Magnolia Venue & Urban Garden

ready space upstairs was absolutely fantastic. The downtown location is so convenient. We were able to stock our own bar, and able to book our own caterer - which were big money savers! For looks and venue space 5/5. Where the 3/5 comes from is overall organization from the venue managers throughout the process. Initially we were told it was open catering - and after we signed the contract and provided the licensed and insured caterer that we wanted we kept getting roadblocks from venue saying the caterer didn’t have the correct certifications. When asking for clarity on what specific certificates/documentation the venue wanted they couldn’t provide an example. Eventually they let us use our caterer - but it was a headache during the process. The other part is our final walkthrough got rescheduled the week of - which isn’t as big of a deal as things happen. However, when we did have the rescheduled final walkthrough there were small things that were missed. Leading up to the week of our wedding we were asked to bring our own tables for the prep room for our caterer as our layout used all of their available tables - we had solidified the layout at the final walkthrough so why this wasn’t addressed then, I don’t know. Also, the wrong color napkins were provided on our wedding day - a small detail but as we were paying for each napkin I would have liked them to be the color I specified. Finally, on the day of our wedding as we were bringing in the alcohol and placing it on the bartop (where we were told it was supposed to go) - I was told by one of the managers to move it behind the bar as they were showing the venue to a couple that morning. As I was paying thousands of dollars for this event space, I was a little put off that we had to alter how we were starting our day so that they could show the space. I feel like paying that amount of money should ensure that the venue is ours and ours only for that day. Overall, I would definitely book them again. Just make sure you are very organized and on top of things as we did encounter some hiccups.

shoutout to Ava, my coordinator, who was a total rockstar! Her attention to detail and support throughout the entire process (especially the day of) made everything seamless. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. ❤️

he day of our wedding to ensure that our ceremony went through smoothly.

- which was perfect cause it was just a little bit hot that day. Reception area was large and beautiful. It needs very little decor as it is pretty enough with the exposed brick and chandeliers.

list. This was provided to us very early on in the planning process. Mapping out and securing vendors can be overwhelming but knowing that Deb and her team has experience is very helpful. We picked nearly every vendor from their list and were not disappointed at one step along the way. Another thing that Deb and Team provided was access to PlanningPod AND AislePlanner. Once we secured our contracts, we simply uploaded them and then Morgan helped facilitate day-of coordination with each vendor based on our contracts. It was a huge relief to know that they had our backs and were looking out for our best interests. We decided to utilize a ‘Partial Planning’ service. This was a life saver and completely invaluable. We couldn’t have done this without this service! The team went above and beyond the description of their service on their website and any expectation that we had! This was worth every penny! You will NOT regret this service! The venue décor rental was simply amazing! Again, being out of town, this service made the entire experience so much easier! Another invaluable service regardless of your location. We used several items that were available to us from the chargers to the tables, chairs, cake stand, vases, table numbers, tablecloths/coverings, you name it they had it AND had several options! Words truly can’t do justice to what Morgan did for us! She went above and beyond every single thing that we could’ve imagined, and we can’t thank her enough. Her communication skills are outstanding. She has a wonderful, calming presence that truly makes you feel like “she has it”. There wasn’t a single thing that I worried about on the day of the wedding. This was 100% because of Morgan. She did an excellent job of keeping the flow (and the talent she has to make it seem so natural and not rushed was beyond appreciated). She allowed us to enjoy moments rather than feel rushed. Not to mention everything she did the year prior to the wedding! She answered every single one of my questions (and timely) even when I’m sure I was annoying for asking so many questions, she never made me feel like I was being obnoxious; she continued to be helpful, welcoming and friendly. Last and defiantly not least, the florals. I tossed out several ideas/pictures at Deb through AislePlanner and she made it a reality! In fact, it was better than what I had imagined! Deb even let me add on two flower crowns for our flower girls, last minute, without it being an issue! I also really appreciated that she allowed me to “multi-purpose” the flowers – For example, she took the floral arrangement from the outside arbor and moved it inside to our head table. Additionally, she took small pieces from the arbor and added them to each of the guest tables. She had several great ideas on how to get the most value out of the service and florals! Like I said at the beginning, I could go on for several reviews but simply put, this was the best (and easiest) decision that we made, and you won’t regret it either! If you’re looking for a Venue, Planning Service and/or Florals, DO NOT LOOK ANY FURTHER! The outcome of EVERYTHING was beyond our expectations and we can’t say thank you enough to everyone from Magnolia (and Whitebird) that made our special day even more special.

say about Magnolia, Deb and Morgan; I could go on forever. If you’re looking for a Venue, Planning Service, Floral, Décor Rental, you name it, Deb and Team have it! Don’t look any further, you will NOT be disappointed in choosing Magnolia (and Whitebird Events). From the first interaction to the last, this team was beyond outstanding, supportive, understanding, calm and professional (listing a few even though there’s countless more). Being an out-of-town bride is complicated and stressful in and of itself. However, trusting in Deb and Morgan was the best decision that we could’ve made. From the first look of the venue to the first interaction, we knew that Magnolia was the right decision for us. Deb and Morgan were upfront, open and honest from the get-go regarding pricing and processes. There was never any cost left to the imagination – which was highly appreciated! I am a natural Planner so anything unexpected can cause stress; this was NEVER the case with this team. The venue itself is beautiful; words cannot do it justice. We decided to take advantage of the recently renovated upstairs rooms … just as beautiful as the downstairs space!! I would highly recommend for a getting ready area (we decided to use our hotel, which was great but this would’ve been even better!). There are multiple windows that are wide open with natural light overlooking the River Market. We decided to have our ceremony outside … what a great decision! Large enough for all of our guests but intimate enough to not feel overwhelmed by the space. At first I was nervous with the location being so close to the highway, but it was not an issue at all. There wasn’t a single moment where you could hear the traffic on the side street(s) let alone the highway. If it’s a doubt for you, don’t let it be! It was not a problem at all. Many of our guests commented on how quiet the area was and how well the space picked up the acoustics in the ‘garden’. Morgan watched the weather for us (for many days prior, I’m sure) and unfortunately, it was supposed to rain the day of. With that said, Morgan provided plenty of excellent options in the case that it did rain. We were fortunate enough that the rain held off until dinner was over, but it was definitely reassuring that Morgan was there with options in the case that it did rain! Her presence and assurance took away any stress out of the weather situation. I can’t tell you how many compliments we received from not only our guests regarding the venue BUT the countless compliments and well words from all kinds of people around Kansas City. Everyone we came into contact with OR worked with knew “Magnolia” and had nothing but compliments and outstanding words. This was completely reassuring that we made the right decision and without a doubt, we made the best decision to have our wedding ceremony and reception at Magnolia! We decided to utilize a ‘Partial Planning’ service … let me tell you, this was a life saver and completely invaluable. We couldn’t have done this without this service! The team went above and beyond the description of their service on their website and any expectation that we had! This was worth every penny! You will NOT regret this service!! Continue with review #2

r my husband and I to get married. The flexibility of being able to choose most of your vendors was great and my wedding day could not have turned out more perfect! 1000000% would recommend!

including M’khila, go above and beyond their duties to take care of their guests! Such a great experience and I am so grateful and appreciative of these amazing people!

eam. From the first time I met Deb at our tour, I could tell she was awesome at her job and really cared about making sure her venue was a good fit. M'Khila was the planner I worked with after the contracting process. She was SO helpful in keeping me in the loop on the city's COVID restrictions and was extremely patient with me being super type-A and needy, answering my 100s of emails and planning a wedding from out of state. Definitely add the planning package - it was a lifesaver! Day of, both Deb and M'Khila were there all day helping my vendors set and drop off. I literally didn't even worry about a thing. They kept us on time and handled literally everything. They even coordinated with all vendors beforehand so I wasn't answering 100 emails a day leading up to wedding day. Next - the venue itself. When I tell you it photographs even prettier than it looks in person - I mean it! I was blown away at the pictures I got from everyone. Both the garden and reception space are breathtaking! I received so many compliments from guests saying it was the most beautiful wedding venue they'll ever been to. The venue's decor was BEAUTIFUL! I used the wooden chargers, the garden flowers, the chairs, tables, flower wall, the bar, candles - all of which were the venue's! I really didn't need much additional decor/floral to make the space exactly how I wanted! Also, use their vendor list. I picked almost all my vendors from their preferred list and loved each and every one. In conclusion - BOOK THIS VENUE! You will not be sorry. I was absolutely blown away at how amazing everything looked and went. It was truly my dream wedding and I owe most of it to Deb, M'Khila and the whole Magnolia and Whitebird Events team. Thank you guys - it was the best day of my life!

ind during all our meetings and emails (even when I was getting frustrated). M’Khila, also did our signage for our wedding that we got to take home and it was amazing (@mikkscript -Instagram) She made sure to have everything in line and was there by my side during wedding day! The venue is to die for! It is so beautiful and clean and is set in a amazing location in the city! We couldn’t image having our wedding anywhere else! The team at magnolia is great and so fun! My flowers were exactly what I wanted and I wouldn’t change a thing about the day! Magnolia will be there to help you along the way with everything!

Deb (the owner) we knew right away that it was the venue for us. Right when you walk in it is warm and inviting, with the beautiful crystal chandeliers throughout and mix of industrial brick. We quickly booked, and Deb met with us shortly after that, despite being over a year and a half away, and started to help us with the overwhelming process of planning our wedding. It was then that she offered her and her team, High Cotton Events, wedding planning services. After hearing what all that entailed and seeing some of their previous beautifully decorated and executed weddings, we decided to do the full planning experience. We are so glad that we did because Deb and her team were invaluable throughout the wedding planning process. Deb and M’Khila (our wedding planner) helped us figure out some of the larger decisions, all the while reassuring us when we didn’t know what to do. We found that instead of being handed a list of who our vendors would be, we were able to bring in vendors and they gave us options of great vendors that they had worked with in the past that met our particular style. Deb then offered her florist services, and the results were a romantic dream. Throughout the process we learned that their team did more than just the planning, setup, breakdown, decorating, and so on- they also gave us the peace of mind to just live in the moment of our day. A week before the wedding when I was starting to feel overwhelmed with jobs I had “given myself”, M’Khila (despite having multiple events and moving) took care of wedding favors, place settings, and a ring bearer sign, without even asking. Our ceremony was held outside in a heated tent that was straight out of my dreams with greenery draped throughout, twinkling fairy lights, flickering candles, and evergreen trees. It was truly magical. My reception was everything I asked for (and believe me I asked a lot) with beautiful jewel tones, glowing crystal, romantic flowers (done by Deb), and greenery throughout the space. The outcome was just stunning. I was so thankful that I was able to enjoy the time with my family, the laughter with my friends and the love that I shared with my husband on that day. I would recommend this beautiful venue and the amazing wedding planner team to create the most important day of your life. You won’t regret it.

d inviting and classic with striking details like the gorgeous art deco crystal chandeliers throughout, tall windows for panoramic views, and warm wood floors. It is a perfect mix of industrial and classic elegance. The option of long family style seating was what we immediately were drawn to; we wanted our guests to feel at ease talking to everyone and create a feeling of comfort for everyone. The space gives you that feeling as it is, décor only amplifies it. Our ceremony was held outside inside a tent that can only be described as a wonderland garden with greenery draped throughout and a floral chandelier centerpiece highlighted with twinkle lights. Absolutely magical. Beyond the space, the team are professional and dedicated to you. They take pride in creating not only a beautiful space, but an environment and feel you will always remember. I had the pleasure of this team’s assistance in planning our wedding – an expense I can say was absolutely invaluable. I was told all along in planning that your vendors, the best vendors, make your event what it is. I can echo how true this is as hiring the team at Magnolia gave us more than just setup, breakdown, planning, seating, decorating, etc. (all of which they do impeccably), they gave us a carefree perfectly orchestrated day. I would recommend this space and all it has to offer with zero hesitations!

her team made sure we had all the details that I wouldn't have even thought of nailed down. They made the day run so smoothly! The decor that we had access to through the partial planning package was 100% worth it - not to mention the help getting vendors confirmed ahead of the event. I'd highly recommend Magnolia to any bride!!

and was able to accommodate everything I had envisioned. I wish I could get married there again and again!

venue was beautiful and we received compliments the night and the reception and beyond! Would definitely recommend the venue and utilizing Deborah’s wedding planning and floral expertise.

on inventory is huge! I couldn't image getting married anywhere else! The staff is so kind and they are all SO helpful! They are professional yet feel like a friend is helping you plan your special day! This venue is amazing!

s. The decor you get to choose from is beautiful, and it keeps you from having a bunch of left over stuff after the wedding. They handled everything the day of: vendors, set up and tear down, storing our gifts until the following day when I could come back, you name it they did it. We had the most perfect day and they had a huge part in that!

we looked at and we knew we needed to be there! Words don’t do it justice. We got married in the outside garden with an indoor reception and it was perfect. For the past year, the owner Deb has been amazing and answered all of my questions. Sarah and M’Kiah were also my right hand leading to the big day and handled all the details. What I love most? Rectangle tables and the space can host large weddings (we had 240!) Oh and it’s one of the few venues left that you can bring all outside vendors, saves you a ton of money!!!

eel huge but it is not "too big." I could not have imagined my wedding to be anywhere else. I used Deb and the Magnolia Team and it was such a great decision. They worked with me by having the meetings over facetime since it was hard for me to make it down town. They made sure everything was in its place and ran the rehearsal and made sure the wedding ran smooth too! They coordinated with all my vendors and gave me such great advice throughout the whole process. Everything ended up perfectly, I am so grateful!

tion was unorganized and disheveled, but as the wedding approached, this got significantly better. Sarah was a true God-send--she was on top of EVERYTHING and put our minds at ease with some of our concerns. Both Deb and Sarah made the wedding day absolutely PERFECT. We did not have to worry about a thing, and we got SO MANY compliments on the venue. It is truly beautiful, and their simple-yet-elegant decor is just stunning. Great experience overall!

in terms of decor and style - we just shared our vision and vibes and Deb's team took it and ran with it to make our day PERFECT! They took care of everything from start to finish. Easy to work with and always doing it with a smile on their face. Forever grateful to Deb and her amazing team!

g us find vendors and get ready for the day. Highly recommend hiring them for planning needs as well.

rs was the perfect combo for my boho/city girl wedding. Being a Gemini, I have always had two sides to my personality. One being my boho free spirit and the other being my inner NYC city chick. Magnolia was able to satisfy both sides of my personality and so much more! Deb was so amazing to work with and made my day absolutely perfect. I was the first in my family to get married so I was taken back a bit about the disconnect with her after I booked my venue. Once I realized how busy she was with 1-2 weddings every week, I quickly found out my communication regarding the venue was not needed until much closer to the wedding. So if she seems like she isn't getting back to you, do not fret, she did not forget! She just probably has 4 weddings coming up before yours! Overall, I had such an amazing experience with Magnolia. They made day an absolute dream and everything was perfect!

quite make it worth it.

ver again how beautiful the space was, and working with Deb, Sarah, and M'Kila was a treat. We are very thankful!

e services provided by Deb and her team, they decorated the venue for us and I loved every detail! Sarah was extremely helpful answering all my last minute questions leading up to the day. All my guests raved about the beautiful venue and how smooth the whole day went! Thank you so much!

orations! We had our wedding in the middle of January and with big changes because of the weather, Deborah never let me worry that our day was going to perfect! We were so happy with all of the decor that the team provided. It made the planning process that much simpler! I have had so many compliments on the flower wall from our ceremony along with many other small details such as the wooden chargers and head table. I highly recommend putting your special days in the hands of the Magnolia Team!

andeliers, and lights. We booked the venue for both the ceremony and reception. We had originally planned to do the ceremony outside in the garden, but due to freezing weather it was held inside and then the room was flipped. We worked with the Magnolia team for our planning services and rental as well. Deb and her team were so awesome to work with. I told Deb at our first meeting that I just wanted to show up to the wedding and not have to worry about a lot of the planning and that is exactly what happened. Communicating with Deb via email and phone was so easy. Deb was so professional the whole time. She even came to help with everything the day of the wedding even though she wasn't feeling well just because I hadn't met her assistant before and she didn't want me to feel like she abandoned me. She really went above and beyond for us and we couldn't have asked for a better wedding planner, event space, or wedding in general.

n the outside garden. The place looked amazing when it was decorated. My daughter was thrilled to have the wedding of her dreams. Of course, with planning an outdoor ceremony, you never know about the weather. Deb came through for us and got us a tent a few days before the wedding that absolutely saved the day. My daughter wanted to walk down the aisle rain or shine. Deb and her team were helpful throughout the planning process and Deb was there the day of the wedding helping getting everything ready. Truly a beautiful place to have a wedding.

furniture and not to mention the outside garden. The place looked amazing when it was decorated. My daughter was thrilled to have the wedding of her dreams. Of course, with planning an outdoor ceremony, you never know about the weather. Deb came through for us and got us a tent a few days before the wedding that absolutely saved the day. My daughter wanted to walk down the aisle rain or shine. Deb and her team were helpful throughout the planning process and Deb was there the day of the wedding helping getting everything ready. Truly a beautiful place to have a wedding.

ption. Staff had great communication with us throughout the whole process and I couldn’t be happier with how everything turned out! They also offer beautiful rentals for reasonable prices. Would definitely recommend Magnolia Venue & Urban Garden!

eat to work with despite having much more urgent priorities I'm sure! I probably emailed a thousand questions during the 2-year period, but everyone we worked with was very responsive and took the time to answer any questions we have had. The space is beautiful as-is, but it's also a good blank canvas to suit just about any style of wedding. Plus, you truly can't beat the location and convenience of the decor inventory and BYO vendor policy. We are so glad to have found Magnolia!

if you want to choose your own caterer, bar, etc. I highly recommend hiring Deb and her team for helping with the planning process. She worked hard to answer all of my questions, coordinate the vendors, keep us running on schedule, and set up the most beautiful table settings, and she did an absolutely AMAZING job!

elt like we were cast to the side a little in regard to customer service (only reason for the 4/5 stars). Overall amazing venue and was perfect for what we envisioned our day to be! They even gifted us the hanging floral piece and the head table chairs!

utely everything we needed. All of our guests commented on how amazing the space was. Deborah provided the tables, chairs, linens, centerpieces, flower wall, floral chandelier, and china. With all of these things taken care of, the day was completely stress-free. We couldn't have been happier!!

et was not large enough for a planner or extras. Would recommend.

n garden but due to weather complications had to move inside week of. Deborah and the Magnolia team helped us navigate all the details and make sure we felt very comfortable with the new arrangement, putting my wife and I at peace that the day would still be amazing. This space is wonderfully located in the city and all of our out of town guests loved being close to many great KC spots for before and after. Only semi-negative note would be that we had a difficult time with communication in the planning process. My wife and I are based in NY and thus had to plan much of this from afar, so communication shortcomings became difficult quickly. The communication was much better in two weeks leading up to the ceremony itself, but prior to that it would at times get strenuous. Regardless, would definitely recommend!

and can easily stand on its own or be built upon with your decor! Magnolia also has rentals (decor, plates/utensils, etc.) you can utilize which is super helpful! An absolute win all around and was perfect for our wedding day!

d work with Deb, it makes it 10x better. She is so easy to work with and is truly there to make your experience as smooth as possible. All of the things I was worried about during the planning process, she had already taken care of! I had no doubt or worry that her responsibilities would be taken care of and would be done to perfection. From making sure decorations were taken care of, to coordinating with vendors, to making sure the bridal party was where they needed to be -- she had it all under control. DO NOT HESITATE to choose Magnolia. You will not regret it!

e it numerous times. They went out of their way to make sure our day was special. She was super patient with me, and I'm sure I was frustrating at times . They went above and beyond even helping us with the decor, giving advice and letting us in early. Thank you for bottle of Champagne that was extra special! Love, love love you all!

ng down chargers and napkins since they were running out of time. We were so surprised with the gift of the head chairs, it made the event more special. Thank you!! Completely unexpected. Our coordinator loved our rentals being at the venue right when we came in so they could hit the ground running. Everything was amazing and we appreciated the hands on approach and communication through each step. They went above and beyond.

absolutely beautiful. They also let us in early to get set up and didn’t charge us. Everyone has been responsive and the day went perfect. They even helped our parents unload their cars. I would recommend. Thanks to everyone!

, solidified our date and started planning. Deborah's eye for design is spot on with current trends- and her space reflects that. However... BOTH times we met with Deborah before our final meeting didn't go as planned. With the first meeting, my mom, mother in law and I were standing outside the venue, in the freezing temps with no sign of Deborah. It wasn't until my mom called her, that she said anything about not making our appointment. She told a very long, detailed story about losing her phone and not being able to get in touch with us to tell us she'd be late. I get it... but it didn't seem genuine. On our next meeting, she was half an hour late.. and didn't text me to tell me until the time of our meeting. At our third and final meeting (days before the wedding) she told us she had to raise the price (that we already agreed and had invoices for) on a backdrop rental we were using of hers. Someone at a previous wedding spilled red wine on it, and to get new materials, she'd have to charge US extra money. When we asked her to clarify since it wasn't our doing, she said "That's just what has to happen." I was so angry- she offered no solutions. I had to get up and leave the table because she quit talking and just poured into her phone-- which she did at EACH meeting. She was way more interested in being on her phone instead of interacting with those who rented her space and had questions. After talking with my AMAZING coordinator (who wasn't booked through the venue... and we think Deborah was salty about that) Deborah all of a sudden said her supplier for the materials magically happened to email her right then and there, saying she could keep the price for our rental the same and that she could get materials shipped to her before the wedding. It didn't add up, and seemed a little dishonest. The venue is BEAUTIFUL. Our staff we hired for the whole night had no problems in the venue. Our guests raved about the space. We had a gorgeous wedding and I would recommend the space. With that being said, keep ALL of your documentation and double/triple check appointment times with Deborah before each meeting.

nds and planning including discussing vendor decisions. She went above and beyond helping us decide what decor to choose.