EP 392: From Police Work To Parties: Building Twisted Rose, A Handcrafted Event Space Near Fort Worth

What makes Rene VanHouten-Kasterke with Twisted Rose Texas a good neighbor?

Rene believes a truly memorable venue is more than a pretty room—it’s a space built with care, craftsmanship, and heart. In this episode, we sit down with the owner of Twisted Rose Texas near Fort Worth to explore how thoughtful design and genuine hospitality come together to create celebrations that feel personal rather than packaged. From handmade tables and custom lighting to layouts that actually serve guests, Rene shares how intention shows up in every detail.

Rene traces her path from years of service as a Fort Worth police officer to creating a joy-forward venue designed specifically for life’s most meaningful moments. She pulls back the curtain on the real work behind each event: two days of preparation, a fully present event day, and a top-to-bottom deep clean afterward. That four-day rhythm challenges the myth that venues simply unlock doors and send invoices. Instead, Twisted Rose operates like a craft studio, where systems protect timelines, vendors, and guest experience.

We also explore the creative energy families and organizations bring into the space. While weddings are a cornerstone, Twisted Rose Texas hosts a wide variety of events—including baby showers, celebrations of life, corporate events, and more—each requiring a different tone and flow. The venue’s custom build allows for flexible styling without losing character, making it a true canvas rather than a constraint. Rene encourages every client to tour venues in person, noting that photos rarely capture light, scale, or movement. You’ll hear practical tips for smarter site visits, questions to ask about access and staffing, and a guiding mantra worth keeping close: nothing is perfect, but it can still be fabulous.

If you’re planning a wedding or milestone event and want a venue with soul, this conversation will help you focus on what truly matters—hospitality, craftsmanship, and a team who genuinely cares.

To learn more about Twisted Rose Texas go to:

https://www.TwistedRoseTexas.com

Twisted Rose Texas

+1 (817) 480-0894

Transcript

Welcome And Guest Introduction

SPEAKER_00 0:00

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Sophia Yvette.

SPEAKER_02 0:10

Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast. Are you in need of a wedding venue? Well, one may be closer than you think. Today I have the pleasure of introducing your good neighbor, Renee Casterkey, with the Twisted Ropes. Renee, how are you today? I'm doing well, thank you. How are you? I'm also doing well. Now we're excited to learn all about you and your business. Can you start off by telling us just a little bit about your company?

SPEAKER_01 0:39

Yes. So we are located about 10 minutes, 12 minutes from downtown to the south. We're have a good country fill without the big commute to get here. Our venue is very custom. Everything is custom made. It's not run down to Home Depot and just grab something. We custom made all the things.

SPEAKER_02 1:01

Amazing. Now, how did you and your husband originally get into this business?

From Policing To Celebrations

SPEAKER_01 1:08

Interestingly enough, we are both retired Fort Worth police officers. And after many, many years of seeing people at their worst, it was kind of nice to now see people when they're happy. And we've been very successful with that. And it's very satisfying.

Myths About Wedding Venues

SPEAKER_02 1:23

Amazing. Now, being in the industry that you're in today, what is the most common myth or misconception you come across in the wedding venue industry?

SPEAKER_01 1:35

I would say the general public doesn't understand the effort that goes into what we do. Most people think that we just go there and unlock the door and we charge them for the space. But what they don't realize is that every event that we do, it's a four-day event for us. Where there's like two days of preparation, there's the event itself, which we're there for. And then the next day doing a really good deep clean to make sure it's spotless for the next clients.

Creativity And The Name Story

SPEAKER_02 2:00

And what is your favorite part about hosting these wedding venues?

SPEAKER_01 2:06

I love the creativity of these folks. I mean, golly, I think I'm creative, but some of these people can really come up with some really cool stuff and really exciting.

SPEAKER_02 2:17

Now, one question for you, Renee. The Twisted Rose, where in the world did that name come from?

SPEAKER_01 2:24

I would love to be able to give you a direct answer for that. It just popped in my head one day, and I thought it was really cool and unique. So I chose that.

Clients, Events, And Social Media

SPEAKER_02 2:34

Amazing. Now we know marketing is the heart of every business. So who are some of your target customers, clients, or demographic? And in terms of your online footprint, how do you like to stay in front of them?

Favorite Events And Personal Life

SPEAKER_01 2:47

I stay in front of our potential clients with social media, obviously. But we don't just do weddings, we do celebration of life, we do a lot of baby showers, a lot of different events. So we enjoy the variety of not just solely weddings.

SPEAKER_02 3:04

Amazing. And what is your favorite event to be a part of?

SPEAKER_01 3:08

Oh, that's hard to say. The the weddings, watching the couples get together and watching the family come together is great, but the baby showers are also fun as well.

SPEAKER_02 3:18

Now, have you ever thought about having your own podcast for your business? I have not. And outside of work, what do you and your family like to do for fun?

SPEAKER_01 3:34

Actually, we like to just hang out by the pool and enjoy each other's company and get outside of the chaotic world in which we live in. So we spend a lot of time talking and just hanging out together.

What To Remember About Twisted Rose

SPEAKER_02 3:46

Amazing. Now, please tell our listeners one thing they should remember today about the twisted ropes.

SPEAKER_01 3:54

I'll have to say again, I would probably reiterate that our venue is very, very unique in that we custom made the tables, we custom made the lightings, we built it specifically for weddings and events like this. So it's not a barn that animals have lived in. It's specifically created to host events and make people enjoy themselves.

SPEAKER_02 4:17

Amazing. And is there a mission statement you have associated with the Twisted Rose?

Mission, Website, And Final Advice

SPEAKER_01 4:23

Ah, a mission statement. You caught me off guard with that one. Um I guess it's really not a mission statement, but I say this to all of my clients. Nothing is perfect, but it can still be fabulous.

SPEAKER_02 4:37

Final question for you today, Renee. Where can our listeners go to learn more about the Twisted Rose?

SPEAKER_01 4:44

They can visit our website at Twisted Rose, Texas. Our website is info at twisted rose texas.com. So any of those two are those are probably the best ways to contact us and look at our our website and look at the pictures. I would say that one of one of the biggest feedbacks that we get when people enter into the venue is that the pictures don't do it justice. So for that, I would tell potential clients, even not just our venue, but if you're looking for a video, please go visit because pictures don't always tell the whole story.

SPEAKER_02 5:17

Well, Renee, I really appreciate you being on the show today. We wish you and your business the best moving forward.

SPEAKER_01 5:25

Thank you so much. We appreciate it.

SPEAKER_00 5:27

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gnpfrisco.com. That's gmpfrisco.com or call four six nine two two one nine three four five.