Ceremony/Reception Venue - Club 1000, Kansas City, MO
We decided that for our mainly OOT group, keeping things simple and low key would be easiest. Therefore, we're doing both the ceremony and reception at the Penthouse at Club 1000. Its a beautiful venue in downtown Kansas City, in the loft of an old clothing store. The room is big and white, so we can pretty much do whatever we want, but its also got gorgeous wood flooring and some beautiful white columns! Plus, we will be able to take pictures on the rooftop!
John, the owner, has been so great working with us. We are going to hold the ceremony (pretty much as the picture shows), and then afterwards move everyone to the back of the room (which is huge btw) and start serving drinks. While everyone is at the bar, they will flip the room for us, bring out preset tables from the corners and making a space for the dance floor.
John, the owner, has been so great working with us. We are going to hold the ceremony (pretty much as the picture shows), and then afterwards move everyone to the back of the room (which is huge btw) and start serving drinks. While everyone is at the bar, they will flip the room for us, bring out preset tables from the corners and making a space for the dance floor.
Caterer - Delish! Catering
I met the ladies from Delish at an event at Club 1000. I was originally interested in using Jack Stack, a local BBQ place that is FABULOUS, mostly because I wanted something fun and different. However, when I saw Delish's macaroni and cheese bar I was completely sold!! Mac & cheese is my FAVORITE meal, and this allows guests to choose from a variety of different toppings, like chicken, lobster, proscutto, and veggies. MMM!
We haven't decided on a complete menu, but this is what comes with our package at a little over $20pp:
-Two passed appetizers (during cocktail hour)
-Macaroni & Cheese bar with all the fixings
-One skewer option
-One sandwich option
-Veggie display
-Chips with two types of dips
We are also having an evening snack of fresh baked cookies and milk, served in antique milk bottles, which I think is going to be ADORABLE!!
Everything will be served buffet style (except for the appetizers and the cookies/milk).
We haven't decided on a complete menu, but this is what comes with our package at a little over $20pp:
-Two passed appetizers (during cocktail hour)
-Macaroni & Cheese bar with all the fixings
-One skewer option
-One sandwich option
-Veggie display
-Chips with two types of dips
We are also having an evening snack of fresh baked cookies and milk, served in antique milk bottles, which I think is going to be ADORABLE!!
Everything will be served buffet style (except for the appetizers and the cookies/milk).
Photographer - Tiffany Phipps, Dolce Bella Photography
Before we even arrived in KC, I put the word out on Craigslist that I was looking for someone to help us out with engagement pictures. We did not have a big budget for them, and I wanted a photography start up or a student to get some experience while giving us a good deal (I scratch your back you scratch mine type of thing). With David being an art student, I know how hard it is to get professional work for your portfolio.
Tiffany from Dolce Bella responded and we hit it off immediately. In fact, we decided to go ahead and interview her for photographer at our wedding instead of just Epics. She was so sweet and completely affordable. We are getting epics, unlimited time at our wedding, day after shoot, and a CD with high res images and copy right release, all for less than $700!!!
We recently had our Epics done and she was so fun to work with. At first, David and I were kind of nervous, but she made the mood very light and comfortable. We walked around downtown KC and then also went to the Nelson Atkins museum, and I thought she had a lot of great ideas for fun pictures. Can't wait to see the results!!
Tiffany from Dolce Bella responded and we hit it off immediately. In fact, we decided to go ahead and interview her for photographer at our wedding instead of just Epics. She was so sweet and completely affordable. We are getting epics, unlimited time at our wedding, day after shoot, and a CD with high res images and copy right release, all for less than $700!!!
We recently had our Epics done and she was so fun to work with. At first, David and I were kind of nervous, but she made the mood very light and comfortable. We walked around downtown KC and then also went to the Nelson Atkins museum, and I thought she had a lot of great ideas for fun pictures. Can't wait to see the results!!
Flowers - Bella Design Studio
Michelle was really wonderful when we went to visit her in her studio. I brought some pictures of things I liked but also admitted to her that I wasn't a flower person; I'm really bad with colors and I don't know flower-types at all. I made one request - no roses! I just don't feel like they are original or special at all, and I wanted something more textural and more fun. She helped us identify different ones that I liked and also combine elements that I liked out of different pictures. I loved her designs and the price is awesome - we're paying about $1600 for the whole deal.
On the same vein, we visited a local grocery chain to talk flowers with them as well. It was only a little less expensive, plus when we arrived for our appointment they didn't have a clue about it! They had apparently misplaced the paper work and found it once we had left. No big deal, they apologized and it was fine. However, when I received the sample invoice, she spelled "bouquet" as "bokay." 'nough said.
On the same vein, we visited a local grocery chain to talk flowers with them as well. It was only a little less expensive, plus when we arrived for our appointment they didn't have a clue about it! They had apparently misplaced the paper work and found it once we had left. No big deal, they apologized and it was fine. However, when I received the sample invoice, she spelled "bouquet" as "bokay." 'nough said.
DJ - Elite Sounds
We met with Craig from Elite Sounds back when we weren't sure we wanted a DJ. We were totally thinking we wanted to go the IPod-type route. However, he convinced us that not all wedding music/DJ combos have to be annoying and cheesy. We clicked when David told him he was thinking Modest Mouse albums and he mentioned that he thinks Jack Johnson and the acoustic version of a Foo FIghters song were good cocktail hour music. Then he played us some disco mixed with a Michael Jackson beat which sounded SO cool! He's also a club DJ so I think that makes him a little more our style. We want our wedding to be a party!! Hence, now we have a super cool DJ.
Save the Dates - Avery Designs
My fiance is designing our Save The Dates. He's so talented and I just love him so much I had to put him on here! ;D He's really great with logos, monograms, and designing paper products if you need some help with it! :D
David Avery Designs
David Avery Designs
Hair/Make-up - CaraSue Hall
CaraSue is highly recommended on Wedding Wire, and since I don't have any clue about stylists in the area (I still don't have one) I figured I'd go with someone a lot of people love. Her prices are decent and since I'm booking her now for 2010 I get the 2009 rates! Yey! I will have my trial closer to the wedding but from her portfolio I think I'm going to like her!
Transportation - Horizon Limo
From the minute I realized they were available, I REALLY wanted a trolley for the wedding party. Limos are overrated, haha! I just wanted something unique, special and memorable. When my mom and I went to a bridal show and met two vendors who rented them. I had spoken with the gentlemen from Horizon before and just never booked, but they gave us such a great deal that we booked almost immediately. Talked them down about 20% and they threw in gratuity! We went with their modern trolley that has more of a limo interior (TV, bar, padded seats, etc) but we are considering switching to the traditional trolley because it might be better for pictures, even if it is less comfortable. REALLY EXCITED!!!
Officiant - Dr Reverend Michele Gamm
Dr. Gamm has probably, so far, been one of the nicest people we've worked with for the wedding! She is so organized (which I love) and just a ball of positive energy! She even gave us some tips on planning and working with our venue, and sent us a wedding planning kit she made to keep us organized! She really gave us great vibes when we met with her and I am positive she is going to do an amazing job on our wedding.
Cake - Dragonfly Bakery
This was a tough decision. We met two very wonderful cake decorators but in the end chose to go with Dragonfly. We loved their inventive flavors and felt like they had a great vision for our cake. They really worked to tie it in with other aspects of our wedding and to see the 'whole' picture rather than just the cake. Plus, 10% off for paying in full up front! I am just happy to have it all paid for and one less worry!
B-Pics - BlueRue Studio
I had debated wanted to have a pin-up girl shoot for David's wedding present. Another girl from TheKnot October 2010 board had them done recently and was raving about how fun it was and how great they came out, so I decided to passively search for a photog. I wasn't really impressed with the ones that I found in the KC area, but one day out of the blue (hehe) CaraSue (my makeup/hair artist) forwarded an e-mail invite to a bpics marathon that she was putting on with Aaron of BlueRue. For $350 they were offering hair and makeup (with false lashes) by CaraSue, 60 minute shoot, premium location, $100 photo credit and 15% off of photos. It seemed a bit much considering Aaron charges $200 for 2 hours and $100 photo credit normally, but I realized that everything else considered it could be worth it. And I got the last spot on Friday night so Aaron said that he could probably extend the time a bit if I wanted to, just because I was concerned about the time. I'm going on Jan 22nd and my friend Laura is coming so that I don't chicken out, haha! Aaron's blog of photos looks AMAZING so I'm super excited to work with him and CaraSue!!
**Update** The shoot was AWESOME! Aaron and CaraSue were great and made me feel very comfortable. The pictures are back and I LOVE them. I'm getting a book made to give to David as a gift. I definitely think that if you have the extra cash it's an awesome thing to do.
**Update** The shoot was AWESOME! Aaron and CaraSue were great and made me feel very comfortable. The pictures are back and I LOVE them. I'm getting a book made to give to David as a gift. I definitely think that if you have the extra cash it's an awesome thing to do.
