dream space for everyone who enters it!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We are a full service wedding and event venue that pride ourselves in working with our clients to make their dreams become a reality. We work with some of the best vendors in the industry to bring our guests top notch service while also making sure that we personally go above and beyond for everyone that chooses us for their most important memories in life!
I think that more so than even this, we are known for taking care of the people in our community. We host a couple of big events each year to feed families, give toys to kids in need, host a huge firework show and fundraiser and to make sure that our families have fun, while also getting some essential things they need.
Breakfast with Santa feeds almost 800 people in and around hunt county. We bring in live reindeer, Santa, Mrs. Clause, a DJ, petting zoo, raffle off gift cards for food, groceries and essential items along with some other great local companies that help to sponsor the event and bring in toys. The castle’s entire master suite is filled with over 1,000 toys and items to give a gift of choice to each infant, child and even teen in attendance. All remaining gifts are given out in large bags to families that otherwise wouldn’t be able to get a single gift for their children.
Our 4th of July event has been a huge hit as it has a firework show bigger than most city shows, food trucks, bounce houses, petting zoo, live music, craft vendors inside and so much more! This event raises money for handicap equipment for special needs families to utilize. This year we are raising funds to build an ADA compliant bathroom.
Aside from these events, we also host numerous free or at cost events for charitable organizations to help them raise money to stay afloat, or for them to have funds to donate to other causes.
This is what sets us apart. We are proud to not only be a small, family owned business, but to be able to make a difference in thousands of people’s lives that our story and place have been able to touch.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I’m always happy to give out my personal cell phone number or meet in person to work with others to make sure that everything is going to plan for any event type.
If there is an organization or family in need, we are here to support them!
For anyone wanting to support us, it’s the little things that count most. We would love our name and purpose to be shared with EVERYONE! This ensures that we can get more bookings, to be able to afford all of the free things we want to give to everyone that needs and deserves it!
We give away totally free events, all inclusive weddings, baby showers, sleepovers in the castle and more, just to make a difference. Other companies helping to sponsor events, paying for some expenses at these events, or even helping with the build of our bathroom would be such a blessing to help allow us to keep doing what we are doing!

Pricing:

• $600 2.5 hour micro event (20 or less) with set up and tear down of venue provided items.
• $800 3.5 hour micro event (36 guests or less) with set up & tear down of venue provided tables and chairs
• $3,000 full day, up to 140 guests, with tables, chairs and table linens Monday-Thursday
• $4,000 full day Friday or Sunday, full capacity, tables, chairs, table linens, set up, tear down and clean up
• $5,500 full day Saturday, full capacity, all of the above, and we even offer overnight stays in the castle for $1k additional for up to 14 guests!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.AdrianaEstates.com
• Instagram: @adrianaestates
• Facebook: adrianaestatestx

Image Credits
Destination Chahannel’s “Destination Dallas”
At Dawn & Dusk Photography
Ashley Howland Photography