We were lucky to catch up with Samantha Solliday recently and have shared our conversation below.

Samantha, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Parents play a huge role in our development as youngsters and sometimes that impact follows us into adulthood and into our lives and careers. Looking back, what’s something you think you parents did right?

I think the two biggest things my parents instilled in my sister and me were work ethic and accountability. It’s shaped the way we do everything, because we were always told: “Doing the right thing is never the wrong thing.” That value is everything in the wedding industry.

This is an incredibly emotionally driven field—so many decisions are based on feeling or emotional connection. Being honest and accountable to your clients builds the trust that is absolutely necessary to succeed in this business.

As venue owners, we know we’re not just providing a space—we’re executing visions and emotions, all while being hospitality wizards. Work ethic is non-negotiable. You just have to get it done.

Growing up, our parents owned rental houses, and the work was done by all of us. Very rarely did they hire help, unless there was a tight deadline. We learned to lay tile, landscape, install drywall, tape and float, install appliances—you name it. They just did it. They were never afraid to try something new or tackle something hard.

It’s funny, because the venue we own now was actually purchased by my parents in 1999. I grew up in that house. I remember pulling up the old laminated tile in the kitchen and installing new tile—which is still there today. When we renovated the house in 2018, I told them that tile was staying. We built the color scheme around it. We weren’t going to do that job again! But the renovation? We did that together, as a family. If we were going to own and operate a wedding venue, we were going to build it as a team.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

In 2017, our family began the epic journey of creating a wedding venue for intimate weddings in Belton, TX. It started when Samantha and Eric decided to get married at Sam’s childhood home. Sam’s parents, Loretta and Anthony, quickly realized an open field wasn’t going to cut it—especially with no on-site bathrooms!

In one year, with a lot of grit, hard work, and some arguments along the way, Anthony, Loretta, Kelly, Sam, Amber, and Eric converted the house, the grounds, and the old horse barn into Hidden Creek at StoneHaus.

At first, we only offered facility rentals. Guests would rent the space for a set amount of time and bring their own vision to life. But we quickly realized we were not hands-off owners. When we saw people struggling to set tables or get people down the aisle on time, we stepped in. It didn’t sit right with us to watch families stress when they should’ve been soaking in the moment.

Over time, we began wrapping services into our packages. Clients started asking us about linens, décor, coordination, photography, cake—you name it. And that’s when we asked: What if we offered a small garden wedding, like an elopement? Could we provide everything our couples need and execute the day from start to finish?

Thus, the all-inclusive micro wedding was born.

Cake, photography, linens, décor, music, setup and coordination, officiant, florals, and refreshments for 20 guests—all for under $3,000. We truly believed this was a better alternative to a courthouse wedding.

Things were going great—until COVID. Fortunately, because we were an outdoor venue, we didn’t suffer as badly as others in the industry. But COVID did change hospitality almost overnight.

People wanted more—especially when it came to service. They wanted to feel catered to. Suddenly, we were getting more and more requests for larger all-inclusive weddings, including dinner, drinks, and extended party time.

We looked at each other like, “Can we really do this?”

Would other vendors come on board? Could we get vendor pricing for our clients? Did we have the staff? And, to be honest, could we make a profit?

So Kelly—the spreadsheet guru, wedding planner, and coordination magician—did the math. I (Sam) started reaching out to vendors we’d worked with to get their thoughts and pricing.

Soon enough, we had a plan. We booked our first all-inclusive intimate wedding. We took deposits, set planning meetings, and handled every detail. Our couple literally just showed up, got dressed, and had an amazing day. Were there hiccups? Sure—but the clients never knew. And that’s the point.

After that event, we sat in the house with a glass of wine, debriefed, and realized: We can really do this. This could be our identity—a true all-inclusive wedding venue that solves one of the biggest problems in the industry: full event execution and guest experience, from planning to the final send-off. A true stress reliever for families.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Our community, like many others, is very driven by word-of-mouth. The wedding industry is even tighter than our Central Texas market. We all seem to know each other—or know of each other—through acquaintances.

When we built our all-inclusives, we knew it would only work if the vendors we partnered with had stellar work ethics and strong reputations. Building trust with one another helped our venue immensely.

We constantly refer clients to specific vendors, even if they’re just renting the space and not choosing the all-inclusive package. We don’t gatekeep. We want our couples, their families, and other vendors to have the best information possible. That’s part of our hospitality promise at Hidden Creek.

Even if a client doesn’t book with us, or if we’re not the right fit, we’ll refer them to other venues in the area. That’s just who we are—and the kind of reputation we want to maintain in the community.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Assume nothing—especially when it comes to weddings and people.

Do not assume clients will read your contract word for word—unless you literally make them initial every line. And even then, they still might not.

Be firm and clear with your communication. The more vague or flexible you are, the more room there is for people to misinterpret what you mean. Boundaries are everything.

A few years ago, we had a bride who was interested in our all-inclusives. At that time, we only went up to 70 guests—we didn’t feel ready to handle anything bigger. She toured, asked a lot of questions (which is good!), then left and continued asking the same questions—usually at 5 a.m.

It felt like she thought if she asked often enough, she’d eventually get a different answer. She wanted 120 guests. At first, we said no—it was too much. Then we wavered. We told her we’d price it out.

She kept trying to create a “hybrid” package—picking and choosing what she wanted. She pushed us to bend on almost everything. Eventually, we gave her a final price and said, “This is what we offer. This is what you signed. These are the amenities.” When she realized we weren’t going to bend anymore, she told us we “weren’t being accommodating.” Needless to say, she didn’t have her wedding with us.

The lesson?

Not every couple is your client—and that’s okay. Once you find your niche and establish your boundaries, stick to them. Everyone will be happier in the end.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hiddencreekatstonehaus.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiddencreekatstonehaus/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hiddencreekatstonehaus/?eid=ARA66Nhptggmhuk–crQTw-i3C-Z3GJV-MyYwAkjwgOhX-k0Dvqrh6qXvb1cEhkfPJ4OQbxdqqNcUr6j

Image Credits

Rae Allen Photography