Christ Lutheran Church

Wedding

Pecan Springs Ranch

Cocktail Party 

Dinner/Reception

Fall

Map to Cocktail Party/Dinner/Reception

Our Wedding

Our story is pretty simple, two people met by the grace of God. It was all in His plan and in His time.   Mark and I met through an online dating app, the day after Thanksgiving in 2014.   Our paths only crossed because back then, I used to go to Giddings,Tx. the day after Thanksgiving, to celebrate the Holiday with my relatives on my father’s side of the family. Once we met, Mark and I exchanged a few messages off and on for the next few months as both our lives moved on.  However, towards the end of January 2015, during one of our exchanges, I was having a bad day and Mark suggested I needed to be taken on a proper date. Of course based on what was going on in my life at the time, I thought to myself “yeah right”. (At the time, Mark was living in Houston and I was living in Pflugerville with a roommate).   Mark and I made arrangements to go on a date a week or two later. Unfortunately, a cystic-fibrosis patient of Mark’s had an emergency and therefore Mark had to cancel the initial date we made. I remember Mark was very concerned I was going to think he was “just like the rest of them” when he had to cancel. To make sure I didn’t think that, he immediately rescheduled the date. Interestingly enough, he re-scheduled our date for Valentine’s Day. I didn’t think much of it. I was kind of like well, let’s see how this goes. It will either be really good or really bad.  So, Valentine’s Day rolled around and as I was waiting for Mark to arrive at the house, the doorbell rang. I couldn’t believe it. It was my favorite florist, Freytag’s, delivering a dozen red roses from Mark Vrabel. Then he pulled up right after they left.  I won’t even bore you with the rest since it is all obviously history from there…💗💗💗

Our Story

On September 30th, 2024 I had the surprise of my life.    Mark had made arrangements to go fishing with his life-long friend (and Best Man - Gerry), that evening, or so I thought he had. I had made plans to go “out” with my cousin, Gretchen, for what had started to be just dinner, but at times she was talking about going out to a bar or “who knows what”.   Now mind you, Mark and I work all day and each night, like clock work, Mark and I go visit my dad at the memory care facility. So I wasn’t really in the mood for much more than dinner. Not to mention that I had my stubborn mind made up that I wanted to try out a restaurant called Whiskey Cake.    So the Saturday started and I’m kind of lazy and Mark decided that he was going to go meet Gerry at the store in the middle of the day to look at fishing stuff, BEFORE they went night fishing. OK, not impressed, but whatever. Somehow, I’m still gonna get dressed, Gretchen is gonna finish work and then come over after work, and we are going to dinner. We shall see. Oh, and Gretchen and I are somehow going to make it to go see my dad before we go to dinner. Well somewhere along the way, I get a phone call from Gretchen that she wants to go to Eddie V’s and she made a reservation for 6 pm. I’m slightly put out but whatever. So much for Whiskey Cake I guess. I talked to Mark since it becomes apparent that there is no way I will be able to make it to dad. Being the sweetheart that he is, he offered to go see dad before he goes to meet Gerry to go fishing. All is good.   Yeah, no. Gretchen gets to our house about 4:30 or so and I’m asleep in a chair and haven’t showered yet and there is no way I have time to wash my hair or paint my nails. I have time to shower and do makeup and that’s it. Clothes were an entirely different topic as is evident by what I was wearing. I was planning on a girls night with my cousin, not a wedding proposal. I was lucky I found clothes that fit and that I had heels on. Gretchen did good to get that much accomplished from someone as stubborn as I can be. 💗      What happens after we arrive at Eddie V’s can only be described as something from a movie script. Mark had orchestrated the most unbelievable surprise proposal, it was amazing.   Gretchen and I walked in and were seated in the small, private party room at an intimate table for two, where the middle of the room had been set up for a mock 21st Birthday Party.   We ordered our magnificent cocktails and into the room walks my nephew and his wife Kyle and Colleen Richter from Spring, Tx. They had come to dinner since they were flying out the next day to go on vacation. We started chatting and then they asked if they could sit down and join us. I texted Mark to tell him he was missing the chance of seeing them and he couldn’t believe they were there.  A few minutes later, I look towards the door and in walks Marks aunt and uncle Ronny and Brenda Everett from Salado, Tx. I walked over to greet them and find out why they were all the way down at the Arboretum, and they explain that they come there all the time since it is only 45 minutes away. I was so shocked. I made introductions and was excited to see them.   I sat down for a second and in walks Marks sister and brother-in-law, Tom and Joan Ancy, from Conroe,Tx, who were at Eddie V’s to meet Tom’s mom and his sister who live in Georgetown. Again, I made introductions and then sat down with Gretchen for a few minutes while I explained to her that I was concerned about what to do since Mark’s family was standing on one side of the room and I felt like we needed to order our food so that we wouldn’t have an issue with getting finished before the Birthday party started at 8pm.   Well, as I wondered what I was going to do and had gone over and was talking to Mark’s family some more, in walks my best friend from college, Nydia Heintz and my dear, long-time, personal and professional friend Mona Oliver, both from Austin, Tx. Nydia was there for her Birthday and Mona was there for a Bumble date.   Again, I made introductions.   Finally, my aunt Barbara and uncle Kenneth Richter and cousin Karl, from Madisonville, Tx, all walked through the door (Gretchen’s parents and brother) and Kris Norton (Gretchen’s now Fiance).  In case anybody is curious, it wasn’t until this point in time that I actually figured it out that Mark was not fishing and there was something else going on.  Mark then walked through the door within 5 or 10 minutes.    He made a beautiful speech and then got down on his knee and proposed to me at the same restaurant he took me on our first date.  I said yes!! 💗🥰💍

The Surprise Proposal💍

Photos

Wedding Party

FAQs

Rooms available under the room block are $229 for either a King or a double Queen. You can make it a nice long weekend and enjoy all that Austin has to offer with: Checkin is Oct. 3, 2024. Checkout is Oct. 6, 2024. The room block will close September 5, 2024.

Archer Hotel

Travel Accomodations

Museum Of Ice Cream

Museum Of Illusions 

There are a number of bars and restaurants in the Domain area. All are within walking area of the Archer Hotel. Stop at the front desk and ask for a recommendation based on your preference. 

Enjoy The Night LIfe at The Domain

Sprawling entertainment venue with a high-tech driving range & swanky lounge with drinks & games.

Top Golf

Things to Do

Registry

Brenda & Mark

Brenda & Mark

Photos