Allison and Emmett’s Stunning Villa Cetinale Wedding in Tuscany
An Electric Love-Inspired Wedding at One of the Hippest Kansas Wedding Venues
Lauren & Mat had the most beautifully colorful wedding day. Their entire day had a tropical vibe, from their flowers to their drinks to their attitudes! They were all smiles while hopping through the city for photos, stopping at one of their favorite bars for drinks with their wedding party. Their ceremony and reception were gorgeous—bright flowers, warm candles, colorful cocktails, and a neon sign of “electric love.” Following a colorful and eclectic meal, the dance floor opened indoors and the cigar station opened outdoors.
“We wanted our wedding to feel very “us”, which meant we wanted to make the wedding feel more like a big party rather than a formal affair.” Bride, Lauren began.“One of our major priorities was that our guests would be a part of the event, rather than just spectators, this wasn’t just a celebration of our marriage, it was a thank you party for all of the people in our lives who made us who we are.” she explained.
“To get the day started we did our first look at 1pm, then took our MOH and BM and photographers around town in a party bus to get the pictures done before all the festivities started then did formal family pictures at the hotel. We intended for everyone to end the ceremony on a high note and the last thing we wanted was to kill that energy with a lull while we left to take pictures.”
“The wedding took place at a hip urban venue in downtown Kansas City, the workshop and event space of a renowned event designer and floral artist. Upon arrival, all guests were greeted to an open bar, vibey lounge music and the go ahead to get the party started. We really wanted to start high energy and keep it there, we’ve all been to weddings where we weren’t sure when to let loose, where we felt we had to remain quiet and polite for the first portion until the real fun began, we tried to quash that right out of the gates.While the bride was in the back room getting ready, the groom was out front handing out drinks and welcoming people into the event helping to set the expectation that cocktails were available and that everyone should have one in the ceremony, with at least a bit left at the end for a toast.”
“After 30 minutes to warm up, the guests were directed into the main room of the venue for the ceremony to begin. No assigned seats and no “sides”, everyone could sit where they felt comfortable. This helped to keep the light and informal attitude. There was a champagne station as you walked into the ceremony with a sign that said ‘Grab a glass of champagne for a toast at the end of the ceremony.’
“My nephews who were 5 and 3 at the time served as “Ring Security” with black Security t-shirts and aviators, they danced down the aisle and got the crown laughing, then I walked down with my father to One Republic’s Good Life.The ceremony itself was short, sweet, and very funny from Lauren’s uncle who paused the ceremony at the very end for a few minutes to set up our grand finale. Our amazing photographer got up on stage and everyone crowded in so we could get a huge group photo with all of our guests for the champagne toast as we had our first kiss! It’s our favorite photo of the night!”
“The officiant customized the entire ceremony script to perfectly describe our relationship, our values, and put it in the larger perspective of how we view the world. He helped us make our guests feel a part of the ceremony, rather than just spectators, essentially “breaking the fourth wall” during certain moments. We also brought our own vows that we read to one another during the ceremony.” Lauren told us.
“Since formal pictures were already done, we were able to enjoy our own cocktail hour and hang out with our guests, giving hugs and welcoming them. We also made sure to direct everyone to a wall near the entrance that had named cards for each guest pinned on them. These cards served as our “Seat assignments”. I put that in quotes because nobody had seat assignments but we needed an effective was to communicate that to our guests. Instead, each card directed our guests to mix and mingle with the other important people in our lives and also featured a handwritten memory, inside joke or other short message to highlight why that person, specifically, was important to us. This helped serve as a personal touch to each guest so to ease the pressure on us to small talk everyone, but it also provided an ice-breaker and conversation starter for our other friends who may not have met yet. It also communicated that even without assigned seats, this was meant to be a free flowing party event, not an event where everyone had to be seated at once. They could enjoy the bar, food stations, dancing and company of other guests in a more mix and mingle format.”
“The food stations consisted of a street taco stand, build-your-own Mac and Cheese bar, and a Buffalo Wing and Condiment station featuring all of our favorite condiments from around the city and the dipping mechanisms to get them into our bellies (tots, chicken strips, waffle fries and buffalo wings). The food stations stayed up for 1.5 hours so that people could eat at their own leisure, we really wanted to avoid the down-time of a formal dinner hour that would kill everyone’s energy and put people in a food coma. During this time the band played relaxed-funky music and during their break we did our speeches, after which Mat’s cigar bar was revealed on the venue’s patio and we brought out an assortment of mini bite-size cakes and cookies (in addition to a small tiered cake so we could have a cake for a photo op).The band returned for several more hours of dancing, we brought out light-up neon foam sticks to dance with and it was all culminated with bringing in Chick-fil-A sandwiches for the late night snack!We tried to put our own twist on everything we did.”
Dan Meiners is a genius designer. We were lucky that we had floral and event design all under one roof with our venue – including flowers, decor, furniture options, etc. During the planning process, I put together a mood board for Dan. The best way to describe it was sort of a palm desert, modern, topical, glam, boho vibe. We wanted our space to look different than other weddings. Have the space look fun, approachable, and interesting. We wanted it to be a tad bit eclectic but not look messy.” She added.
“Truthfully, we didn’t know exactly what Dan had in mind for the space until the day of the wedding. He’s a creative and you essentially trust his process that he’s going to make it look incredible and bring your mood board to life. There’s a reason he has such a prestigious reputation so we just sort of threw all our trust in him. The event space already has a lot of decor elements built into it, which it partially what attracted us to the space. It has a large open chef kitchen. It was decorated with a large piece of drift wood from Cambodia with tropical flowers woven through it.”
“As guests walked in, there was a floral arrangement on the welcome table, a welcome sign, a large square column decorated with florals that we transformed into our escort card wall. As they walked into the ceremony room, we decorated the room with signage to facilitate the flow of the room and event. We used fun and quiche language to set the tone for the event. We did custom signage (copy and design) in collaboration with a personal friend. The black chairs for the ceremony were semi-curved around the stage so we felt more surrounded by our friends and family. They were also posted at an angle in the room which helped us better set up for the live band and reception. The ceremony backdrop included large wooden doors, covered with a splattered black metal panels. Tropical flowers were weaved throughout the panels to give it a modern but feminine look.”
“After the ceremony, we transitioned this wall into our “photo wall” and added a hot pink neon Electric Love sign on it. This became a focal point of the decor as the room transformed for the reception. The ceremony backdrop also included tall, dark metal candle towers, a small stage for the officiant, bride and groom, and large tropical greenery draped across the top. We mixed and matched different styles of tables for a more eclectic look and to help with the flow of the event. We had large wood tables that fit 12 people, square glass tables that sat 8, long high top tables that sat 6, and standing cocktail tables throughout the space. And eclectic mix of tropical flowers in different sizes and containers sprinkled the table tops. Some arrangements sat upon tall, gold, geometric vases. Others were single flowers in shorter round glass bubbles. Others were in small rectangular smoky mirror vases. We also placed black and white table runners on the large wooden tables – they were by a local company, Citrus and Sage, and helped infuse the tribal boho element throughout the room. Seriously, their linens have the cutest patterns! We created several lounge spaces throughout the room for the reception which included white couches, poufs, black rugs, throw pillows. One of the main lounge areas had glass bubbles hanging from the ceiling filled with tea lights. We also used signage as part of our decor element. The copy was fun and quiche which helped set the tone for the event. We had three food stations for dinner and wrapped signage around tall square metal towers that sat on each table. This helped guests know what food was being served at the food station. We also placed signs at the champagne station, dessert table, appetizer station, tabletops, welcome sign, ceremony entry, and the photo wall. Truthfully, there were so many decor elements already built into the space that made it easy to just add a few touches here and there, mixed with some florals, to easily create a space that looked really nicely decorated.”
“We had my uncle officiate the ceremony. He’s one of the best speakers I know – he was able to perfectly infuse humor, fun, light-heartedness, and sentiment into the script, while also making our guests feel like they were a part of the ceremony just as much as us. We received so many compliments on how the entire script was so personal and “us”, plus we wrote our own vows that we read to one another at the ceremony. We hand selected our favorite live cover band in Kansas City that we enjoy at various events throughout the year – Lost Wax.”
“You can truly get lost in all the wedding options on Pinterest, Instagram, and wedding websites. It’s overwhelming. I got sucked into it too and it created a lot of indecisiveness and anxiety because there’s SO many cool things you could do. My advice to combat this: pick the top 3-5 things that are most important to you. For some it’s flowers, some is food, some is the dress, some is music, some is event design. Pour energy into the top most important things to you; don’t forget about the rest but certainly de-prioritize it (or delegate it to your groom) and don’t spend as much time/effort on it. Remember, no one will remember the color of your napkins. They will remember how you made them feel, how much fun they had, and how good the food was. For us, our priorities were the flow of the event (making it feel more party, casual, mingling vibe), the band, and the food.Marriage advice:As our officiant said in our ceremony:Don’t lose the zest you have for “fun stuff” as we call it (playing sports, traveling, checking out new restaurants, surprising each other, etc.). Over the course of your lives, the activities will change. If you choose to have kids, that will impact that, for sure. But continue to relish the mutual shared experiences. It will strengthen and sustain your marriage. If there is a problem with marriages today, it more likely stems from playing too little kickball together, not too much.”
Rehearsal Dinner Venue: Jack Stack BBQ I Event Planner: You’re Invited I Bakery: 3 Women and an Oven, Inc. I Band: Lost Wax I Caterer: Above and Beyond Catering I Floral Designer: Studio Dan Meiners I Dress Designer: Made With Love I Reception Venue: The Pennway Place at Studio Dan Meiners I Photographer: epagaFOTO I Submitted via Two Bright Lights I
The Most Unique Kansas Wedding Venues
There’s something deeply magical about saying “I do” in a place that feels as unique as the love story being celebrated. Kansas, known for its wide-open prairies and warm-hearted folks, has wedding venues that capture everything from rustic charm to modern chic. After all, Kansas wedding venues aren’t just about four walls and a roof – they’re settings that tell stories and set the tone for a lifetime of memories.
The Bauer – Industrial Chic Meets Art Lovers’ Paradise
First on the list, The Bauer in Kansas City is a gem. Located in the heart of the Crossroads Arts District, this place has all the exposed brick, high ceilings, and industrial flair any urban-loving couple could dream of. The building itself feels like a piece of art, filled with character and history. The Bauer doesn’t just serve as a background – it’s a bold part of the experience.
I once attended a wedding here, and let me tell you, the setting was spectacular. Picture this: a blend of rustic wood, oversized windows letting in streams of natural light, and galleries that spill artwork and creativity in every corner. If there’s one con, it’s that such a stunning venue may occasionally steal the spotlight from the couple. But then again, the magic of a Kansas wedding venue like The Bauer is its ability to feel both timeless and strikingly modern – like a couple that’s grounded in tradition but isn’t afraid to take risks.
Fire Stables – Country Escape with Class
Then there’s Fire Stables in Lenexa, a horse stable-turned-wedding venue that feels like stepping into another world. Surrounded by rolling fields and rustic barns, Fire Stables offers couples a touch of nature with just enough refinement. I’m a bit of a sucker for country-style weddings, and Fire Stables nails that perfect blend of elegance and coziness.
You might think, “A wedding in a barn?” But don’t be fooled – it’s anything but ordinary. Imagine chandeliers hanging from wooden beams, hay bales turned into comfortable seating, and sunsets that set the sky ablaze with color. This is one of those Kansas wedding venues where it’s easy to feel both relaxed and utterly romantic. The one downside? Let’s say you have to be okay with a bit of “nature” – think occasional bugs or muddy paths after rain. But for those who embrace the authenticity, Fire Stables is a dream.
Thompson Barn – A Modern Twist on Classic Farm Vibes
Moving along to Thompson Barn in Lenexa, this is a spot that redefines what it means to have a “barn wedding.” The barn itself is over a century old, and it shows – in the best way possible. Thompson Barn has these gorgeous timber beams and vaulted ceilings that make it feel grand, but it’s also been renovated to bring a fresh, modern touch that I didn’t expect. It’s like meeting an old soul with a trendy sense of style.
I was a bridesmaid here once, and one thing I learned? Thompson Barn has a way of making guests feel like they’ve entered a sanctuary. Everything from the lighting to the carefully manicured grounds is designed to make you feel both grounded and elevated. The downside? If you’re envisioning rolling pastures, Thompson Barn is a bit more urban, surrounded by manicured lawns rather than untamed nature. Still, if you’re after a fusion of old-school charm with modern elegance, this venue has it down pat.
The Everly – Pure Elegance with a Hint of Whimsy
For those craving a taste of glamour, The Everly in Mission is Kansas’s answer to timeless elegance. Think of The Everly as the place you’d pick if you want your wedding to feel like a scene straight out of a classic movie. With its grand chandeliers, marble floors, and sweeping staircases, it’s the perfect setting for couples who want a touch of opulence.
One of the best things about The Everly is its flexibility. You can keep things simple with a minimalist aesthetic, or go all out with flowers, lights, and everything in between. When I visited for a friend’s wedding, I was struck by how effortlessly it could switch from an afternoon garden-party vibe to a black-tie event as evening fell. The downside? Well, elegance like this comes at a price, and The Everly is definitely on the higher end of Kansas wedding venues. But for those who want to start their marriage off with a bit of dazzle, it’s worth every penny.
Feasts of Fancy – Where Urban Meets Nature
Finally, I have to mention Feasts of Fancy, located in the West Bottoms area. This venue has a magic all its own – combining an urban feel with a surprising dose of nature. With its exposed brick and airy, open spaces, Feasts of Fancy gives you that chic, industrial backdrop that’s perfect for a city wedding. Step outside, though, and you’re met with a courtyard garden that feels like a little pocket of serenity amid the urban buzz.
Feasts of Fancy is a blank canvas that lets couples really make it their own, which is ideal if you have a strong vision. I attended a wedding here where the couple transformed it into a “bohemian garden party” – complete with string lights, vintage furniture, and potted plants everywhere. The only drawback? You’re in the heart of the city, so don’t expect complete silence. But for city-loving couples who want a venue that reflects their personality, Feasts of Fancy is spot-on.
Final Thoughts on Kansas Wedding Venues
Kansas wedding venues offer a diversity that might surprise you. From industrial-chic urban lofts to countryside escapes, each venue has its own story, style, and atmosphere. Choosing the right one is like finding that perfect song for the first dance – it has to resonate. And after seeing these spots in action, I can tell you Kansas doesn’t just host weddings; it celebrates them.
These pictures of so colorful. Thanks Emily, for sharing the story with us. It is always good to read you blogs. I found new ideas and inspirations.
Beautiful wedding blog, so many happy faces here, so lovely to see a bride and groom actually enjoying their day! The colours are soft yet vibrant at the same time, a really lovely way of combining them. Love the brides dress, thank you for sharing.
I love your eye for details and the urban backdrop for the coupe shots. Beautiful pictures. Thanks for sharing!
Lovely Couple, Both are looking beautiful and the dresses are impressive.
Beautiful centerpieces! Just splendid.
Glad to have a cigar station!!
Amazing wedding blog, loved the advice.
Absolutely wonderful. Vibrant, colourful and so many stunning details. Love it!
This is an absolute treat and heap of information. Really helps me with planning weddings.
Thanks a dozen!