Say “I Do” for Free This Valentine’s Day at Austin Motel’s Pink Chapel
LOOT Rentals will transform the South Congress boutique hotel's carport into a retro-inspired chapel with officiant-led weddings
This Valentine’s Day, Texas-based event rental company LOOT Rentals is transforming the carport at the Austin Motel into a “Little Pink Chapel,” offering couples the chance to get married or renew their vows for free.
The one-day event, called Free Love, returns Feb. 14 with officiant-led ceremonies held in individual 20-minute time slots beginning at 1 p.m. Created in collaboration with In Ink Weddings, the experience features back-to-back ceremonies, with one couple at a time stepping into a playful, retro-inspired.
The event is free, but RSVP is required and space is limited. Couples planning to be legally married must bring a valid Texas marriage license and identification; state law requires the license to be obtained at least 72 hours in advance. Up to six guests are allowed per ceremony.
Now in its eighth year, Free Love was created to strip weddings down to their essentials — love, community and connection — without the pressure or expense often associated with traditional ceremonies. The concept predates Loot itself, said Rhoda Brimberry, the company’s owner and co-founder.
Eight years of Free Love
“A long time ago, long before Loot was ever a concept, I saw a ‘mass wedding’ on one of those morning news programs,” Brimberry said. “There were dozens of couples dressed in their wedding attire all facing each other and holding hands while the judge declared them all married.”
That image later informed Loot’s approach to weddings, she said, shaping Free Love into a rotating ceremony model centered on accessibility and shared experience.
“Considering the high cost of weddings, it warms us to be able to do what we love — create beautiful, meaningful spaces — for couples who might not have the resources or time to declare their love for one another in a thoughtful, inspiring and beautiful format,” Brimberry said.
This year’s revival coincides with Loot’s 15th anniversary and returns Free Love to its earliest format: an afternoon of ceremonies held one after another, each couple given a brief but intentional moment.
The setting was a natural fit, Brimberry said.
“The Austin Motel is iconic Austin,” she said. “It has been a grounded constant through all the changes that have occurred throughout the city.”
The motel’s carport will be reimagined as the “Little Pink Chapel,” a retro-inspired installation designed by In Ink Weddings owner Sydney Meyer. Meyer said the motel’s small, tucked-away carport and retro charm immediately evoked the feel of classic Las Vegas wedding chapels.
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Stylish micro-wedding
“The ceremony will be held under the colorful neon ceiling of the parking lot, which instantly brought the Vegas Strip to mind — bold, playful and a little surreal in the best way,” Meyer said.
While each ceremony is brief, Brimberry said the experience is designed to feel personal.
Each participating couple receives an officiant-led ceremony, access to the styled chapel, photo opportunities throughout the Austin Motel and celebratory touches including flowers and music. Ceremonies run between 1 and 3:30 p.m.
“Our company started with one wedding,” Brimberry said. “Now, tens of thousands of events later, it is clear: gathering in inspiring spaces creates a lot of good vibes and we’re here for it all.”