When you send invitations you’ll include details on how you want guests to RSVP. Most couples choose to snag their RSVPs online to simplify the process, but mail in RSVPs are a great option too! However you decide to collect which guests are or are not coming you’ll want to highlight the due date for these RSVPs!

Alexa + Mark are HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS (so cute, right?!) that celebrated their stunning summer start to forever in the chapel! Their July soiree included their furry friends for photos on the porch, breathtaking green + white floral arrangements and a simple yet elegant vision that was perfect at Hawthorne House.

Are you getting ready to build your wedding reception layout at Hawthorne House? This guide will provide photos for a handful of our most popular head table locations as well as directions on what head table will work best depending on your guest count!

Susan + Loren had a gorgeous summer day to celebrate their nuptials held in the Hawthorne House Chapel! Their stunning reception was filled with laughter and friends- and of course, AlphaLit marquee letters :) Their goal was to have a magical + fun wedding day and boy oh boy is that what they got! Check out these fun photos by Elizabeth Ladean of Susan and Loren’s special day.

Our typical guest count is 100-300 guests which is a massive range. It seems wild that we would be able to host 100 guests without the room feeling empty and 300 guests without the room feeling cramped, but we have mastered the floorplan jig to ensure you and your guests are comfortable no matter how many loved ones attend the wedding. Use this as a guide to prepare for your walk through at Hawthorne House and as you start making decisions (such as floral!) that may revolve around the layout.

Emily + Will had brought their timeless wedding vision to life at Hawthorne House with an outdoor wedding and party no guest will forget! Their attention to detail throughout planning was impeccable and it shows in the relaxed getting ready photos- they truly thought of everything before the wedding day so that when the day came, they could simply enjoy it! This dreamy summer wedding started with the cutest proposal story and Emily leaves some golden nuggets for all you currently engaged couples on how to enjoy planning and bring the day of your dreams to life!

Bridal gown shopping can be mega stressful because there seem to be a lot of “rules” you’re supposed to follow. But to HECK with the rules- check out these myths BUSTED by Paige and prepare for what will become an enjoyable and….dare I say fun…..gown shopping experience.

It doesn’t take long to set up a hotel room block and CAN be a complicated process, but it doesn’t NEED to be! By reserving a room block, you are securing perks for both you and your guests. When you simply recommend a hotel, there are no perks but you also have no financial obligation! Use these guiding principles to help in the decision making process when comparing hotels and looking at contracts.

Whether you’re currently planning your Hawthorne House wedding and want to know some of the “typical” options to kick start planning or you’re looking at venues and want to know what a Hawthorne House wedding looks like, these statistics and ideas are a great place to start!

We are so excited to announce the release of an EXCLUSIVE Hawthorne House + Pretty & Planned package! This package includes everything a couple needs to have a flawless planning experience when they get #HitchedAtHawthorne and is at an unbeatable rate.

I could list a million amazing things about my wedding because, IT WAS MY WEDDING YO! Everyone’s wedding is their best day ever, and that’s why weddings are great! There are so many warnings, “don’ts” “do’s” or “what if’s” revolving around planning a wedding, so take this fun positive spin on advice for planning your big day.

Now everyone and their mom is asking you when you’re getting married. And where you’re getting married. And when you’re having kids. And what your social security number is. AND IT’S BEEN FIVE MINUTES.

Yep, yep, we’ve all been there. Hot dang your friends and family are excited for you, which is exciting! And scary. And overwhelming. So, how can you get ahead before you event start?

What is the first thing most engaged couples get for a gift or purchase for themselves? A wedding planning binder! I was pursuing the bookstore shortly after Wade proposed and found the perfect one.

The binder did guide you through what to do next because it had you document certain aspects of the planning journey. It simply didn’t stress a timeline or the “do nots”. It truly focused on the incredibly neat side of being engaged- exploring what “meeting in the middle” means to you and your partner, bonding with your soon to be in-laws when dress shopping, digging every cake tasting appointment and more!

Guest experience is a hot topic and one that should be top of mind when making most, if not all, wedding decisions. Having a seating chart can greatly enhance guest experience by giving your guests a purpose. From elaborate to simple and statement piece to a gorgeous accent, there are an endless number of seating chart options. Check out four of our absolute favs!

The hubs and I (Elizabeth) tied the knot in 2016. I was desk-bound during the planning process and got sucked into the Pinterest rabbit hole more often than I’d like to admit. 14 months after Wade popped the question we said, “I do” and it was the most perfect day, but trust me, there were plenty of learning lessons along the way. These five things I wish I knew before my wedding day are easily avoidable and some of them won’t dip into the $$$ at all!

Whether you’ve been engaged for five minutes or five months, taking a break from wedding planning can be soooooo needed. Maybe you’ve been married for five years and you want to try a new restaurant for a night out! Or maybe you’re like the hubs and I and go on a date night once a month and are looking for a new dig. Check out these five Kansas City date night hot spots that are sure to rock your taste buds and provide a grand ol’ time!

Have you ever attended a wedding and left that koozie because you already have 40 others? Ate enough cake so you don’t want to take home the little box of Hershey kisses? If you aren’t doing wedding favors simply because you’ve been that guest that left theirs at the table, then check out these five neat wedding favor ideas your guests will LOVE (and, bonus, most of them support local small businesses)!

Alright- this is a judgement free zone. If you don’t want to have a kid-friendly wedding, it’s your day and your choice! If you DO want to have a kid-friendly affair, we know that it can be hard to know how to cater to the little ones if you don’t yet have little ones!

These fun ideas are sure to keep the kiddos entertained throughout your wedding!

Kristen and Austin wanted a welcoming wedding with a hint of Southern charm and HOT DANG did they nail it. Their Friday June wedding had absolutely perfect weather for their outdoor ceremony and cocktail hour. The lawn was dawned with lounge furniture and modern touches while staying true to the timeless Hawthorne House feel.

If you’ve met me for longer than five seconds you know I have a DEEP love for Brancato’s. Of course one of the reasons is because of their stellar food, but they are my top choice for a wedding caterer because of their service. Catering can truly make or break a wedding day. You want a caterer who is going to bring extra flatware because they know some will get dropped. You want a caterer who will refresh a buffet before your guests even know anything was out! Most importantly, you want a caterer who will be transparent about pricing and flexible with building the menu you want. Check out these quick tips on what you should look out for in a caterer and what the experience is like!