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!

You are officially on the final stretch with roughly 30 days out from your big day! After months (or even years!) of planning, every details you have thought about and decision you have made is about to come into fruition. The venue final walk through will be the last time you are onsite before your rehearsal or wedding day. This is the time to ask any final questions and clarify last minute details. Your venue will also have a plethora of details to discuss, so use this as a guide so you can know what to expect.

Samantha and Jared thoughtfully planned each and every detail of their romantic summer wedding, down to the vows they said at the altar. Their neutral color palette brought their classy and organic vision to life. With mismatched bridesmaid dresses and greenery dawned place settings, this summer affair was perfectly planned and seamlessly executed.

When making a list of everyone you want in your wedding party, drawing the line is crazy hard. You have BFFs from the first grade, gal pals you bonded with in Chem 101 and sorority sisters you can’t NOT have in your bridal party. Not to mention your future sister-in-laws, your brother’s long time girlfriend and the cousin you grew up with! Check out these four head table styles that can host large wedding parties while meshing well with your wedding design!

Are you starting to think about getting engagement photos? Use this step-by-step guide to help you through the process of who to hire, what to wear and what to expect! The point of engagement photos is to ENJOY them and get comfortable with your soon-to-be wedding photographer.

What’s better than having onsite dressing suites to get ready on your wedding day? REMODELED onsite dressing suites! We are so excited to reveal The Magnolia Room and The Bradford Room. These newly Hawthorne House getting ready rooms are perfect to sip mimosas, play Mario Kart and take gorgeous photos with your wedding party.

The dance floor was PACKED, the drinks were flowing and every little detail had it’s own unique twist. After dating for 10 months, these two decided to spend together with each other and 17 months later said, “I do” in front of family and friends. Check out this gorgeous summer chapel wedding and traditional wedding affair!

Friday weddings are becoming the new hot thang. I know there are some doubters out there, so check out these three myths BUSTED about hosting your wedding on a Friday night!

Have you stopped scrolling when you see those gorgeous detail shots of invitation suites paired perfectly with an heirloom necklace and stunning bouquet? Yes, some of the photos are from styled shoots, but YOU can have your perfectly curated dreams come true too! Check out this list of items to bring to your wedding day and how to best prepare your photographer to bring your vision to life.

This floral filled spring wedding at Hawthorne House was filled with bright colors and a whole lot of smiles. Their vision of a unique wedding and fun day truly came to life. Check out Becca and Seth’s proposal story and great wedding planning tips for engaged couples!

Besides hotel room block contracts, catering quotes can be the most confusing contractual document while planning a wedding. We’ll decode the four key aspects you should look for when determining if a caterer is right for YOU!

Whether you choose to do a first look or not, the chance that you will take photos during cocktail hour is, like, 99.999%. So, what do guests do during the 45-75 minute break? Do one, two or all three of the tips below and you are guaranteed to have guests up and about just waiting to see what’s coming next.