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Summer Weddings at the Star of Texas
Bed & Breakfast
Innkeepers Don & Debbie Morelock offer plenty of Texas
style
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Our cover photo,
from a recent wedding at the Star of Texas Bed &
Breakfast, Brownwood, Texas. Photograph by
Kim Hurt Photography,
Kim Hurt is
a custom portrait and wedding photographer in
Brownwood, TX, serving the Abilene, Austin,
Golthwaite, Comanche, Coleman , Stephanville,
San Angelo, Lampasses, and Brady TX areas. She
specializes in artistic Wedding and Engagement
photography and videography. She also offers
lifestyle portraits of newborns, babies,
children, maternity and families as well as
unique and creative portraits of high school
seniors. |
Friends warned Don and Debbie Morelock that no one would
want to stay at a bed-and-breakfast out in the middle of
nowhere, but the peace and serenity of the Star of Texas
Bed & Breakfast is actually one of its most attractive
attributes. It’s not really that far from the thriving
little city of Brownwood, but it’s almost a mile off the
farm-to-market road, and the 21 wooded acres that
surround the rustic cottages provide an added buffer
from the rush of modern civilization. And the success of
the bed-and-breakfast is attested to by
BedandBreakfast.com, a worldwide listing and rating
website which honored Star of Texas as one of its top
ten B&Bs in the American Southwest for 2008-2009, and
named Don and Debbie to its national list of “Innkeepers
of the Year in 2009-2010.
Don Morelock was serving in the U.S. Navy while Debbie
Ellis was rooming with his sister, Diane, at Howard
Payne University in Brownwood; they met after he came
home in 1979. After the Navy, he spent a few months
learning the blacksmithing trade at a “hippie commune”
near Brenham, called Peaceable Kingdom. They were
married in 1980.
The newlywed couple tore down three old homes in
Brownwood, and set out to build their dream home room by
room, using salvaged materials, on Don’s family place
north of town. “We’ve been building for thirty years,”
they say. One of their early projects was a blacksmith
shop, and for several years, they traveled to craft
shows to sell his metal art. They also sold their wares
at a shop in Fredericksburg.
The bed-and-breakfast plan didn’t start to take shape
until 1997, when they built the first of their four
separate cottages (the upstairs of their home is also a
bed-and-breakfast suite; it has a private balcony with
stairs so guests don’t have to go through their home).
Their sixth and seventh “suites” are very unique: one is
a 1955 Spartan Park Model trailercoach, an innovation
from oil tycoon J. Paul Getty, who turned his Spartan
Aircraft company into the top-of-the-line travel trailer
company after World War II.
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A Teepee Wedding photo from Star of
Texas |
The other is a 22-foot-diameter Indian tepee, called the
Dancing Buffalo Lodge. The Morelocks are currently
working on a project in town: a 1920-era bungalow which
they are converting into two lodging suites (but they
won’t serve breakfast there). |
Don and Debbie are very much involved with area tourism,
and love to “partner” with attractions such as the Texas
Forts Trail and Lake Brownwood, the Douglas MacArthur
Academy of Freedom and the new Martin and Frances Lehnis
Railroad Museum in Brownwood, or the network of “Way Out
Wineries” in north-central Texas (They offer 10 percent
off the price of a stay at Star of Texas with proof of
purchase from any of the “Way Out Wineries”). They also
recommend favorite area restaurants for in-town meals.
But there’s really no need to go anywhere else, since
Star of Texas is a great destination by itself. Besides
the beautiful cottages and gardens, there is a mile-long
nature-art trail to help you enjoy the scenic property,
and a gift shop by the pond. Three cats, two miniature
donkeys and a friendly dog named Emily add to the
welcoming atmosphere.
The Morelocks offer a variety of customized packages,
from weddings to “elopements” to picnic dinners or yoga
sessions. There are even spa packages or canoe trips on
nearby Pecan Bayou. Despite the naturally rustic
setting, all the cottages are equipped with modern
comforts; some have large Jacuzzi tubs or outdoor hot
tubs.
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The Morelocks know that you want your wedding to
be special, and so they work with you to create
a wedding that is traditional or unique with
less stress. They will help you with the details
that reflect your relationship. They have a
beautiful native garden setting with outdoor
decks or the Texas Star Garden Chapel in which
to hold your wedding ceremony. If you are not
wanting a full wedding see their Ultimate Texas
Elopement Honeymoon package on the packages
page, just for the two of you. They will make
your elopement simple, you bring your license
from your county in Texas which must be filled
out 72 hrs before the ceremony, and they do the
rest.
Weddings are 40 people and under.
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The Basic Wedding Package includes:
•The Tuscany Suite & Oak Cottage for 2 nights
•Resident Chaplain to perform ceremony
•White wooden wedding chairs for guest
•Use of Garden room and outdoor garden decks
•Personal wedding & reception hostess
•Public Restroom
•Parking Attendant
•Set up & clean up of our equipment
•One hour of rehearsal time if needed
Cost of the Basic Wedding Package is $1,598.00. A
$159.00 non-refundable deposit is taken to reserve your
date.
•The following items may be added to the Basic package
at the extra cost shown:
•8 ft. tables & 5' round tables $10.00 each
•White net bows lining the walkways $15
•Reception: see prices below for levels of receptions
Cake & Punch Reception (they do not provide any of the
food .)
•$85 for the first hour for just cake & punch. Each
additional hour is $50.
•This includes set up and placement of equipment. Trash
receptacles and maintenance of them.
Cake, Punch & Finger Food Reception
If you are serving cake, punch and finger foods it will
be $115 for up to 24 guest, or $145 from 25 to 60 for
the first hour and each additional hour is $50. A
kitchen use fee is $25
A Full Sit Down Reception or Dining Event Inside Garden
Room is also available.
Please call to set up an appointment to visit the
grounds.
For couples looking to elope, The Star of Texas Bed &
Breakfast has two packages available:
Elopement For 2 or Vow Renewal Package
Package is $189 plus the cost of room of choice.
This package requires a non-refundable full payment to
book, room is separate.
Renew your wedding vows or elope in the intimacy of
thier bed & breakfast. Package includes:
•Vow ceremony by Chaplain in the location of your choice
on the property at the time you set
•Hand tied mix flower bouquet for the Bride
•Photos burned to a CD for you to use as you like
•Cake & Punch for 2
•Commemorative wine glasses
For couplel only, if wanting guests to attend it will be
a wedding, please see their wedding page.
They also offer a 3-5 min. edited DVD of your ceremony
for an additional cost of $300.
The Ultimate Texas Elopement Honeymoon Getaway
Just for the 2 of you, the ultimate getaway for your
special day, they make it a beautiful, stress-free day.
Package is $749 which includes room of choice. This
package requires a $189 non-refundable deposit to book.
•2 nights in room of choice
•Ceremony by Don a Chaplain in location of your choice
on the grounds
•Hand tied mixed flower bouquet for Bride
•Cake & Punch for 2
•Commemorative wine glasses
•Photo CD for you to use as you wish
•CD music for ceremony
•Massage for couple in the Garden room
•A Romantic Candlelight Picnic Basket delivered to your
room for lunch or dinner.
•Full breakfast delivered to your room each morning.
Once you arrive you will then decide on a time and
location for your special ceremony to take place.
Again the offer of a 3-5 min. edited DVD of the ceremony
for an additional $300.00 is available.
The Morelocks also recommend the following wedding
professionals:
Twenty 14 Media.com Edited DVD of ceremony
325-998-1251
Celebration Cakes 325-646-9212
CR Catering 325-647-2551
Bangs Florist & Rentals 325-752-6825
Emily Clarkson Harpist 325-646-0682
Larry Bartley Photography www.larrybartley.com
Kim Hurt Photography
www.kimhurtphotography.com
Heather Nix Photography www.heathernix.com
Brian Potter Photography
www.brianpotterphotography.com
So the next time you feel the need for a little romance,
or just peace and relaxation, take a little trip to the
Star of Texas Bed and Breakfast. We think you’ll enjoy
your stay. (web site
www.star-of-texas.com)
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Kim
Hurt
Photography & Fine Art
Brownwood, Texas
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