Our Story
Highly Favored Times was born in a moment of inspiration one late night, as two long-time friends, Ashleighann and Sierra, stood in their kitchen after a long shift at work. With laughter, a few tears, and a deep desire to create something new, the idea blossomed into something more. We’ve always felt highly favored by the universe and the opportunities it has offered us, and now, we want to extend that energy to others.
With over 11 years of friendship, we’ve been by each other’s sides through life’s biggest moments and learned the importance of celebrating every milestone. These years together solidified our bond and sparked the dream of building something meaningful together.
Our shared passion for hosting and experience in event planning and bartending led us to create Highly Favored Times— a business dedicated to crafting memorable, personalized experiences for every occasion.
Based in Austin, we bring a fresh, personalized approach to every event, whether an intimate gathering or a grand celebration. Let us help you create memories that leave you feeling as highly favored as we do.
About Sierra
Sierra Catone, co-founder of Highly Favored Times, is a passionate creator who feels deeply favored by the universe and life itself—a belief that inspires everything she does. Whether she’s crafting cocktails that tell a story or designing events that leave lasting impressions, Sierra pours her heart into creating experiences that celebrate connection.
She is a proud graduate of the University of West Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Administration and a minor in Business, she combines her education with her creative spirit to bring visions to life. Sierra’s mission is to share the sense of gratitude and abundance she feels by designing moments that make others feel just as highly favored.
Testimonials
My wife and I were thrilled with Highly Favored Times' service, professionalism, kindness, and creativity for our wedding party. They helped make two awesome custom drink options for the night with local yet efficiently priced ingredients. They were punctual and quick to respond to any messages in the weeks leading up to the party. Their setup at the party was professional yet stylish and we couldn’t ask for better service from Sierra and Ash as they kept the drinks coming all night. I will definitely look to them for any future parties and will recommend them to anyone looking for bar services for their party or event.
Ashleighann and Sierra are experts at turning your ideas into reality. Ashleighann has a keen eye for detail, while Sierra never misses a beat when it comes to communication. They have both designed multiple menus for my company while organizing spaces for my clients. Couldn’t recommend a better team.
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About Ashleighann
Ashleighann Grund , co-founder of Highly Favored Times, brings her passion for seamless event planning and attention to detail to every occasion. With a degree in Communication and Conflict and a minor in Political Science from the University of Central Florida, she’s got a unique knack for understanding people and making things run smoothly.
Her diverse professional background includes serving as a personal assistant to the Owners of a prominent modeling agency in Los Angeles and a luxury travel agency in Hawaii. Those experiences taught her the importance of handling the little details so others can focus on the bigger picture.
Event planning has always been Ashleighann’s passion. Whether it’s an intimate gathering or a large-scale celebration, she loves creating unforgettable moments and making sure everything goes off without a hitch.