Today we’d like to introduce you to Brenda and Bud Baker.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Brenda and Bud. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Brenda: I would say my interest in the wedding industry began first, with my love of flowers. About ten years ago a friend asked if I would help design flowers for her daughter’s wedding… I’ve done many friend’s daughters weddings and then it became friends of friends. Through my involvement in floral design and an occasional day of coordination I had the opportunity to be in a wide variety of venues and spaces and helped celebrate the beginning of many forevers! I will say I gently nudged my husband a long time ago and said, we ought to be in the wedding business.
Fast forward to the check-writing for our own daughter’s wedding and as he looked around he said – “honey, we should be in the wedding business”. We were at the point of making some decisions for our future – we wanted to be in a position to love people well, serve the Lord and invest in ourselves. Bud, my husband began looking for property and in the meantime, God made provisions for us to exit our existing careers and jump into the wedding venue building journey.
Has it been a smooth road?
This last year has been far from smooth, the challenges large, and hard, and wearing. We faced delays, roadblocks by government entities, weather, unforeseen financial difficulties, subcontractors woes, and literally putting finishing touches to the venue up to the minute before our first wedding.
However, along with the challenges have come countless blessings, the hardest working contractors who worked tirelessly, late and on weekends, a group of friends who invested sweat equity and countless prayers, miraculous timing of resolutions and financing and certificates of occupancy. The solidifying of a partnership that began as a marriage has been the greatest blessing.
Although we still face some hurdles, we really believe we were called to this, we cherish the time with our sweet bridal families and feel like we fit well into the roles provided by this industry.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Oak + Ivy – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
One of my friends said we are like Walt Disney – “we are in the business of making people happy”. I don’t know if you can actually make someone happy but we can certainly help make their special day run smoothly.
We provide the space for Brides and Grooms and their families to celebrate the beginning of their life together. Every couple can craft their celebration according to their dream. We have created a space that is beautiful and yet simple enough to accommodate anyone’s personal touches. Our desire is that entire families and friends on all sides of the couple would come and spend the entire day together, celebrating and making memories together. I think I am most proud of us as a company in that we look for ways to love people. Our desire is to embrace and celebrate marriage and to love people. I think we do that well.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
What I like best about Dallas and the surrounding areas is the diversity of lifestyle and culture and the potpourri blend that comes with it. This diversity has created the opportunity for, and availability of, participation in the Arts, music, and of course, sports. The dynamic growth over the last ten years has creative a wealth of opportunities for anyone pursuing careers and lifestyles.
It has been a great place to raise our family, offering excellent education both in school and out of school, a wholesome environment, and opportunities for experiences that compelled our children to seek further education and careers.
Specifically for my industry, I love the amount of choice every bridal party has to choose the place that fits their vibe and their needs the best. The wedding industry is large and active – as it is said – everything is bigger in Texas!
Contact Info:
- Address: 11858 FM 428
Aubrey, Texas 76227 - Website: www.oakandivyvenue.com
- Phone: 214-448-4846
- Email: brenda@oakandivyvenue.com
Image Credit:
Matt McElliot, Gaby Pineda, Jamie Huffman
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