Written by Ben Cox – Just a few miles north of the lake, on a Farm to Market Road off 279 is a family run business who makes family their business.
Sparkles & Spurs is a rustic, country-chic wedding venue run by former Bangs ISD educator Karen Fisher. Fisher, along with her husband Stanley, have operated the venue out of their home since May of 2013. Fisher says “We are southern charm on a Texas farm.”
The Fishers got the idea when their daughter wanted to get married at home. Teaching Home Economics for Bangs ISD for over 20 years also gave Fisher a passion for young couples. “It just led me right into taking care of couples. Because family has been top notch for me all these years.”
After her husband was injured and needed constant care for a time, the couple would get in the truck on a Saturday and drive across the state looking at wedding venues as a way to pass the time and feed a growing interest in Karen. “I was like ‘Wow, I’d love to do this’ but we could never afford to build the barns” that they saw when visiting other venues.
Fisher and her husband prayed fervently over whether or not to start the project, and Karen got a confirmation from God in a very unique way. “During the drought in 2012 I asked him to bring rain one Sunday if I was supposed to do this. At 3 o’clock that afternoon it clouded up, and it started pouring. I asked him ‘ If I’m supposed to do weddings, make it rain, today.’ And it did.”
The venue boasts an outdoor wedding arbor that was salvaged from an antique Kansas church, and is surrounded by other antique fixtures including two other smaller arbors from an antique Brownwood home. The main house is the product of three houses the couple tore down and rebuilt themselves, one of which sat on the very property the now occupy.
Other unique touches include the floor inside the house, which was the original Bangs High School Gym floor, built in the 1920’s. Karen says “we both played basketball on these floors! (Stanley) was much better than I was, he was pretty good, I mainly just dribbled!”
Fisher and her husband consider their brides and grooms family, with one example displaying just how much. “We have one groom who got married out here who says he’s Sparkles and Spurs alumni. So when he’s here (for a wedding) he brings his plate in the kitchen and sits at our table with us!”
One decoration that might go overlooked by wedding guests is hung over the dance floor for each occasion. “Our chandelier came from Blake Shelton and Miranda Lamberts wedding.” The fixture was purchased from a company who specializes in the style of decorating that is on abundant display at Sparkles & Spurs.
The fee for booking the venue can include the Friday before for set up, and the Sunday afternoon after the wedding for final clean up. The Fishers can be contacted via their Facebook page, or by calling 325-642-5572.
