Parker County Today OCTOBER 2018 | Page 91

that growth is coming this way.” And they are glad to be part of the growth. “We were hoping that we would bring commerce to Parker County and Weatherford, and that has defi- nitely played out as we’ve seen a lot more vendors — florists and bakeries, wedding planners and local photog- raphers — that we have gotten to know, and that come to the venue, and their business, as well, has increased. That’s a win-win.” Some corporate functions and fundraising activities are held at The Brooks. They also host and partner with A Memory Grows. “It’s for people who have lost children,” said Heflin. “It’s a memo- rial that comes here the week after Thanksgiving. She [a local pastor] does a service kind of ceremony in the chapel and gives an encourag- ing talk on loved ones and grief, the power of a life, and the significance of a life. Then she has these lumi- naries, these floatable luminaries all lined up next to the pond that’s next to the chapel. Our chapel is open- air, so we just step right outside the chapel and go around the pond, and then she walks to each person with a microphone and they speak the name of their child. And then they put their luminaries into the pond and just let them float together. And it’s just beautiful. It’s a powerful thing to say the name of the loved one that you’ve lost.” But, Heflin said, The Brooks is predominately about weddings. Their first full year, 2015, they hosted 86 weddings, then 92 in 2016, 98 in 2017, and they’re on track for 100 in 2018. “Love worth committing to, saying ‘Yes’ to, is worth celebrating!” Steve and Tricia Heflin believe that. And The Brooks at Weatherford is a picture-perfect place to celebrate. For more information and contact info, visit info@thebrooksatweatherford. com. 89