You’re in the midst of planning one of the most important days of your life. Although you’re excited about this next chapter, you might also find yourself googling things like: how to calm down or abandoning your wedding plans to elope.

In all seriousness, a little positive stress (nervous jitters and excitement) is what drives us to accomplish new and exciting things. In other words, it’s normal.

When wedding stress is starting to consume your every thought and keep you up at night, however, it might be in your best interest to slow down for a minute and take sometime for yourself.

Self-Care Tips to Combat Wedding Planning Stress

In order to make sure you show up as your best self when it comes time to walk down the aisle, you have to take care of yourself during all the stages of pre-wedding planning.

Here are some tips to make sure you keep calm and stay stress-free.

1. Take a break from Pinterest and breathe

Take a moment to re-center yourself when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Whether you choose to do this through meditation, yoga, or simple breathwork, your nervous system will thank you for it later.

Not sure how to meditate? It doesn’t have to be perfect. Meditation can be as complicated as building a meditation room or as simple as spending a few extra minutes in the shower with the water running down the back of your neck. It’s all up to you. The most important thing is that you stay present.

If you’re looking for a little more guidance, this one-minute meditation is perfect for people who are new to meditation and have limited time to spare.

2. Break a sweat

Do a workout you enjoy–not just one that is meant to make your arms look good in your dress.

The key is not to kill yourself, but to get your body moving in a way that feels natural and fun. Here are some creative ways to get your blood pumping:

• Go for a walk or a scenic hike
• Sign up for a dance class
• Go roller skating with friends
• Try aerial yoga
• Go swimming

3. Get away from it all (for a few hours)

Make it a point to take your attention away from all things wedding-related, just for a few hours. Get out with friends for a pottery class or a paint and pour, read a book, or try cooking a new recipe.

Whatever you choose to do, just be sure to commit to giving it your full attention. Sometimes the best way to find clarity in stressful situations is to leave them alone for a little while.

4. Journal

Journaling is one of the best ways to organize your thoughts when it feels like they’re out of control.

No matter how strange it may seem, take a second to let everything that’s going through your mind come out on paper. Commit to just writing something, even if all you write is “I don’t want to write today because…”  

Chances are, once you start, the words will keep flowing. And hey, you never know. You just might gain some new perspective and understanding.

5. Go Somewhere You Love with the One You Love

Between prioritizing vendors, dress shopping, invitations, and a seemingly endless list of wedding planning tasks—it’s easy to forget about the most important aspect of the wedding–the person you’re getting married to.

Head out with your special someone and spend the day holding hands at a museum, park, movie theater, or a new restaurant.

The day can be whatever you want it to be. The only rule? Keep the wedding talk to a minimum.

Let our coordinators at The Bowery help your vision for your special day come to life. Click here to book a tour of our completely customizable outdoor wedding venue in Kansas City today!

When it comes to planning a rustic wedding as a Kansas native, there truly is no place like home. Kansas is full of rustic elegance, beauty, and authentic midwest charm. If you stick to your roots, creating that perfect vision comes as easily as navigating the backroads in your hometown. Here are some of our favorite tips to help get you on the right track to planning the perfect rustic wedding in Kansas.

Planning a Rustic Wedding in Kansas: 6 Tips From the Pros

1. Find a Venue that Suits The Season and Style

If you call Kansas home, you’re probably well aware that Kansas weather is a bit of a wild card. With its unpredictable climate in mind, you’ll want to be sure to choose a venue that will be able to accommodate your big day, rain or shine. The venue should offer tents or some sort of shelter just way it does decide to start raining on your reception. You should also be sure to take a look at the inherent structure, design, and feel of the venue to make sure it is in line with your rustic theme.

2. Cost-effective Decor is Key

One reason rustic weddings are great is because you can incorporate a number of items you probably already have access to if you’re a true midwestern native. Look around your home (and possibly the homes of your friends, relatives, and neighbors) for items like hay bales and mason jars. Peruse the local vintage, thrift, and antique shops for old farming tools to really bring in that authentic rustic feel. And of course, always be sure to comb the aisles of your favorite local craft stores for cute wedding decor items that will work well with your theme.

3. Keep the Food Simple

You probably don’t need a sushi bar at your rustic wedding (unless you are into that sort of thing). Keep the menu simple and don’t overthink it or try to do it all yourself. Plenty of places in the area can bring the comfort of a home-cooked meal right to your wedding.

Whether it is BBQ or fried chicken, if you’re tying the knot in Kansas, you’ll have no problem finding the perfect eats to match your rustic theme. If you don’t want people to lose momentum following a heavy meal, try something unique and opt for a grazing table.

4. Set Your Dress Code and Let it be Known

With a rustic wedding, you’ll always want to be extremely specific about the dress code. If you leave it open to the discretion of your guests, you might end up with people showing up wearing jeans and t-shirts. Make sure you let your guests know what the dress code is on your invitation. If you are fine with jeans and button-ups, let your guests know that. If you want them to wear business casual attire, note that on the invitation and send a reminder. People forget.

5. Give Clear Directions on Where to Park

Depending on what facility you choose for your big day, there could be a wide variety of options when it comes to parking. If there is space for people to park in the grass, you’ll want to be certain that those areas are marked off. The last thing you want is someone’s car parked in the area where you planned on taking pictures after the ceremony.

If there is street parking or people might have to walk a little ways to get to you, just be sure to include all the particulars in the invitation or have signs set up for people as they arrive. Whatever your situation, just be as clear as possible–and never assume people will figure it out. They usually won’t!

6. Use the Outdoors as a Backdrop for Photos

When you’re checking out venues in the area, look for places that have some options in terms outside scenery. Mother nature can sometimes serve as the perfect backdrop for a dream photoshoot.

With a rustic theme, this is usually pretty simple to achieve. Look for places that have nearby greenery, tall trees, flowers, or even just an open field. Incorporate your own props and decor for professional photos to really tie in the theme.

If you would like to know more about booking your wedding at the Bowery, contact us today!

With warmer weather right around the corner, those of us with weddings to plan know we can expect much more from April and May than just spring showers and flowers. Luckily, there is still plenty of time to discover new and exciting decor trends for your 2019 spring wedding.

Spring Wedding Decor Trends are Here

From the reception to the ceremony, now is the time when the buds of inspiration begin to bloom. For some of us, it can be difficult to shake the lingering blues from the colder months. If you’re having a hard time getting inspired, never fear. Here are a few of our favorite wedding decor trends for spring weddings.

Flowers, Flowers, and More Flowers

Remember the skunk named Flower from the movie Bambi? She’s explaining how animals fall in love during the spring, but she calls it getting “twitterpatted.” That’s exactly how we feel about this year’s spring wedding trend featuring the most natural flower arrangements we’ve ever seen.

For those of us that live in seasonal climates, we look forward to those first buds of spring. Incorporate plenty of greenery in your wedding decor this spring. Imagine free-flowing loose vines, plenty of baby’s breath, hanging floral centerpieces, green archways.

The best part? You don’t have to put a ton of work into crafting the perfect elaborate arrangement. The more natural it all looks, the better.

Simple and Sweet

Another thing we’ve noticed about this year’s spring wedding decor trends–simplicity takes the cake every time.

Classic, simple decor is a trademark of the spring wedding season. Think airy and earthy tones, with neat and organized place settings at the reception. Some are suggesting tiered candlesticks at your reception to draw the eyes up and add some elegance to this already classic and simplistic theme.

Fabric Trend Alert: Think Luxe

This spring wedding season is giving us a new appreciation for velvet (Velveteen Rabbit, anyone?). But this fabric trend brings forth much more elegance than a childhood story, no matter how much we love it.

If velvet isn’t your thing, consider lucite, faux fur, cashmere, or even corduroy. They’re all making waves in the world of spring weddings.

Whether you choose to add one of these fabrics as a tablecloth, runner, or just as an accent for place settings or flower arrangements, it will add a simple and elegant depth that is difficult to match.

Keeping Things Colorful

For those tying the knot this spring, one thing to be excited about is the versatility you’ll have when it comes to colors. Bright, vibrant colors are back for 2019. That means you can choose from and incorporate different hues, shades, and tones as opposed to sticking to just one shade and building around it.

Other things we’re loving about this years spring wedding color trends:

• Pastels. Think mint, lavender, beige, pale shades of pink and blush
• Colorful flatware. Instead of the standard silver, get creative and try something different. It adds a little bit of edge to the classical feel of the typical spring aesthetic.

It’s All in the Details

The devil is in the details and this spring–there are plenty of them to choose from.

Overall, there seems to be a trend for translucent and acrylic wedding accents. These might range from translucent signage, menus, invitations, and even invisible furniture at the reception. Laser cut details on wine glasses and monograms are a few other notable trends.

This might seem almost too modern, but keep in mind the aesthetic you’ll be building alongside it. If you use elegant, cursive fonts and include plenty of flowing vines, flowers, and greenery, it makes for a surprisingly beautiful twist of contemporary and classic.

For an unforgettable outdoor wedding experience, talk to the experts at The Bowery, today.

So you are getting married and you have always dreamed of your big day being outdoors, but besides just being outdoors you are unsure what your theme should be. The experts from the Bowery in Kansas are here to help with these unique outdoor wedding theme ideas.

1. Fairies and Fantasy

Okay, you don’t have to go full Rennasaince Festival, but you can go for a whimsical themed outdoor wedding with delicate elements that give the impression of a magical world. We suggest creating center pieces that have small fairy homes and add fun details such as a cute rabbit holding signs and offer flower crowns to your guests.

2. Contemporary Country

Chances are if you want your theme to have a charming, down home feel, the contemporary country theme might be exactly what you are looking for. For this outdoor wedding theme, use burlap, mason jars, and hay bales to really hammer home the country feel. You will have your friends and family ready to say yee-haw.

3. Garden Party

A classic choice for your outdoor wedding theme is to make it a garden party. We suggest keeping decor and colors neutral and minimal to make sure your flowers are the stars of the show. Go all out with flowers and incorporate a grazing menu to help cut costs – don’t forget to note on your invites that you will be serving small plates.

4. Modern Tropical

This theme is for couples out there who truly love plants and greenery. You can bring in tropical plants and leaves to decorate every nook and cranny of your ceremony and reception space. Although this theme may not seem as budget-friendly as the other’s you can use fabrics printed with tropical flowers and plants in areas where spending a lot on plants is not an option..

5. Rustic Vineyard

This one is for all of you wine lovers out there! This theme isn’t too far off from the contemporary country idea above, but the focus is on, you guessed it, wine! If your venue isn’t a winery, you can still bring in local wines (if your venue allows it) and have a small tasting table with your own personal selection.

We highly suggest keeping things laid back and easy since the wedding is outside and keeping the decor rustic. You can even use wine bottles as centerpieces and decorative accents.

6. Camping Themed

For those of you who LOVE the outdoors and adventure, this is a very neat theme for you. You can decorate with canoe paddles, have a s’mores station, and even utilize a fire pit to create a cozy lounge area by the campfire. Now, this theme isn’t for everybody, but if you are that couple that loves to be out in nature and camp; this theme is both unique and fun!

For an unforgettable outdoor wedding experience, select The Bowery to host your big occasion. Talk to us, today.

After months of meticulous planning and preparation, your wedding day is finally right around the corner. You’ve done your best to plan for the unexpected and are feeling confident and excited until just a few hours before you’re set to tie the knot, you get word that the flower delivery has been delayed. They won’t be there in time for the wedding.

Scrambling to make alternative arrangements, you realize you don’t have enough money set aside to afford a last-minute florist.  This isn’t surprising since wedding flowers commonly cost thousands of dollars.

Whether it’s expensive last minute dress alterations (which can cost as much as $500), or going out to buy matching umbrellas for the wedding party photos because suddenly there’s a 90% chance of rain—things come up.

When planning your wedding, you simply can’t afford not to prepare for the unexpected.

Cut Wedding Costs and Save on Your Big Day

Weddings are expensive regardless, so thinking about preparing a completely separate fund for nuptial emergencies can seem a little daunting at first.  So why not cut costs in other areas? Using the money you save, you can create a wedding emergency-fund.

Tweaking your budget in this way can help to alleviate some of the financial burdens that come along with unexpected wedding costs, and in the long run, it will save you money.  How can you argue with that?

1. Go for the Graze

Opt out of a full blown 3-course dinner, go with a grazing menu. Offering small plates people can eat throughout the night, this menu option is fun, unique, and budget-friendly.

2. Be Frugal with Flowers

Use fillers in flower bouquets surrounding a few more expensive stems. Pretty leaves and grasses like baby’s breath or bear grass look lovely and cut costs.

3. Budget your Beats

In terms of entertainment, DJs are generally cheaper than wedding bands. If your heart is set on a band, try booking local.

4. Cheap and Cheerful Cocktails

Offer a special wedding cocktail with beer and wine rather than investing in a full open bar, which can be pricey.  

5. Sweet, Sweet Savings

In addition to your wedding cake, put together a DIY candy bar. This is a cheap and easy way to decorate.  You can use your own glassware buy candy in bulk to save money.

6. Inexpensive Invites

Stamps aren’t very expensive on their own, but they add up. Get creative and send postcards for more casual announcements like Save the Date. For less formal nuptial events like the bachelor and bachelorette parties and bridal shower, consider sending online invitations. They’re affordable, eco-friendly and rising in popularity.

7. Affordable & All-inclusive

All-inclusive wedding venues typically have a higher price tag, but that’s because they provide more services. An all-inclusive venue will take care of acquiring and delivering a number of things for you. This may include decorations, glassware, catering and supplies, sound equipment, and more. When it’s all said and done, you might find the cost is actually cheaper than paying for each of these services individually.

Of course, if you’re considering The Bowery as a venue for your wedding, don’t hesitate to contact us today!

It’s official—you’re engaged! Chances are you’ve already got the ‘vision’ part down, and now it is time for the real wedding planning to begin. The challenge lies ahead is making that vision a reality. It honestly all starts with where you have it, but finding the perfect venue is easier said than done. If you’re looking at wedding venues in Kansas City – or in any city for that matter – keep these four things in mind during your search.

Finding the Perfect Kansas City Wedding Venue

One tip, not included on the list below, is to start your search early, tons of weddings happen every weekend in this town so set your date and book quickly.

1. Plan for the Elements

When planning a wedding, one of the first things you need to decide is if you want it to be indoors or outdoors. Weather is an important factor to consider, especially if your heart is set on an outdoor wedding in a place where the weather changes every 30 minutes.

When shopping around, consider the time of year and what elemental factors might come into play. This doesn’t just pertain to rainy days. If you’re planning to tie the knot during some of the warmer months, outdoor wedding venues with indoor event spaces can be crucial for your guests’ comfort.

2.  Make Sure Guests Have Plenty of Room

Figure out a ballpark number for your guest list before you start shopping around, then look for venues that can accommodate that number.

Ultimately, you want to make sure you’re not stressed out over getting close to capacity. If you know you’re going to have a larger number of guests, avoid choosing a venue that will put them at or below capacity, but still ‘feel’ crowded. Find out how many people the space can hold comfortably. You don’t want everyone bumping into each other at your wedding reception unless they are dancing like crazy of course.

3. Envision Your Decor

When you’re looking through your favorite wedding pins and posts, what aesthetics do they have in common? If you’re aiming for a rustic or vintage feel, a modern indoor venue might clash with your decor.

Look for spaces that are designed to will pair well with your overall vision. If you can find a place that accommodates your style without a lot of work on your part, that’s a great sign.

4. Have a Mental Photoshoot

You only get to live this day once (unfortunately). But you’ll be reliving it through the photographs for years, so ask yourself what you want them to look like. While looking at different venues in KC, ask yourself these questions.

• Does the scenery accommodate your picture-perfect vision?
• What is the lighting like in areas where you would likely be taking photos?
• If you’re planning on hiring a videographer, will the space accommodate that?

When in doubt, always ask the venue. Have them show you some examples of previous client photos. Click here to view our photo gallery.

5. Ask Around

On the hunt for the perfect place to host your big day in the Heart of the Heartland, never be afraid to ask for help. Ask others for suggestions and experiences, and check out social media accounts for your favorite locations as well.

Above all, always have a plan. As soon as you’ve narrowed down your attendees, determine what you need from your wedding venue — and start planning!

Of course, if you’re considering The Bowery, don’t hesitate to contact us today! We would be honored to help you navigate this journey.

You are planning to have your wedding in Kansas City because that is where your friends and family are and it is a beautiful place to say your I dos. But one of the biggest things you will have to tackle when planning your KC wedding is finding the right venue. Your venue sets the tone for the entire day and choosing the right one can be a little stressful. We get it, that is why we wanted to give you a guide to finding the best place to get married in Kansas City.

Know Your Budget

This is the first thing you will want to think about when you start shopping around for venues. We suggest making a list of what you will provide and what you want the venue to provide. For example, will you be renting chairs and tables? Or would you like chairs and to be provided by the venue? Will you be having your wedding ceremony and reception in the same place or will you have to transport guests from the ceremony to the reception? After you figure out what you want from your venue, you can start making a spreadsheet with venue names and corresponding expenses. Note that normally all-inclusive venues will be more cost-effective. 

Will the Venue Accommodate All of Your Guests?

Have an estimate of how many guests will be at your wedding and make sure the venue can comfortably hold all of them comfortably. We actually suggest overestimating your guest list by at least 50 people for two reasons.

1. You want everyone to have a little extra room to mingle and move around.
2. Someone is bound to bring an extra guest that they did not RSVP.

Does the Location Suit Your Needs?

There are several things you want to look at when choosing the location of your venue.

Theme: Does the location fit your wedding theme and desired aesthetic? If you want a laid back, rustic wedding, picking a trendy, modern venue might clash with your theme. Kansas City offers a wide variety of venues so with a little bit of research you can find one that fits your style perfectly

Parking and Transportation: If you are having your guests drive themselves to the venue, make sure there is ample parking. As we stated above, if guests will be shuttled from one location to another, make sure to consider the extra costs associated with that and add them into your budget.

Obstructed views: You want everybody to see that awesome entrance that you and your wedding party have been planning for months so, make sure that large pillars and columns do not obstruct anybody’s view

Is the Time and Date That You Want Available?

Make sure the venue you want is available on your wedding day. We suggest locking down a date with your venue before you send out save the dates. Some people send out their save the dates before they put down their venue deposit and are disappointed when the place they had their heart set on is not available on that day. Don’t let this happen to you.

The Bowery is a great choice for those looking to get married in the Kansas City area. Click here to view our space located in Spring Hill, Kansas.

For booking information, contact us today!

Food should be at the top of your list when it comes to what you should focus on while planning your reception. The food you provide guests could make or break your celebration…and your budget. Luckily, there is a new trend on the rise that is breaking the tradition of three-course stuffy dinners and over the top buffets; that trend is grazing menus.

A grazing menu is a series of small bites (similar tapas) that are available to guests throughout the reception. It is a fantastic way to cater to different tastes, dietary restrictions, and allows your guests to eat at their own pace.

Creating Your Grazing Menu

Here are the steps you can take to put together a fantastic grazing menu at your reception:

Divide and Conquer

If you can afford to have, people walk around with silver trays and stagger what small bites are available at certain points of the night, awesome! Your caterer and wedding planner can plan when each tray should be sent out to your guests. If you do not have this luxury, we suggest setting up individual tables with similar types of food. For example:

Table 1: Hors d Oeuvres

Table 2: Vegetable Dishes

Table 3: Heavier Meat and Starchy Bites

Table 4: Desserts

Plan Your Menu by Table

After getting a sense of organization, so you aren’t just randomly throwing things onto your wedding food Pinterest board, you have two options here you can find a caterer to help you put your menu together, or if you plan correctly, you can make everything yourself with the help of friends and family. This is a great time to let your personality shine. You can have mini versions of your favorite foods or go a little out of the box with exotic cuisine. Here are some of the most popular grazing menu items based on the table organization mentioned above.

1. Charcuterie, fruits, bruschetta, one-bite Caprese salads, spinach artichoke dip, mushroom crostinis
   
2. Flatbread pizza with seasonal vegetables, prosciutto wrapped asparagus, cream cheese cucumber roll-ups, a large veggie platter with various dips and hummus
3. Garlic pesto skewered shrimp, crispy garlic smashed potato bites, savory meatballs with chimichurri sauce, cheese and potato croquettes
4.  Mini pies and cakes, small fruit tarts, tiramisu trifles in shot glasses, truffles, mini gourmet donuts

Preparation

Order Enough Food: The most important factor in creating a great grazing menu is knowing how much food you will need to purchase. One of the biggest mistakes with any wedding menu is not having enough food for everyone-especially if alcohol is being served. We suggest ordering double the amount of food you think you need-if your budget allows-or at least doubling down on the less expensive bites. There is always that person that didn’t RSVP their plus one, or that relative that shows up unannounced, so having extra is better than not having enough to go around. On the same note, make sure you have plenty of plates and napkins for all of your guests

Have a Plan for Hot and Cold Foods: A grazing menu means that guests will be eating throughout your reception. If you have hired a caterer, this will probably just have to be a quick conversation between you two. Make sure they have a plan in place to keep hot food hot and cold food cold through the entire night.

If you are preparing your own reception menu, this could be a bit more complicated. You can use chafing dishes with warm water and burners to keep food warm (leaf has a great step by step guide here). For cold food, fill chafing dishes with ice water to keep the food from spoiling. Make sure you designate somebody to periodically check food temps, replace ice, and manage the burners.

A grazing menu is an extremely popular choice when it comes to wedding food right now. We hope that this guide has helped you get a better idea of how to create a great menu for your guests!

For booking information, contact us today!

No one wants a cookie cutter wedding reception because let’s be honest we have all been to a reception that had zero originality and the couple’s personality was nowhere to be found in the decor. You want your reception to be memorable for your friends and family and as unique as you are. Here are five wedding reception ideas that will set you apart from everyone else.

1. Gold Flatware Adds a Wow Factor to Reception Tables

Using gold flatware might sound tacky, but if done correctly, this is a unique way to spice up your decor and add a little bit of a ‘wow factor’ to the tables at your reception. This can be a bit pricey, but for smaller, more intimate weddings it is a great alternative to traditional silver flatware.

2. Simple Table Settings that Compliment Your Wedding Decor

Minimalism is in right now, gone are the days of large over the top centerpieces. Simple, beautiful centerpieces are a great, inexpensive way to add visual interest to your reception tables and guests will be able to actually talk to each other. Head over to your local dollar store or craft shop and find small glass vases put a little water in the bottom and add fresh cut fauna in the color of your choice. Feel free to add some candles and voila you have cost-effective, simple table settings.

3. Hanging Plants Add a Unique Aesthetic

An interesting way to add a natural decor touch to your wedding reception venue is with hanging plants. A lot of indoor wedding venues have high ceilings which means you have to get a little bit creative. You will want to talk to your wedding planner or have some willing members of your wedding party install cables or pulls so that plants don’t have to descend 20+ feet. If your reception is outside you can suspend plants from trees or install extra poles in your wedding tent.

4. Create a Lounge Area for Your Reception Guests

The idea of a lounge area at a wedding reception is one of our favorites so far! Find a neat, inexpensive couch or borrow one from a friend add a small coffee table to hold drinks and create a fun center piece. Keep the couch small to attain an intimate feel and Boom! You have successfully added a cozy element to your reception.

5. Opt for a Grazing Menu

Instead of making your guests sit through a stuffy four-course dinner, have a grazing menu with small plates that people can eat throughout the night! This is not only cost-effective, but it is also more fun, and people aren’t forced to stay in their seats and eat food they may or may not like. Choosing a grazing menu instead of a large dinner gives your reception a more laid back and comfortable vibe that everyone will appreciate. Take a look at our guide on how to create a grazing menu.

Get in touch with us today to start planning the reception of your dreams!