Hey y’all! This week’s vendor spotlight is on The Olana in Hickory Creek, Texas. This beautiful wedding venue is a part of the Walters Wedding Estates spread throughout the Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio areas! There is truly nothing like it in the Dallas area, which is why Walters Wedding Estates decided to add this venue to their repertoire. It was built with the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte in Paris in mind. We are thrilled to have this venue in the DFW area, and absolutely cannot wait for the chance to design a stunning wedding here. We reached out to learn more about this beautiful space to share with our planning clients and future couples. They shared with us why they decided to add the Olana to the estates, their favorite styled shoot, as well as advice they wish they could give to clients who book them for their wedding!

What made you decide to add this gorgeous venue to your list of estates?

Each of our venues are unique and we pride ourselves on having a venue to fit every couple's style! There isn't quite anything like The Olana in the area and it's an absolutely stunning estate.

What is your favorite wedding or styled shoot to date at your venue? Why?

We love all of our weddings and styled shoots - they've all been so fun and just a joy to host! One that sticks out to us is our styled shoot with Brides of North Texas: Splendor - A Stately Affair! This gown shoot was featured as a 20 page spread in the Fall/Winter 2019 Brides of North Texas issue and we are just head over heels!

What is your favorite current wedding trend?

I would have to say one of my favorite trends is colorful florals! I love when florists get to stretch their creativity and play with color to really personalize the overall vibe!

What makes your venue a good value for couples?

Although The Olana is a luxury wedding and event venue, our pricing is fairly affordable and includes many amenities! Our rental rate includes All Day time frames; your choice of several ceremony locations; two private suites that include a sauna, dressing areas, makeup counters, bowling alley, billiards table, & a sport court; a one hour rehearsal; two hours of portrait time; set up of ceremony and reception floor plans; in-house event furniture and linens; cocktail tables; and unlimited appointments to the venue for planning!

What are three things you would recommend a couple to ask when booking a venue?

Ask what the day-of looks like. Getting an idea of the flow of how the wedding day runs can really help you visualize the functionality of the space! Ask about other dates. Saturday is hands down the most popular day for a wedding but what you might not know is that you can save a TON by having your wedding on a Friday or Sunday! I chose to host my wedding on a Friday so that I could spend the whole weekend with my out-of-town family and use the money I saved to go towards excellent catering. Ask about Food and Beverage Minimums. Many luxury venues have Food and Beverage Minimums - a minimum amount you have to spend regardless of the type of menu you want and guest count. At Walters Wedding Estates, we don't have any Food and Beverage Minimums to help you stick with your personal budget!

If you had to describe your venue's vibe in 3 words, what would they be?

Elegant, Ornate, Luxury

Are there any ways you would like to see your venue used/set-up that has no been done in the past or has not been done enough? This can be color palettes, installations, vibes, etc.

I can't wait to see a couple have their ceremony on our back terrace! It's absolutely beautiful with the mansion in the background, trickling water fountains, and lush trees to create a grand, yet intimate space!