Lauren & Shawn Sparks

SANDLEWOOD MANOR OWNERS

Lauren and Shawn Sparks founded Sandlewood Manor in 2016 with a shared vision for a ministry based wedding venue. Shawn and Lauren’s individual success in marketing and business management makes them a powerful team. Their hardworking personalities, strong passion for marriage, and a desire to help others have merged to create one of Houston’s premier wedding venues. 

Tina & Darryl Kennedy

SANDLEWOOD MANOR VENUE OWNERS

Darryl and Tina Kennedy have had the opportunity to share in the vision of Sandlewood Manor, that was given to Lauren and Shawn Sparks years ago, by playing a strongly supportive role in the venue. After 35 years of marriage, Darryl and Tina have learned that sharing life together is a beautiful gift from God. “Learning to weather the difficulties of life together and having a partner to share in the joys is one of life’s greatest adventures and well worth the learning curve.” We feel blessed to have a small part in encouraging and supporting marriages in Houston through Sandlewood Manor’s Love for a Lifetime program. As co-owners and coworkers here at Sandlewood Manor, it is our desire to see excellence in every area of this business and we pray that God will use this magnificent property for his glory.”

Alicia Turner

SANDLEWOOD MANOR BAR MANAGER

Meet Alicia Turner, our phenomenally talented mixology artist! With a long background in the service industry that started at the young age of 12 as an entertainment DJ, Alicia brings over a decade of celebration expertise. Partnered with her exceptional customer service Alicia’s long history of crafty liquid excellence makes her a perfect fit for the Sandlewood Team! Alicia’s favorite thing about being a bar manager is getting to see the joy on a guest's face after the first sip of a fresh beverage. Beyond the bar, Alicia loves to play the drums and has been an avid player since a child. Alicia is truly one of a kind and we can’t wait until you get to taste her creations for yourself! 

Ashley Jones

SANDLEWOOD MANOR VENUE DIRECTOR 

Meet Ashley Jones, our fantastic Venue Director at Sandlewood Manor! As the driving force and exceptional leader behind our team, she fosters a strong work culture and genuine passion for the venue's operations. She ensures excellence in every event we host, nurturing creativity, dedication, and a shared commitment to creating magical experiences for our clients. She is a secret music lover, who once played the guitar passionately and still loves to serenade others on the Manor House piano. Outside of work, you can find Ashley with her husband and five amazing kids, often enthusiastically keeping score for her boys' baseball team while cheering them on. Her 18-year marriage, filled with laughter, was the original inspiration for her passion for love and weddings. Her advice to couples planning their wedding: be decisive and trust your instincts, it's your day!

Latham Liggett

SANDLEWOOD MANOR MARKETING/AD MANAGER

Meet Latham Liggett, our creative Marketing Manager at Sandlewood Manor. A true believer in love's magic, he found his way to this industry after marrying his soulmate right here at Sandlewood Manor! Latham loves promoting our couple's big day and takes immense pride in getting to show off our incredible property and couples for the world to see! Outside the office, he's a music connoisseur and a candy enthusiast. You can find him with his Spotify music playing loud across the office or getting behind the scenes videos of all the memories unfolding at Sandlewood Manor! His dedication to sharing our couples stories and highlights from their big day, has made him the perfect fit for this role.

Lindsey Carranza

SANDLEWOOD MANOR LEAD VENUE CONCIERGE

Meet Lindsey Liggett, our Lead Venue Concierge at Sandlewood Manor! With her warm smile and passion for the logistics of the perfect wedding day, Lindsey ensures that every couple's special day is nothing short of magical. She's a self-proclaimed professional in the art of napping, and a true believer in soulmates and everlasting love. When not managing gorgeous weddings, you'll find her practicing yoga, maybe with a glass of cabernet in her hand, or enjoying quality time with her husband and adorable golden retrievers. Lindsey's favorite moment? Seeing the bride's excitement right before walking down the aisle – a moment that gives her chills every time. Get ready for a memorable experience with Lindsey as your guide to an unforgettable celebration!

Samantha Buschardt

SANDLEWOOD MANOR VENUE CONCIERGE

Meet Sam Buschardt, the resident Comedian and Venue Concierge extraordinaire at Sandlewood Manor! With a heart full of love and laughter and a knack for details, Sam brings an irresistible charm to every celebration. Beyond weddings, Sam is a devoted bookworm and adores being the cool aunt to identical twin nephews, Mason and Levi, and hopes to one day visit all of the US National Parks. Her best wedding advice is to BE SELFISH! Prioritize your happiness because this day is all about you! Sam brings her humor and hilarious stories that have an uncanny knack for calming pre-ceremony nerves. She is a master at surprises, like the time she helped her bride announce her pregnancy during the reception, which left the Ballroom gleaming with love. Sam is truly a great companion to have alongside you on your big day! 

Marah Richardson

SANDLEWOOD MANOR VENUE CONCIERGE

Meet Marah Richardson, our lively Venue Concierge at Sandlewood Manor! With her bubbly personality and impeccable organizational skills, Marah ensures every wedding day is filled with joy. Off-duty, you'll find Marah indulging in reality TV, savoring Mexican food, and sipping margaritas while jamming to Justin Bieber. Her advice for couples planning their big day: secure a reputable DJ/MC for a smooth and fun celebration. Marah's most memorable experience was the Sip n' See event, witnessing the venue come to life. Expect top-notch service with a lot of laughs along the way.  

Leah Claxton

SANDLEWOOD MANOR BALLROOM DIRECTOR

Leah Claxton loves to dance! She began her training at Progressions School of Dance and continued her studies through the Theatre Under the Stars' Humphreys School of Musical Theatre (HSMT). After being accepted into the Rocket Experience, she had the incredible opportunity to train with the Radio City Rockettes in New York City. Leah has competed as a professional ballroom dancer and has worked as a ballroom dance instructor and choreographer. She is also a certified Zumba and Piyo instructor. Currently, Leah is a member of the Magnify Dance Company and teaches ballroom, jazz and ballet classes for the Magnify School of Dance. Leah enjoys that art of choreography and is known for creating wedding dances that exemplify the personalities of the bride and groom. Leah has been noted as a "pioneer of the wedding dance trend." Check out Leah's own wedding dance (which she choreographed) that has touched nearly 4 million viewers from around the globe.