Wedding Venues

Venues for All Kinds of Weddings

| 2016 Q2 | story by JULIE DUNLAP

The Eldridge Hotel, photo courtesy of Olivia Collection

Many singers have crooned about going to the chapel or getting to the church on time, but not every couple chooses to marry on a traditional altar, and even fewer are following the ceremony with a reception on church grounds. Fortunately, the Lawrence area is filled with a wide variety of beautiful venues for brides and grooms in search of an alternative to the once-traditional church wedding and reception.

Couples looking for an indoor venue with historic significance will find several choices in downtown Lawrence, starting with what is arguably the most notable corner in Kansas, The Eldridge Hotel, at 701 Massachusetts St.

Originally built in 1855 as the Free State Hotel, The Eldridge has been burned to the ground and rebuilt twice with several major renovations over the next 150 years, most recently in 2005.

With a history of perseverance and new life, and a prime downtown Lawrence location, The Eldridge is a prime spot for couples looking for a place to begin married life.

“We see a large number of couples with Lawrence or KU ties,” says Nancy Longhurst, general manager of The Olivia Collection, which owns The Eldridge Hotel and The Oread Hotel. “Many couples don’t even live in Lawrence anymore, but they attended KU, and Lawrence still holds a special place in their hearts, so they come back to get married here.”

Wedding celebrations at The Eldridge can include both the ceremony and the reception, with packages ranging greatly in price, depending on the number of guests, food and beverage served, and additional services required.

While having the ceremony and reception all taking place under one roof, The Eldridge also offers hotel rooms (for an additional fee) for the wedding party and guests, relieving out-of-towners from the worry about transportation to and from the wedding festivities.

“Brides like the all-inclusive aspect,” Longhurst explains. “The wedding party often stays at the hotel the night before and gets ready for the wedding just upstairs from the ceremony and reception. It is perfect for out-of-town guests.”

The Oread Hotel, photo courtesy of Olivia Collection

The Eldridge’s sister property, The Oread Hotel, atop Mount Oread at 1200 Oread Ave., also provides beautiful settings for both wedding ceremonies and receptions, including outdoor space on the fifth- and ninth-floor terraces. These upper-level venues come with complimentary breath-taking views—and a backup space on-site should the weather not cooperate.

The wedding party and guests may continue the celebration outside far above the golden valley or move the party indoors for climate-controlled fun in one of The Oread’s ballrooms, with hotel rooms available for guests who wish to commute to bed via elevator.

Modern conveniences abound in both historic settings, with in-house catering, setup and cleanup, table wear, even centerpieces and cake-cutting services available for parties of 40 to 400. The two properties see well over 100 weddings between them annually.

With so much of the decision-making taken off the couple’s plate by the all-inclusive offerings of The Oread and The Eldridge, Longhurst has seen a shift in the previous trend of planning periods. While a majority of weddings in the past decade or so took well more than a year to plan, it is not unusual at all for the wedding department at The Olivia Collection to field and fulfill requests from couples seeking to marry within six to eight months.

“Spend your money on food and flowers,” Longhurst recommends to newly engaged couples. “Our event rooms come with built-in beauty, so there is no need to pour too much in to decorations.”

Liberty Hall, photo courtesy of Melissa Sigler Photography

Across the corner from The Eldridge, Dean Edington, general manager of the ornate and historic Liberty Hall, at 644 Massachusetts St., agrees.

“People will remember three things: how pretty the bride was, how good the food was and how much fun they had,” he advises with the calm and wisdom of a 25-year event-management veteran. “If you spend too much time worrying about every speck of every centerpiece, it stops being fun for you and your family. And this is supposed to be a party!”

Edington, who assists roughly 20 couples every year with their wedding and reception planning at Liberty Hall, brings unique perspective to the venue. “The reason couples get stressed out is because most of them have never done this before,” he says. “I try to be as mellow as possible.”

Built in 1856 after the same arson raid that burned down the Free State Hotel the year before and again after an electrical fire in 1911, Liberty Hall has been a place for community gatherings and entertainment for most of its 160 years. The majestic landmark has been home to movies, fund-raisers, comedians and star-studded concerts, including Willie Nelson and Tina Turner, during the last century and a half.

Liberty Hall’s long history of steadfast creativity and opulent decor, featuring the grand chandelier, marble stairways and inspiring murals, fuels the imagination for wedding ceremonies and receptions from the funky to the fairy tale.

“People like to do fun stuff here,” Edington says, citing a bride who transformed the historic stage to a silver forest with stringed lights sweeping over the entire lower level like a storybook fantasy, and another bride who recently created a Star Wars-themed wedding, complete with a canopy of light sabers.

The rental fee—one of the lower fees at major venues in Lawrence—includes house tables and chairs, setup and cleanup, pipe-and-drape, stage lighting and one dedicated bartender with two more people on-site to bartend and manage the event. Couples are given the space at 10 in the morning and have it until the wee hours of the night, with 1 a.m. begin closing time. The space does not include food catering and does not have a kitchen available, but it does have an in-house bar with nearly any type of beverage available for order.

A 7-foot grand piano is available at an additional fee for couples that would like live piano music for the ceremony or reception, and the house sound system is available for rental as well for bands, DJs and couples who wish to self-DJ with their own playlists. The space seats 176 people at tables on the main floor and an additional 64 on the stage.

A large majority of couples that use Liberty Hall for their wedding celebrations choose to have both the ceremony and reception take place on-site. Typically, the wedding ceremony will be on the stage, with immediate family and wedding party seated or standing on or near the stage and remaining guests in the nearby balcony. The main floor is already set for the reception, allowing everyone involved to go straight to the party with minimal time spent changing out the setup.

Abe & Jakes, photo courtesy of Abe & Jakes

Around the corner from Liberty Hall sits another historic building with a more recent pedigree for entertainment, Abe & Jake’s Landing, at 8 E. 6th St. Built to house the Consolidated Barbed Wire Company in the late 1880s with a steamboat landing on the river just outside, the former factory slowly evolved into a state of disrepair during the next century, with changes in technology and the economy. In the 1980s, a group of developers dedicated the next 10 years to rehabbing the abandoned building into the grand, yet warm and inviting, venue it is today.

Named after local fisherman Abe Burns and Jake Washington, Abe & Jake’s Landing is one of the larger spaces in Lawrence for gatherings, with a seated capacity of 350 in the main gallery and another 50 to 60 in the mezzanine just above. The building also features four smaller, more intimate rooms seating 10 to 75, ideal for bridal showers, brunches and rehearsal dinners.

The main gallery features a large stage at one end with a large wood dance floor directly in front of it and seating surrounding it all. Rock, iron, wood and brick finishings throughout the space, along with the sweeping views of the Kaw River along the north window-lined wall and from the pavilion outside, call back to the days a century ago when steamboats and fishermen filled the river and its banks. The massive staircase leading down to the main gallery from the open balcony above facilitates a grand bridal party entrance for guests below.

Roughly 50% of the wedding celebrations at Abe & Jake’s Landing include both the ceremony and reception. The open space, flooded with natural sunlight by day and dramatic light by night, allows couples unlimited options for a celebration to fit their personalities.

“Nothing is traditional anymore,” states Abe & Jake’s Landing Wedding Manager Kiley Nottingham. “Nothing is right or wrong.”

Like Liberty Hall, Abe & Jake’s Landing offers an in-house bar but no catering. Any licensed, insured caterer may bring food to the event, though, with the rental fee covering six hours in the space (including the main gallery and all smaller rooms for prep work), tables and chairs, setup and teardown, and staff on-site for the event.

When it comes to selecting a venue, Nottingham advises couples to determine a guest count and budget prior to searching. “Once you have found the venue of your dreams,” she adds, “understand the logistics of the venue to ensure there are no surprises as you plan the finer details.”

Judy Riling, sales manager for SpringHill Suites by Marriott, at 1 Riverfront Plaza, wholeheartedly agrees. “Plan ahead and look for what you want in a layout, capacity and setup of the space,” she says, encouraging couples to look for beauty in simplicity to reduce the stress of potential logistical nightmares.

Located in the same stretch as Abe & Jake’s Landing, SpringHill Suites has wrapped up a $1.6-million renovation that includes new carpet, art, guest room and event space design, and an outdoor pavilion with wide-open views of the Kaw River, making it a prime venue for couples seeking a uniquely beautiful space to dance the night away and house out-of-town guests in one stop.

The modest rental fee includes all-day rental of the event space (starting at 10 a.m.) plus tables and chairs, setup and cleanup, and house table linens. Guest rooms may be discounted and booked by the block, with additional discounts available on event space, as well.

While SpringHill Suites does not have in-house catering or beverage services available, they do allow licensed caterers to cater events. SpringHill Suites is a member of WING (Wedding Industry Network Group) in Lawrence and has access to photographers, DJs, formal wear retailers and more to assist couples with their wedding planning.

Riling notes several trends unique to the offerings at SpringHill Suites, with most couples eager to get into the event space as early as possible, many staying at the hotel the night before to relax and enjoy getting ready for the day on-site. Popular amenities available for an extra fee include a catered brunch at the hotel the morning after for guests and space for gift-opening for couples who want to include family and wedding party in the fun.

Arterra Event Gallery, photo courtesy of Arterra

Someplace Where the Skies are Blue …

But the appeal of Lawrence extends beyond the architecture and history of our Downtown.

Nestled in the woods of suburban southwest Lawrence sits the spacious and naturally stunning Arterra Event Gallery. Located at 2161 Quail Creek Dr., Arterra Event Gallery opened in September 2013. The retreat-like outdoor space glows with the beauty of every season, with a warm yet simplistic indoor space available, as well.

Executive Director Mike Gehrs has worked hard the past three-plus years to make the hidden gem a premiere site for weddings in Lawrence. “Beautiful space and fantastic food can’t outweigh service,” he beams, adding that Arterra Event Gallery consistently receives outstanding feedback from wedding parties and guests about all three facets of their business.

Wayne and Judy McDaniel purchased the building, formerly the original home of Pachamamas, in October 2012, naming it Arterra and partnering with Gehrs, a hospitality-industry veteran with experience in Chicago, Los Angeles and Kansas City. Gehrs runs the space with customer service at the forefront of the mission, engaging all of his employees with a profit-sharing program.

Gehrs says roughly 40% of the events they do are weddings, though that number continues to climb; and roughly 50% of the weddings they do involve both the ceremony and reception.

Arterra Event Gallery is a full-service facility, with everything from silverware to lighting, food and beverage to tables and linens, all available in one stop. While the setup can be buffet-style, cocktail reception, hand-delivered hors d’oeuvres and more, the most popular and uniquely Arterra food service is what Gehrs calls the “fine-dining approach to family-style service.”

Every table, plate, charger and centerpiece has been measured and carefully placed to allow servers to bring serving platters to the dining tables for guests to serve themselves family-style. All food is made in-house from scratch and timed to be served fresh with no reheating or holding warmers necessary, and may be served indoors or out. Both spaces within Arterra Event Gallery seat 200, though an expansion is planned for 2017 to add more indoor space.

The full bar can include any beverage or specialty cocktail the couple desires, and the staff will install all decorations for the couple, as well.

Gehrs cites Pinterest as a primary influence in what inspires brides and grooms in their wedding decor. With so many options available, couples appreciate the all-inclusive venue. “They don’t have to do nearly as much work,” Gehrs points out, “they only have to come in and make decisions,” a feature working and out-of-town couples especially appreciate.

Circle S Ranch, photo courtesy of Circle S Ranch

Just north of Douglas County within the trademark rolling hills of northeast Kansas, Circle S Ranch owner Mary Cronemeyer has found a similar trend with brides and grooms.

Circle S Ranch, a working ranch with event space and a full 12-room bed and breakfast, has been sending newlyweds off for 17 years. Another indoor/outdoor, all-inclusive option, Circle S Ranch offers dreamlike natural charm and more to couples for their big day.

For a majority of the 25 to 35 weddings Cronemeyer and her team oversee every year, the wedding party will choose to make a weekend out of it. With enough space to sleep well over 25 guests, festivities usually begin the day before the wedding, as the bride and groom, and their families and close friends arrive. They may spend the day decorating the party barn—an immaculate and charming open space for 200 across the parking lot from the bed and breakfast. Or they may choose to decorate for the ceremony—an open outdoor space down a short, scenic trail from the bed and breakfast, complete with a wooden canopy and benches made from fallen trees on the property. They also have the option to do nothing at all but hike, soak in the hot tub, ride one of the horses on the property or simply stroll around in search of one of the many buffalo roaming the rolling pastures.

A s’mores bar, with nearly every topping imaginable, by bonfire caps off the first night, as guests enjoy the last hours of relaxation before the wedding day.

The bride is given run of the third floor of the bed and breakfast the day of the wedding to get dressed with her entourage, with the honeymoon suite privately tucked away upstairs for the bride and groom to share that night.

“Many brides and grooms like to do a ‘first look’ before the ceremony,” Cronemeyer adds. The couple get to see each other privately before the ceremony, often with a photographer catching their first glimpses and followed by wedding party photos. This allows the newlywed couple to join their guests at the reception immediately after the ceremony rather than waiting until after the ceremony to take photos.

All food and drink are catered in-house, freshly made by hand in the kitchen and accommodating of specialized diets or family traditions. Depending on the season, fresh fruits and vegetables may be served straight out of Cronemeyer’s garden.

Overnight guests may be treated to one last brunch before taking off the next day, or they may choose to extend the stay for one more day of unwinding.

“We see a lot of out-of-town couples from the coasts who went to KU,” Cronemeyer adds, “and the wedding weekend becomes a college reunion in a lot of ways.”

Castle Tea Room, photo courtesy of Jerry Wang

Back in downtown Lawrence, Castle Tea Room Executive Director Lindsay Ibarra has seen similar trends.

“Castle Tea Room has always been a centerpiece for special events,” Ibarra states of the 120-year-old historic castle. “People choose the Castle Tea Room to be uniquely Lawrence, with many of our couples being KU students and alum.”

“The Castle,” as it was originally called when Civil War veteran John N. Roberts built the stately mansion for his wife and daughter in 1894, sits prominently at 1307 Massachusetts St., just down the hill from the KU campus.

The home was designed for entertainment from the very beginning, hosting countless parties and events for well over a century. Careful restoration has allowed the home to retain its original wood flooring, ornate wood carvings and stained glass, sending guests back in time as they stroll through from room to room.

Outside, the grounds are impeccably maintained, with a large canopy set up in the courtyard for special events, facilitating both covered and uncovered ceremonies and receptions.

Roughly 80% of the wedding celebrations at Castle Tea Room include both the ceremony and reception, with a mix of couples choosing to have one facet or the other indoors or outdoors. The rental fee includes tables, chairs, linens and setup; a full kitchen is available for outside caterers, but the facility itself does not offer catering services.

In an era where couples feel more and more pressure to pull off a completely unique wedding (as long as it matches everything seen on Pinterest), this 501(c)3-registered historic mansion offers something pretty special in a hometown that is a hotbed for ravishing weddings of all kinds.