Buda Back in the Day Video - The Carrington
From the cracked paint on the walls, to the unique ceilings, stepping inside The Carrington Wedding and Event Venue is like taking a trip back in time. That is exactly how owners Franci Siriwardana and Cari Wible want you to feel.
“I love the character and natural textures and light of this building. Weddings are a very popular thing in Austin and wedding venues are plentiful. What sets this building apart specifically is that it is so original to what it was over 100 years ago,” Wible said.
“Most people who come in and look around ask us if everything is still original. Of course it is. We don’t want to change anything about it. We love that the paint is chipping off the wall. It gives it amazing texture for photos and you can’t find ceilings like this anymore,” Siriwardana said.
Built in 1910 by W.D. Carrington, the building was originally The Carrington Drug Store and it also housed doctors offices upstairs.
"One of our neighbors gave us an original medical bottle from The Carrington Drug Store. Not only is it history from the building, but it is the namesake of the business.” Wible said.
Even the old pharmacist sink is still intact.
“It still technically works. For practical purposes it stays behind the curtain.“
Over the years, the building has had a number of tenants.
“In the 1940’s a pharmacist moved his family in upstairs and converted the upstairs to a family living space. His daughter had polio so they installed an elevator. At some point in the 1960s it started transitioning into retail or restaurant space. In the 1970s and 1980s it became an antique store.”
Currently, the second floor of the building has several rooms for a bride and her party to get ready. There is also a space for the groom.
Cari and Franci have also worked hard to bring the natural space around the building to life. Several sheds in the back of the building were cleared and a whole new space was created. The side courtyard is used primarily for ceremonies and receptions.
Moving forward, they will continue to keep the historic feel of the building intact.
“We definitely want to grow our business here and get more people to Main Street and have more people enjoy the space as much as we’ve enjoyed making it together," Siriwardana said.
“We don’t want the space to be so big that it brings in crazy large things. We kind of see our target clients as people who are looking for something intentional and pretty, but not oversized or impersonal," said Wible.
For many people, the building brings back a lot of memories.
“People remember all different things. It’s cool to hear their stories and know that there is so much history to the city and community around it that involves this building specifically. It’s kind of crazy."
