Chamberlain & Alex: Jayhawk Club Wedding

Meet Chamberlain and Alex!

This Wild Hill couple tied the knot back in October at The Jayhawk Club in Lawrence, Kansas. Every detail of their romantic day was absolutely breathtaking; from their gorgeous tented ceremony to the tuscan-style candlelit reception following. We were so honored to be part of this special day!

Our gorgeous #WildHillBride, Chamberlain, chose this stunning combination of white, burgundy and blush blooms for her garden bouquet. We also included pops of white and navy anemones to compliment her man’s tux! This bouquet was the perfect combination of large focal blooms such as dahlias and garden roses, with accents of wispy wildflowers!

Chamberlain’s Emily Hart Bridal gown was absolutely to die for! The couple’s burgundy and blue bridal party didn’t disappoint either!

We also loved this extra touch of velvet ribbon on the boutonnieres! (Let’s be honest… we loved everything about this wedding)

And this ceremony space…. SO STUNNING! The Jayhawk Club offers a beautiful (and massive) wood arbor for their ceremony site. We added a large corner piece consisting of greenery, hydrangea, roses and pampas grass to really make it pop! The couple said “ I do” in front of two large altar arrangements, while the aisles were adorned with delicate floral clusters, tied with draping silk and velvet ribbon!

Chamberlain and Alex’s reception was just as lovely as the ceremony! The beamed ceilings, billowing drapes and industrial chandeliers elevated the romantic atmosphere of the entire evening! The room was filled with beautiful details including mix-matched candles and flower arrangements in blue glass vases running down each table. Each guest was also greeted with a sprig of greenery on their place setting!

And to top it all off…this stunning 5-tier cake with cascading blooms, designed by the talented Adorn Cakes!

Check out the talented vendor team below!

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Vendor Team:

Venue: The Jayhawk Club | Photography: epagaFOTO | Flowers: Wild Hill Flowers and Events | Coordination: Along Came Abby | Cake: Adorn Cakes | Dress: Emily Hart Bridal

STAY WILD.

Our Spring Open House is Just Around the Corner!

We are SO excited to see everyone on Saturday, March 2nd from 1-4pm for our Open House!!! It will be such a fun event for our current and future brides to see the shop, our selection of glassware and meet some of the team! Come enjoy drinks, treats and giveaways! Our designers will also be there to help you review your proposal!! Keep scrolling for more details on the day!

Meet Our Open House Vendor Team!

Blue thistle Cakes

YOU ARE MORE Photo/Video

CROSSROAD CALLIGRAPHY

Ultrapom Event Rentals

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Giveaways?! YES way!

We will be handing out door prizes to the first 10 brides in attendance (beginning at 1pm)! Hello, free market bouquets & special sweet treats!!

You can also enter to win other prizes, including The Mrs. Box, a Starbucks gift card/mug set, and a special giveaway from Travel Unrivaled, at the event!! That’s right! We are giving away one of those adorable little heirloom ring boxes to one lucky bride!

Photo: Lacey Rene Studios

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Schedule a consult!

We will be offering short individual floral and coordination consultations before and after the Open House!Click here to schedule a meeting!

Photo: Lininger Rood Photo

Schedule Now!

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Are you in?! Click below to RSVP! We hope to see you there!

STAY WILD.

Meet Our 2019 Engagement Season Giveaway Contest Finalists!

At Wild Hill Flowers and Events, we love getting to know our sweet brides and their one-of-a-kind love stories!! You may remember the love story contest we held last February to win FREE WEDDING CEREMONY FLOWERS! The contest was a hit (click here to see the winner from last year)! So of course we had to do it again this year!

We received an overwhelming number of entries the last few weeks and loved reading them all! To select the top 7, the entries were read by a panel of judges who are unrelated to the contestants, all at independent locations to secretly submit their votes.  It was such a tough decision, our panel couldn't just choose five!  So, here are our top seven love stories! We just need your help choosing the winner of  a FREE wedding ceremony from Wild Hill!

We are in the last few days of voting and anyone can vote for their favorite love story! You can click below to vote for your favorite couple! Voting is open now through February 13th at midnight! The winner will be announced on Valentine's Day! (Giveaway includes bridal bouquet, bridesmaid bouquets, corsages, boutonnieres, and a romantic altar piece (arbor decor or pedestal arrangements, or other altar piece of your choice. Reception pieces can be added for additional cost.) 

And now for our top 7….

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Carolina & Kevin

What makes our love story unique is that we share a service to our country. Kevin is an active duty MP officer currently stationed at Fort Leavenworth,  KS. He’s been in the US Army for over a decade. I myself have 5 years of service for the Army behind me when I was a Medical Laboratory Specialist  serving all my time at Fort Bragg, NC. That is where we met!

Around the time I was exiting the military after completing my 5 year contract I had thrown a bbq bash at my house and my friend/coworker Jennifer  asked if it was alright if she and her husband bring a friend along. I said the more the merrier! It was not an intentional set-up but the moment we met there was an instant spark! 

Some weeks of texting and seeing each other led to Kevin officially asking me to be his girlfriend during the sunset while on an intimate beach trip to  Pine Knoll Shores on NC’s Crystal Coast area. I said yes! How romantic! A few months after that Kevin received orders to Fort Leavenworth. Although  we hadn’t been together long, when Kevin asked if I would accompany him to move to the middle of the country and leave everything and everyone  familiar behind I said yes again! I felt like it was right. When you know, you know…. READ MORE

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Brooke & Tristan

When we were 17 and 18 years old, Tristan and I met in a way I would have never predicted: taking the ACT. Tristan was seated right behind me in the  test room, and after sharing only a few short sentences, he boldly asked for my phone number. I would come to learn that this boldness is one of  Tristan’s hallmark characteristics. I normally would not recommend giving out your phone number to a total stranger, but the outcome here was  favorable to say the least. About a week later, we went on our first date: ice skating at Crown Center.

Our five years of dating, were filled with several rotating seasons of living in the same city, then living in different cities. Within the first few months of  being together, we knew that college would be an obstacle we had to overcome. Tristan decided to complete his first two years at a junior college, and  I decided to go to K-State. I will never forget how painful it was to hug him goodbye in the parking lot of my dorm on move-in day. After that first year,  Tristan surrendered his hope of becoming a Jayhawk, and moved to Manhattan instead. We soaked up two years of college together and found  ourselves surrounded by the most wonderful and supportive friends imaginable. After Tristan graduated, I stayed in Manhattan to finish my last  semester. I just moved back home from completing my degree, and now big obstacle to us staying together is behind us, quickly becoming just a blip  on the timeline. The challenges we experienced could have driven us apart, but we only became more unified as a team…. READ MORE

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Kelsey & Danny

As I started writing out our love story, I asked my fiancé Danny for some input.  He started writing it from his perspective and I thought it was even more special:

Our story, at first glance, may be seemingly ordinary, but that could not be further from the truth. The odds of us finding each other in the right place  at the right time were astronomical--separated by a few years in time and a mountain of different life experiences, somehow our paths crossed.

 Kelsey had been working a Kansas City area hospital for a number of years in multiple capacities. She began her career as a registered nurse in 2015 at  the age of 20 on a cardiac and neuro unit. I had been in the marines for five years and decided to begin my schooling for nursing, with the goal of  becoming an emergency room nurse. In the summer of 2016, I began working in the same Kansas City area hospital, on the same floor as Kelsey, but I  worked the night shift. I remember seeing this beautiful, dark-haired nurse in passing, but I never seemed to get the opportunity to speak to her.  Months went by but we still had no direct contact with each other. We worked long, and sometimes arduous, 12-hour shifts. Our schedules somehow  lined up where we had the same patients for three days in a row. She possessed this unassuming, quiet confidence that was intimidating. It was easy  to see that she was a tremendous health care provider. After only one conversation, her opinion already meant the world to me. I felt a connection--a  spark--immediately. Little did I know, she felt the same. We spent the next few months talking more in passing. Each time I felt I was getting spoiled  for even sharing a conversation with this amazing person…. READ MORE

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Amy & Aaron

Aaron was on a safari in South Africa a few years ago and his tour guide on this particular safari was none other than his soon-to-be wife, Amy. After a  few hours of spotting rhinos, zebras, springboks, and a herd of elephants Aaron said, "Amy, have you ever been to America?" Hesitantly she replied -  No, why do you ask? A smile came across his face and he said, "You're going to soon, because we're heading to Kansas City!"

Just kidding, here's the real story... Aaron and I met out on the town one night. From the way the story goes, neither of us were too keen on venturing outside of our houses on this  specific Saturday night, but our respective groups of friends wouldn't take 'no' for an answer. They are the true heroes of this story. A couple hours passed and neither of us had any idea the other was there, or the series of events that were about to take place. After wandering off for a few  minutes, Aaron ordered two gin & tonics from the barkeep and spotted his two friends across the patio. He walked up and asked, "Who wants a gin  and tonic?" Within seconds, I replied with a convincing smile and a shout of approval. The rest of the night the two of us were inseparable. He asked where I was from and I told him South Africa and that we rode elephants to school,  which he believed. So now we have a caricature drawing of the two of us riding an elephant in cowboy getup J .  We ended the night chatting about  life, friends, work, school, football (just kidding, they play rugby in South Africa). My friend was kind enough to give Aaron and his two friends a ride  home and while I was sitting in the front seat, Aaron decided to make sure the number I gave him was correct. So he texted me right then and there,  and when my phone lit up I looked in the mirror and saw him giving his now all too familiar mischievous smile… READ MORE

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Caroline & Jaskaran

Sometimes, you can look back at your life and pinpoint a moment that changed its course forever. 

For us, that moment happened on a chilly March morning in a tedious organic chemistry lab at UCLA. We’d spent an entire eight weeks in the same lab  together, but it wasn’t until we were randomly paired as lab partners that we interacted. Our first conversation started ordinary enough: Names. Hometowns. Major. Spring break plans. A few days later we were sneaking to the roof of the Math-Sciences Building after class, to trade music that  got us through rough patches and ask each other in depth questions about what we hoped to find out of life.

After that first day our talking never ceased. During finals week Jaskaran asked me if I could use a break from the studying and I didn’t think twice. We drove up the Pacific Coast Highway on that first date, up into the Santa Monica mountains to a hiking trail overlooking the ocean. As we climbed,  we spoke of our childhoods and our families: the good, the bad, the ugly, the hilarious. I reveled at how absolutely different they were. I grew up in a rural Kansas town of a couple thousand people, horseback riding and raising sheep. Jaskaran grew up in a busy city of northern India playing tennis and  soccer, becoming fluent in three languages by the time he was 9. We both loved science and medicine, which brought us to UCLA with the common  goal of premedical training. Through the laughter and seriousness, it struck me that there was so much to learn from each other.  When he dropped me off that night I couldn’t place the indescribable feeling I had. I could not stop my smiling. We paused outside the car, talking and  delaying the inevitable. We eventually leaned in to say goodbye, and I moved to kiss him – finally able to do one thing I’d been thinking about for  hours…. READ MORE

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Kirstyn & Federico

When only one, turned into one more. Rewind to the winter of 2016 in the cold, windy state of Nebraska. I was a senior at Creighton University and had just finished my last season of playing soccer, and I had big plans in mind after graduation. The first plan was to get out of Nebraska and move back home to Kansas City! At this time, with one semester left of undergraduate school, I was so happy and confident in myself, and my future, that I was not looking for any type of relationship at all. One of my best friends mentioned in conversation one day that this guy who played baseball at our school, Federico Castagnini, would be the perfect man for me – he had just come back to Creighton to finish up his degree after playing baseball for the Baltimore Orioles for 2 years.

On the last weekend of January, I decided to go out with some friends, which was very rare in of itself, and I ended up seeing him at the same place. I went up to introduce myself and truly, the rest is history. Federico grew up in Italy and came to America when he was 17 to play baseball; his family still lives in Italy. A lot of coincidences were at play including that we were both #7 for our Creighton sports teams, and that my parents both became fluent in Italian recently because they had traveled there and fell in love with the country and Italian culture. Fede and my dad love to speak Italian to each other – while I am still trying to learn! After that night when we first met, we could not stop talking to each other about life, our families, our futures, our hopes and dreams, and everything in between. Fast forward the next week or two, we met each other again, and at the end of the night, Fede told me he was going to kiss me, and I responded, “only one”, which of course, was followed again and again by “one more.”… READ MORE

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Katie & Lucas

Lucas and I met when we were 12 years old at Westridge Middle School. We became friends in our 8th grade social studies class, and we  became nearly inseparable. But, we were strictly only best friends. I told my cousin in middle school that I was going to marry Lucas one  day, but I didn't want to date him yet (middle school thought process, makes sense right?). During high school, we hung out almost every day after school. Lucas was the first person I would tell about any boy I liked or had a crush on, and little did I know that he had liked me  since we were 13 but he was too scared to tell me (I'm the worst - right?).

Our junior year of high school, we both decided that we wanted to go to the University of Arkansas. I wanted to go there for their nursing  program, and Lucas was drawn to the area by the beauty and camping/hiking/outdoors. Right before our senior year, we went to Young  Life Camp with our high school. I was having a one-on-one with my Young Life leader when she mentioned, "So...what about Lucas?". And I said, "What about Lucas?!". And she and I talked about how she thought we would make a great couple and that I should pray about my  relationships and to let the Lord take care of the rest. It was then that I started thinking about Lucas in a different way, and prayed about  our relationship. About a month after Young Life Camp, I texted Lucas a BOLD text. I asked, "Do you or have you ever liked me?", he  replied a simple, "yes..". That night I found out that Lucas did not only currently have feelings for me, but that he had liked me for years. I  told him that I liked him too, and we started dating a few months later, on November 8th, 2013. We went to all of our senior year dances  together, got even closer than we already were, and headed off to college as boyfriend and girlfriend. Our college years were amazing,  sharing the same friend group and growing much deeper in our relationship and in our faith… READ MORE

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Thanks for taking the time to read these amazing love stories! Did you vote for your favorite? Be sure to check back on Valentine’s Day to see which couple wins a FREE wedding ceremony from Wild Hill Flowers and Events! We can’t wait to see who it is!

STAY WILD.

Valentine’s Day 2019: Three Ways We’ve Got You Covered!

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and we couldn’t be more excited! Whether you are sending some love to a special someone, a family member or a friend, we are here to help! Here are three ways Wild Hill Flowers and Events can make your Valentine’s Day beautiful, while keeping things simple! 

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1.    Order an arrangement online & have it delivered! 

Unique and beautiful floral arrangements without the hassle! Wild Hill Flowers and Events is offering Valentine’s Day arrangements in three different sizes! Arrangements will consist of an assortment of hydrangea, roses, greenery and other blooms & textures placed in a clear glass vase with ribbon & the option for a personal message! Available for pickup or delivery in the KC Metro on the 14th!

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2. Wild Hill Valentine’s Day Pop-Up at Dolce Bakery!

Wild Hill Flowers and Events will be at Dolce Bakery in Prairie Village from 3-6pm on Valentine’s Day! We will be offering $25 market bouquets wrapped in paper! Dolce Bakery will also be selling special $16 Floral Valentine’s Day cakes for two! These mini cakes will be decorated with floral toppers for the perfect romantic Valentine’s Day dessert! No need to order your market bouquet ahead of time, just stop in to pick up your sweet treats and we will be there to help you! 

 You can also choose to have one of our full size arrangements delivered to Dolce for pick up between 3-6pm! Just let us know when you fill out the order form! 

 Dolce Bakery: 3930 W. 69TH Terrace, Prairie Village, KS 66208

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3. Wild Hill Valentine’s Day Pop-up at The Bean

Wild Hill Flowers and Events will be at The Bean Coffee Co. in Spring Hill from 3:30-6:30pm on Valentine’s Day! We will be offering $25 market bouquets wrapped in paper! The Bean will also be selling special $16 Floral Valentine’s Day cakes for two from Dolce! No need to order ahead of time; cake and market bouquets will be available for pick up!

 You can also choose to have one of our full size arrangements delivered to The Bean for pick up between 3:30-6:30pm! Just let us know when you fill out the order form! 

Check out our Facebook Event for more Details!

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Happy Valentine’s Day from the Wild Hill Team! XOXOXO

2018 Engagement Season Giveaway Contest Winners: Sarah & Blake!

You may remember the love story contest we held last February during peak engagement season! We asked brides to submit their love stories to us for the chance to win a FREE WEDDING CEREMONY from Wild Hill Flowers and Events!

The contest was a HIT! We received countless love stories from Kansas City brides: some that made us laugh, some cry and others that were just plain adorable! We did our best to narrow it down to our top 7 favorite (we couldn’t choose just 5) and then opened up voting to the entire Wild Hill Community!

This is where Sarah & Blake come into play, our 2018 winners! These two took the contest by storm with their unique love story, which you can read below!

Lynn Lewis Photography

““Most couples have a good story about how they met at yoga or in physics class or are high school sweethearts, but that’s not us.

We first met way back in middle school, but were too young and naïve to know what we were missing out on, so instead we’ll fast forward to senior year of high school and say that’s when we truly met. And I can tell you; I literally fell in love right then and there. One of my best friends (soon to be bridesmaid) and Blake’s childhood friend hosted a dinner party for her 18th birthday, definitely 18 going on 35. Ellen had set our seats next to each other at the table knowing we would hit it off, and we became fast friends.

Fast forward a few months and we are both attending at the University of Kansas. Meeting up a few times but both very busy and involved in different things. Eventually we lose touch and start heading our own ways dating other people. Things just didn’t work out then.

A few years later, we are on spring break and juniors in college. I sent an innocent snapchat to Blake with none other than my best friend and his mutual friend Ellen. Blake immediately responds and send a quick text asking how I’m doing. We texted the rest of the week and next thing you know we were back at school and getting coffee on Mass St. (If you know me, you know that coffee is the key to my heart and probably 20% of my body at any given moment.) Coffee dates turned into dinner dates and adventures at Clinton Lake. We began dating soon after and have been dating for almost 5 years now! We continue to take adventures on a larger scale from road tripping and camping out west in Colorado, Utah, Oregon and California to camping on the north shore of Minnesota. Life is better when we are together, especially when we can take our sweet pup Maverick with us!

Then October 12, 2017 rolls around. I am in Physician Assistant school and on a rotation in Topeka. I come home to Blake smiling and exclaiming that we are going on a trip! I am still confused and assume it is somewhere local. I ask him what I need to pack and he hands me my bag fully packed. At this point I knew something was up. He also tells me we have a flight in about 3 hours and need to head to the airport. I am crying at this point and know something is definitely going to happen this weekend. On the way to the airport I begin guessing places we are going. “East coast or west coast?” West coast. I finally guess San Francisco as I know Blake has always wanted to take me there. I guessed right and we landed later that evening. The next day Friday October 13th Blake and I bopped around San Francisco and Blake told me that were going to take pictures later that night so I needed to “dress up.” This is not an uncommon request as Blake is an amazing photographer. But I had an inkling something else was in the air.

That evening we drive up to Presidio Park which overlooks the Golden Gate bridge. Blake leads me to this amazing overlook, drops onto one knee and proposes! I lose myself and don’t even notice the camera clicks occurring right beside us. It turns out Blake had hired a photographer to capture the moment. (Shout out to Lynn Lewis Photography for helping us celebrate this incredible moment!)

We are now in the thick of wedding planning and will be hosting our wedding exactly one year from our engagement on October 13, 2018 at my parent’s home on 15 acres in Topeka, KS. We prefer to be outside and knew we wanted our wedding to echo this theme in our relationship. We have loved planning this wedding but we are even more excited to continue to our life together as a married couple. We would be ecstatic to have Wild Hill do our flowers as they are the best in KC!””

— Sarah

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Adorable, right?! It’s no surprise these two won! We couldn’t wait to do their wedding this past October! Keep scrolling to see their entire GORGEOUS wedding day and all the amazing vendors involved!!

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And now for our EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT!! We loved this contest so much that we HAD to do it again this year!

Introducing… Our 2019 Engagement Season Giveaway!

How to Enter: At Wild Hill Flowers and Events, we love getting to know our brides and their amazing love stories!! That’s why we are once again giving away a FREE wedding ceremony to a lucky 2019/2020 bride! All you have to do is tell us your love story and what makes it unique!

A panel of 10 will assist us in choosing the top 5 favorite stories to be posted on social media! We will then open up voting to the Wild Hill community to pick their favorite!

Send your love story along with an engagement or other photo to ashley@wildhillflowers.com.

Must enter by February 1st. Voting will begin February 7th and the winner chosen on Valentines Day!!
(Giveaway includes bridal bouquet, bridesmaid bouquets, corsages, boutonnieres, and a romantic altar piece (arbor, pedestal arrangements, or other altar piece of your choice) Reception pieces can be added for additional cost. Giveaway open to booked/unbooked brides!

Sarah & Blake: October 13th, 2018

Photography: Atley + Liz Collective // Flowers: Wild Hill Flowers and Events // Coordination: Weddings By Hannah // Dress: Gown Gallery // Rentals: Ultrapom

STAY WILD.

New Year, New Name!

Dum dum dum dum!

If this new year includes getting a new last name, you’ll love the tips we complied below! After the excitement sets in and the planning begins, the first step is finding the perfect place to say, “I do.” There are hundreds of venue options in the Kansas City area- whether you want rustic, modern, grand or outdoors; there is a venue for you!

Photo credit: Kelcy Leigh Photography

Check out these helpful tips to narrow down the search to find where you and your partner will start forever!

• Together, make a list of “must haves” and “wants” for a venue. A must-have could include a ceremony and reception space at the same location, parking or a bridal suite. Examples of wants might include separate bridal and groom suites, tables/chairs/linens provided or an onsite coordinator.

• Determine your capacity. The general rule is 75% of invited guests will attend your wedding, although if most of your guests are in-town, you will see a higher rate of attendance. Even though this is a great rule to keep in mind, always plan for the highest possible guest count in order to secure a space that will be comfortable for you and your guests.

• Is an outdoor space a must-have? October has become the most popular wedding month of the year, largely due to the b-e-a-utiful weather in Kansas City during that time of year. If you are passionate about hosting an outdoor wedding, be sure to find a space that accommodates your wishes. Not set on having an outdoor affair, but interested in having the ceremony and reception at the same location? Be sure to ask where guests will mingle while the room is being flipped, and if there is an outdoor cocktail hour area, double-check what Plan B will be should inclement weather occur.

• What furnishings are included? Every venue will provide something a little different. All options are wonderful, we simply encourage you to read through the fine print to be sure you understand exactly what service(s) you are receiving. Some venues include tables, chairs and linens in the rental price, while others do not. Check out if the staff will set up and tear down all furnishings as well.

• Preferred vs. exclusive vendor lists can be confusing. The venue coordinator or wedding coordinator is a wonderful resource- no question is a silly question when planning a wedding! A preferred vendor list is, generally, a list of suggested vendors that the venue works with often. These vendors are familiar with the space and the rules associated with this venue. A preferred vendor list is a wonderful place to start when researching vendors. In contrast, an exclusive vendor list typically consists of required vendors you must use when booking the space. In this situation, there will usually be a fee associated with not using the specified vendors. If a venue provides an exclusive vendor list it is typically referring to the caterer or DJ.

• Specific timing dictated by the venue. There are a handful of venues that will allow all day access, but most venues are booked through hourly packages. A typical venue package will allow for a 5 hour reception and include 4-5 hours of access time prior to the event start time. This access time is used to decorate and take photos in the space. If the venue you are touring provides in-house bar services there will be a separate bar open and end time. Double check that you understand all specified timing requirements through the venue to be sure your expectations are being met.

Photo credit in slideshow:

Cork Creative

Mon Photography

Mel Watson Photography

Jill Caren Photography

Nick Allen Photo

Mcbride Photo Design

STAY WILD.

Hosting for the Holidays

If you’re anything like me, the Christmas tree is up the minute after Thanksgiving Day and Michael Buble’s holiday album is playing on repeat. I adore this time of the year- it doesn’t get much better than the cozy feeling of having the fireplace burning and the delicious smell of holiday baking. Each year I can’t wait to head back home to spend time with the family and lounge on the couch, but last year it was my turn to host.

I am a planner- both professionally and personally- so I thought, “How hard could this really be?” HA! Boy oh boy do I wish I would have leaned on some of my favorite local businesses to make the weekend go stress-free. Instead of doing it all yourself, check out the list below of crazy awesome local businesses that can help you put on a beautiful and delicious holiday affair!

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Get your tablescape from Ultrapom!

Ultrapom has anything and everything! Their green velvet linens with gold beaded chargers would be a showstopper for your family gathering. Throw in a few estate goblets and modern gold flatware and it will be a party to remember! Don’t forget to add on a few chairs if you’re like me and don’t have seating for 12!

Photo by Lininger Rood Photography

End your meal with a sweet treat from Dolce Bakery!

From custom cookies and cakes to their fun seasonal flavors, Dolce Bakery in Prairie Village, KS never disappoints. If you’re looking for some extra holiday fun, pick up a few of their cookie decorating kits!

Put the finishing touch on your table with place cards from East + West Design!

This small detail can go a long way and provide a memento for your guests to take with them! A few creative ways to add a place card to your tablescape is on a piece of fruit, wrapped around the flatware, or used as the place mat with a touch of calligraphy.

Photo by Ashley Ice Photography

Top the night off with bubbly from One Hope!

Not only does One Hope have the most sparkly wine, but each purchase gives back! Currently, One Hope has donated over $3 million to nonprofits that support global heath care, providing furever homes for shelter animals, meals for children, life-saving vaccines and more! You can purchase directly from their warehouse, or from a local sales rep.

STAY WILD.

Jill Caren Photo's Take on Marriage

Hey all you love birds!

Congratulations on getting engaged or in your first years of marriage! It’s not always an easy road, but boy is it worth it.

There are articles upon articles on weddings, marriages and relationships; but this sucker stole the show. After reading it, I immediately thought of a ground-breaking blog written by Jill Caren Photo about having a marriage-focused wedding. If you haven’t checked this girl out, you are going to have all the feels over the behind the scene photos she captures.

Check out Jill’s take on Bloomberg’s “U.S. Divorce Rate: Millennial Are Causing the Divorce Rate to Plummet”:

'“There’s SO much to unpack from this article! I think I’d like to highlight what I found to be most interesting, which is there is proof showing divorce rates are dropping! As a wife, advocate for marriage, and wedding industry professional I am absolutely overjoyed and humbled by these statistics.

Regardless of how one may interpret why the rates are dropping, I think we can all agree - it’s a good thing. But as a society we are obsessed with knowing the why behind everything. And I think we could all speculate the reasons why younger generations are choosing to stay married. The article points out just a few including: “people are waiting longer to marry… people are more educated… marriage is more of an achievement of status… the boomer generations have continued to divorce at unusually high rates”…etc. On my first, second, third, and fourth passes through this article, I struggled to gather my thoughts on all the “whys.” I wondered, how am I supposed to expound on what has already been said? What should I add? That our generation is a product of the divorce pain caused by generations before us? That getting married is no longer a form of escape that grants independence? That it’s harder to even find someone to date right now, without even thinking of getting married? Those could all also be valid reasons for the statistical decline. Then it hit me, NONE OF THIS MATTERS! The “why” people are not getting divorced is not my heart for being in the wedding industry. I chose to get into the industry to fight against divorce rates. To encourage my couples as they take the biggest step in their relationship. To instill confidence in their decision to value their marriage more than their wedding day. To be at least 1 positive voice in their planning process. So the “why” doesn’t matter, but the hope found in these statistics does. The U.S. divorce rate dropped 18% from 2008 to 2016. The real question we should be asking is why are we not talking about this decline? This trend should be trending! Who cares about the theories, can we just highlight the good? We should be celebrating as humanity that we are finally getting back to the heart of marriage as it was originally intended to be, for life.

If you’re reading this and you’re newly engaged, I’m cheering for you. Marriage is AWESOME. It’s challenging, full of growth and change, it’s beautiful and the deepest form of love you get to choose to pour out. I dare you to remember that your wedding day is just one day. While extremely important (and I genuinely hope all your dreams come true), I ask that you leave room for the unexpected. Don’t get caught up in the stress of planning and making everything Pinterest perfect. Leave the worrying to the professionals; that’s what you pay us for! All that really matters is that you and your spouse-to-be are rooted in the life choice of commitment you’re about to make to one another. Your marriage is so much bigger than just one special day. It’s honestly more about the boring and un-special days in between and I’m so excited that our generation is realizing this. For the first time in a long time, the future is bright for you two as a couple.

Enjoy The Ride,

Jill Stuefer”

STAY WILD.

Lizzy & Dane: Timber Barn at Weston Red Barn Farm

The first leaf falls and the world turns to apple cider donuts and pumpkin spice lattes. This year, my husband and I headed to Weston Red Barn Farm for our annual pumpkin patch outing and boy did they go above my expectations. Their apple slush is perfection on a warm fall day and they have the cutest tiny gourds my house is now covered in. Not only is Weston Red Barn Farm the perfect date night opportunity (sign up for our newsletter here to read more), but it’s also the perfect place to start your forever!

Over Memorial Day weekend, Lizzy and Dane said their “I Dos” in an outdoor ceremony at Timber Barn.

Surrounded by family and friends, Lizzy and Dane had a picturesque day. Lizzy started her morning with her ladies at Timber Barn and watched as their vision turned into a reality. Lizzy herself made amazing calligraphy acrylic accents that truly brought the barn to life! Lizzy and Dane chose a watermelon-themed signature cocktail through Cordial Craft to celebrate their summer shindig and Marissa Cribbs ended the night with the most romantic sunset session. Lizzy and Dane’s day was truly one to remember!

STAY WILD.

Vendor Team

Photography: Marissa Cribbs Photography

Venue: Weston Red Barn Farm; Timber Barn

Floral: Wild Hill Flowers and Events

Coordination: Wild Hill Flowers and Events

Hair and Makeup: Posh KC

Videography: Rainy Day Productions

Bar Service: Cordial Craft

Catering: Blue Pot

DJ: Fernando Productions; DJ Jared

Transportation: KC Night Train

Anna and Chris: Weston Red Barn Farm

Anna and Chris had a unique vision for their big day - a vision that included sweet moments with their loved ones, their romantic style, and contagious joy. Their love for each other was so evident and we loved working alongside them to bring their dreams to fruition. By incorporating creative details and mixing natural and romantic styles, they had a day unlike any other.

Meet Anna and Chris

Anna’s already effortless beauty was so enhanced by her gown from Bride.KC. This dress was perfect for her and impeccably fit the style of their wedding.

First looks aren’t just for the groom anymore. We love that Anna chose to have a special moment with her dad before she walked down the aisle. And based on the proud look on his face, we think he loved it, too.

STAY WILD.

VENDOR TEAM

Floral: Wild Hill Flowers & Events

Photographer: Stephanie Nachtrab

Gown: Bride.

Venue: Weston Red Barn Farm

Coordination: Madison Sanders Events