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Austin Wedding Community Gives a Free Wedding to an Injured Bastrop Deputy | Austin, TX Wedding Planners

March 14th, 2021

KVUE: BASTROP COUNTY, Texas — A Bastrop County deputy is in the hospital in stable condition after he was shot three times late Sunday night.

Bastrop County Sheriff Maurice Cook said Deputy Sawyer Wilson was shot in his bulletproof vest, his rear and once in his forearm. His forearm bone is shattered, but Cook said his vest likely saved his life.

CBS Austin: BASTROP COUNTY, Texas — The Bastrop County deputy who was shot multiple times by a man who has been arrested dozens of times is expected to be ok. Deputy Sawyer Wilson was shot at a gas station in Bastrop County on Sunday. His sister, Sierrah Wilson, said he is now recovering at home with his fiancé and two kids.

KXAN: Wilson was shot several times, including once in the chest, which his vest protected him from. His forearm, however, was shattered by a bullet. He’s now recovering in an Austin hospital, Cook said.

“They repaired his arm. They put pins and plates in his arm. And the doctors are hopeful that he doesn’t have any nerve damage. So he’s rested well today, he’ll be in the hospital for four to five days,” Cook said.

FOX 7: Governor Greg Abbott released a statement on the shooting saying: "Our hearts are with Deputy Sawyer Wilson as he recovers from injuries sustained while protecting his fellow Texans in Bastrop County."

We caught wind of the story on April 21st. Diandra Green, the Sales & Business Development Manager for The Addison Grove was scrolling through an Austin Bridal Facebook group when she noticed a post from a bride wanting to 'sell' her contracted wedding date. The bride said she needed to sell her date as her fiancé was shot in the line of duty while serving with the Bastrop County Sheriff's Office. Maddie's post had stated, "With all the medical costs, physical therapy costs, and loss of wages, there is no way we can afford to go through with our wedding ceremony anymore."

As Diandra grew up in a law enforcement family and was the daughter of a police officer, she immediately felt for the couple and wanted to do something to help. Ashley Schmick, owner of the wedding planning company Ashley Nicole Affair, is the administrator of this bridal group. Diandra immediately reached out to Ashley and knew she could count on her connections in the industry to get enough vendors to donate their services to give this couple the wedding they had always dreamed of. Ashley and Diandra reached out to Maddie on the Facebook group stating that we were reaching out to the Austin wedding vendor community to help, but their wedding is no longer cancelled - it's going to be even more grand than they had expected and at no charge to herself or Deputy Wilson.

Ashley Nicole Affair's team had reached out to several companies in the wedding industry and the response for donations was unheard of. There were SO many offers in the Austin wedding community that we had to turn away nearly 50 companies who were offering to donate their services, at no cost. We had vendors donating their time, product, and services for every single aspect of their dream wedding day. Ashley had also started a Go Fund Me due to the overwhelming response from local brides on that Facebook bridal group. Fellow Austin brides, who did not even know Maddie, wanted to show their appreciation for law enforcement and sympathy for their situation and donated money to their wedding. The Go Fund Me raised over $650. The dream wedding was set to take place on Tuesday, December 20th, 2022 at the Addison Grove in Austin, TX. The total donated services from local wedding vendors was just her $32,000!

VENDOR CONTRIBUTIONS

The Addison Grove - Venue + inclusive bartending package, as well as security on the day-of

All Dolled Up ATX - Bridal party hair + make up

Ashley Nicole Affair - Secured all donations + wedding planning + day of coordination

Austin's Elite - Staffing for event's entirety, setting up tables/chairs for the ceremony, as well as serving/preparing all of the food, and cleaning up/bussing/breaking down all tables and chairs

Austin Photo Studio - One hour rental of studio for portraits

Baby Blue Drives For You - Two hours transportation in vintage '57 Chevy Bel Air

Bee Lavish Vintage Rental - Lounge set complete with couch, pillows, two chairs, carpet, end table, and vintage style coffee table

Cakes ROCK!!!- Three tiered cake

Canopy by Hilton - Overnight stay in suite on wedding night

Cope Aesthetics - 8 hours of videography + highlight film

Dolce Grazing - Charcuterie cones during cocktail hour

Dreamy Carnival Catering - Cotton candy spinning during cocktail hour and pretzels as a late night snack

Forever Vows - Ceremony officiation + marriage of the bride/groom

Green Girl Design Co. - Seating chart with arched mirror rental

Heart to Home Calligraphy - Custom painted welcome sign

House of Glam - Bride's hair and make up on the day of, plus a trial beforehand