When Tragedy (And Lightning) Strikes

When Tragedy (And Lightning) Strikes

June 11th, 2010 @ 4:06 pm by Mrs. Mouse
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On Wednesday morning around four, lightning struck the Artisan Ballroom at Barr Mansion and burned it to the ground. By the time reporters got there, the sun was rising and ashes were still smoldering. The place where the Dude and I said our vows and became husband and wife barely nine months ago is no longer standing.

When Tragedy (And Lightning) Strikes : wedding austin venues Fire At Barr Mansion Fire-at-Barr-Mansion

Image via Austin Wedding Photographer - Eric Hegwer.

The good news is the fire didn’t spread to any of the other buildings, like the historic mansion or the adorable, wee chapel. And the owners and staff are working with the brides and grooms getting married this weekend and in the next few weeks to ensure they still have impeccably gorgeous weddings and receptions. The ballroom will be rebuilt, and they’re hoping to have it finished this winter.

When Tragedy (And Lightning) Strikes : wedding austin venues 311 3

When Tragedy (And Lightning) Strikes : wedding austin venues 22 2

Image via Austin Wedding Photographer - Eric Hegwer. Click here to see coverage and more images from the fire.

But I cannot imagine the sense of loss the owners and staff must be facing right now. Loss of revenue over the next six months. Loss of all the hard work that was put into creating such a glorious building. Loss of the incredibly old timber, imported from New York, that was used to construct the building. As a former Barr Mansion bride, I shed tears when I saw the photos of the barn burned to a crisp. I immediately felt for the owners, but then I started to feel a sense of loss for myself. For the Dude’s and my marriage. That building played a huge role in our wedding day, and now it’s gone. It’s a really hard concept for me to grasp.

And then I felt guilty for feeling sad for myself when the owners and future Barr Mansion brides and grooms have a lot more at stake. (I have issues, OK?)

One article I read about the incident said that other local wedding vendors were pitching in to lend a hand with Barr Mansion’s upcoming weddings. That thought gave me the warm fuzzies. I have full confidence that the brides and grooms over the next few weeks will not be disappointed. And when Barr Mansion does rebuild, the ballroom will be more beautiful than ever.

How would you feel if your wedding venue were destroyed after your wedding?

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24 Responses to “When Tragedy (And Lightning) Strikes”

1 2 Last

Bee

Mrs. Hamster (message) 4,045 posts, Honey bee

Oh wow, this is so sad. I know I’d feel similarly if our venue suffered similar damage. I’m glad to hear the other buildings weren’t damaged though and it sounds like no one was hurt.

6/11/10 @ 4:23 pm (reply)

Bee

Mrs. Perfume (message) 2,253 posts, Buzzing bee

Oh that is so sad! I think you have the right to feel the loss just as much as everyone else!!! We went back to the Homestead for our one year anniversary. I’m grateful that the old relic of a place was still standing, and would have been sad if we didn’t have the opportunity to revisit it, at least for that first year.

The other vendors helping Barr mansion out is so fabulous and gives me the warm fuzzies, too. Your wedding was so beautiful, I hope they can replicate the new ballroom as close to its original form as when you used it!

6/11/10 @ 4:27 pm (reply)

Member

snmcdowell (message) 2,160 posts, Buzzing bee

That is so sad, but there is also an amazing beauty to the remaining structure. It would be an incredible place for a TTD shoot for you and your husband!

6/11/10 @ 4:34 pm (reply)

Member

mander411 (message) 735 posts, Busy bee

wow - I was never even there and I am SO bummed - that place was so beautiful, so original, so perfect. that is really sad

6/11/10 @ 4:36 pm (reply)

Bee

Mrs. Pug (message) 3,753 posts, Honey bee

oh no! so sad! but i’m very glad to hear that people are pitching in to make sure the brides and grooms have their beautiful weddings.

6/11/10 @ 4:53 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Seashell (message) 1,713 posts, Bumble bee

Your venue was just stunning. How sad!

6/11/10 @ 5:03 pm (reply)

Member

jordynrose (message) 6,351 posts, Bee Keeper

This is a terrible tragedy, but thankfully no one was hurt and everyone is being accomodated. What is with these wedding fires (Barr Mansion, Cakegirls, Snow’s barn…)?

6/11/10 @ 5:04 pm (reply)

Member

Curlysue (message) 1,703 posts, Bumble bee

I saw the photo before the title and let out a gasp when I realized it was your venue!! I’d shed tears too if that’s where I got married. I’m glad no one was hurt though.

I live in Colorado and Boulder recently had a lot of rain I guess and washed out a bridge that lead to a restaurant that has a lot of weddings there each year. There is NO other way to get the location and the city wouldn’t open a dirt back road for access so that’s rough. Thankfully, like your vendor’s neighbors are doing, other venues are opening their doors to couples who have weddings in the coming weeks/months to get something else figured out.

6/11/10 @ 5:05 pm (reply)

Member

Caligirl20 (message) 35 posts, Newbee

A friend of mine got married here before the 200 yr barn (ballroom) was added and my first wedding was here (while the ballroom was being built). It is a gorgeous, one of a kind venue. Hopefully they’ll be able to rebuild. It’s very sad.

6/11/10 @ 5:25 pm (reply)

10.

Bee

Miss Elephant (message) 6,177 posts, Bee Keeper

That is so sad! I’m glad to hear over vendors helping out for upcoming weddings.

6/11/10 @ 5:34 pm (reply)

11.

Member

D.Marie (message) 2,484 posts, Buzzing bee

Im so sorry to hear this but glad that others are helping out and that no one is hurt. I know how you feel as a bride I would be very sad to see this happen to the place where we were married.

6/11/10 @ 5:39 pm (reply)

12.

Bee

Miss Earrings (message) 2,477 posts, Buzzing bee

Yikes. That really is tragic…

6/11/10 @ 5:57 pm (reply)

13.

Member

MOHmama (message) 404 posts, Helper bee

oh no! so sad.

6/11/10 @ 7:00 pm (reply)

14.

Bee

Mrs. Nachos (message) 1,733 posts, Bumble bee

Aw, Mouse, that’s so sad. I think it’s totally normal for you to feel sad that it’s gone, I’d be heart broken if I saw photos like that of our terrace. Even though tons of other people have used the same site to say their vows, in your heart and mine, a place like this is still ‘yours’ to mourn.

6/11/10 @ 8:39 pm (reply)

15.

Guest

Tamara

Oh my gosh, I’m so sad to hear that, Mrs. Mouse. It was such a lovely venue.

6/11/10 @ 9:11 pm (reply)

16.

Member

kayakgirl73 (message) 2,124 posts, Buzzing bee

So sad. Ms. Mouse I thought about you as soon as I read a bride’s post who was getting maried their next year.

6/11/10 @ 10:56 pm (reply)

17.

Member

EMARILU (message) 322 posts, Helper bee

Very terrible, at the same time it warms my heart to hear the community of wedding vendors are joining forces to ensure couples to be married do so with out worry.

6/11/10 @ 11:25 pm (reply)

18.

Member

panda in England (message) 210 posts, Helper bee

wow, that’s so awful - makes me so sad too… if we weren’t getting married in the UK Barr Mansion would have been my first choice venue. Hopefully the local community will pull together to help the couples who’ve lost their venue to still have fabulous, heartfelt and meaningful weddings - because beautiful venues aside, that’s really what it’s all about at the end of the day.

6/12/10 @ 5:30 am (reply)

19.