Willows Bend

2441 E 141St St, Carbondale, KS

About This Vendor

Lakeside Venue

Words to describe the scenery and view would be a stunning lake view on the waters edge, tranquil, secluded, peaceful and breath taking. Words to describe the venue itself, modern rustic charm with beauty and elegance, spacious, inviting with a unique twist that involves a wedding bell, wishing well and a windmill. The property entrance itself is call "Field of Dreams". One of our favorite quotes that ties everything together is "Your Field of Dreams Begins on the Water Edge at Willows Bend." There are very elegant stairs that lead up to a fully contained bridal suite with a balcony overlooking the entire seating and dining area. Willows Bend has one of the largest seating capacities in the area and can comfortably seat 325 guests.

Amenities + Details

Ceremony Area

Covered Outdoors Space

Dressing Room

Handicap Accessible

Indoor Event Space

Liability Insurance

On-Site Accommodations

Outdoor Event Space

Reception Area

Wireless Internet

Ceremony Types

Commitment Ceremony, Interfaith Ceremony, Non-Religious Ceremony, Religious Ceremony, Second Wedding , Vow Renewal Ceremony

Guest Capacity

300+

Settings

Ballroom, Barn, Farm & Ranch, Beach, Waterfront, Loft, Park, Trees

Venue Service Offerings

Bar & Drinks, Destination Weddings, Destination Wedding Planning, Food & Catering, Planning, Wedding Design, Transportation, Shuttle Service

Awards and Affiliations

Pricing for Willows Bend

Browse Willows Bend's pricing PDF for sample services and estimates.

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Willows Bend Reviews

4.8 out of 5.0

12 reviews

5 Star

92%

4 Star

3 Star

2 Star

1 Star

Reviewed On 6/18/2019 by Deb S

Amazing! The entire wedding was simply amazing. My son and daughter-in-law had the most beautiful wedding. Not only was the wedding and venue stunning, The whole day was a blast! Jim and Michelle have done a great job in building this venue. ...

They were very helpful, giving us ideas yet being flexible enough to let the bride and groom express their own personalities. The rehearsal dinner was fun, the wedding day was stress free, the ceremony was heartfelt and beautiful with the stunning backdrop of the lake. Then the dinner, reception, and dance were so fun. My kids could not have asked for a better venue. And oh my, their pictures are breathtaking!

Reviewed On 12/03/2022 by Cherilyn L

We fell in love with Willows Bend from the first moment we walked in the doors! The options for photography, the collaborative efforts of the owners with their vendors, the communication of the owners with us were all exactly what we were look...

ing for. Know your expectations as well as the owners’ as you would with any major venue, and you’ll have a beautiful experience! Yes, there are some minor restrictions with Willows Bend, but nothing that was unreasonable. We talked thru these and came up with alternatives that were just as cool as what we had initially thought of doing. We would absolutely highly recommend Willows Bend to brides of any background and any age!

Response from the Vendor on 12/05/2022

Cherilyn, thank you so much for your kind words because we really do work hard for each and every wedding and it is truly our pleasure. We hope to see you again sometime soon and you are always welcomed back. Thanks again, Jim & Michele Shively

Reviewed On 9/17/2022 by Abigail G

This place and staff made our dream wedding come to life. Jim Michele and Aaron work like a team to take so much day of stress off the bride and groom and their families. I would pick them a hundred times over!

Response from the Vendor on 09/18/2022

Abby, thank you so much for allowing Willows Bend to share your absolutely amazing day. The pleasure was truly all ours and we hope to see you again sometime soon at another wedding. Jim & Michele Shively

Any questions?

Reviewed On 8/07/2021 by Brianna S

Jim &Michelle thank you for everything you did for us! Your venue is so beautiful and you guys were very helpful throughout the pandemic and keeping in touch. We had such a wonderful wedding! May the force be with you Brianna & Nik

Response from the Vendor on 08/08/2021

Brianna, you and Nick had one of the coolest Star Wars weddings that we could’ve ever dreamed of! Pleasure it was, Yoda out!!!

Reviewed On 6/09/2021 by Tricia D

Where do I even start? Jim and Michelle went over and beyond to provide and support us in any way needed to help us have the most beautiful wedding ever. They are wonderful, kind, and very honest people. The venue is beautiful, the DJ ( Aaro...

n) did an excellent job. The firework display Jim put on was out of this world. Jim and Michelle are very professional. If your looking for a venue, I would strongly suggest Willows Bend. A top of the line venue. Thank you so much Jim and Michelle.

Response from the Vendor on 06/09/2021

Tricia, thank you so much for your kind words. It was truly our pleasure and honor to have shared such a beautiful day with friends and family. Morgan is a true treasure and Trent is such a Great additional to your family we just Loved being a ...

part of it. You were our first booking back in 2018 when there was nothing but grass & trees and you believed in what were doing and then to become wedding# 100 was so special. Thanks again and we hope to see you soon !!!!

Reviewed On 6/08/2021 by John & Connie D

Just attended a wedding at this gorgeous venue. It's in a neat setting by a pretty lake, with well kept grounds with lots of trees, out in the country. The ceremony was outside with benches, facing the lake for guests and a Gazebo for the wed...

ding party. Probably the most well organized, fun wedding I've ever attended.

Response from the Vendor on 06/09/2021

John & Connie, thank you so much for you kind words. Michele and I work very hard with each and every bridal party to help plan their day so that everything goes as planned as well as stress free. We feel a wedding is all about memories and mom...

ents and as you can see there are things we do to help create those memories. Thanks again and we hope to see you again some day. Jim & Michele Shively

Reviewed On 5/02/2021 by Alex H

Willow’s Bend helped provide us with the perfect wedding. Jim and Michelle were incredible and helped make the entire night perfect with their personal help and gorgeous venue. From an amazing fog machine, and incredible lighting, to the perfec...

t sound system setup and outdoor setup, this place has it all. We were even lucky enough for fireworks on a great weathered day. There’s nothing that slips through the cracks and they go over every single little item to make sure the wedding is in good hands and accounted for. I couldn’t recommend this place any stronger if you’re needing a location for a wedding. Don’t forget to add the fireworks option, worth every penny to add that special something extra! The hand built venue has everything you need and then some, and is a gorgeous lakeside location. Stop looking, because you’ve found your dream venue!

Response from the Vendor on 05/03/2021

Alex & Karly, the pleasure was all ours and what a beautiful wedding it was !!! The way you had Mary decorate and then by adding those personal touches for the center pieces was absolutely stunning. Guys, thank you so much for allowing Willows...

Bend to be apart of such a Special Day !!!

Reviewed On 3/08/2021 by Cameron G

Willows Bend is absolutely perfect. The owners, Jim and Michele Shively, are amazing and help you with everything. They went above and beyond to create a magical day for my husband and I. Everything turned out better than I could ever imagine i...

Response from the Vendor on 03/08/2021

Cameron & Josh, The pleasure was all ours and our goal is as always for you to get more than you had hoped for. We know both of you have such a bright future ahead of you we were just glad to be a part of it! Thanks again and we look forward to...

seeing you again soon. Jim & Michele Shively

Reviewed On 12/14/2020 by Jane C

Willows Bend this place is beyond beautiful. My daughters wedding was amazing. If you are looking for a stress free day this venue is perfect. The owners Michelle & Jim are fantastic. We have heard so many compliments about how stunning it is. ...

I highly recommend Willows Bend!

Response from the Vendor on 12/14/2020

Jane, thank you so much for your kind review. It was definitely our pleasure and may I say what a joyous time it was spending time with all of you. Have a Very Merry Christmas and stay safe. Thanks again for choosing Willows Bend for this Oh So...

Special Day !!! Jim & Michele Shively

Reviewed On 11/25/2020 by Kimbra H

I regret not writing this sooner, but my daughter was married at Willows Bend August 1, 2020. Willows Bend and the owners Jim and Michele Shively met with us frequently, responded quickly to our questions, and accommodated every need. It was ...

such a perfect day. A beautiful venue for the wedding by the lake, the stunning reception space, and ended with a spectacular fireworks show. An absolutely perfect setup for a fairytale wedding. Our guests stayed to the end and enjoyed every minute. My husband and I enjoyed working with the Shively's and now consider them as friends. I am so pleased we chose Willows Bend, as I know my daughter and son-in-law will relive those priceless memories forever.

Response from the Vendor on 11/25/2020

Kimbra, thank you so much for you kind words as well as taking the time to explain how we go above and beyond to ensure the BEST we can that our Brides & Grooms days go as planned. Our goal is to make every wedding a fairytale wedding and it ap...

pears we accomplished that and fills our hearts with Joy. Michele and I TRULY appreciate you and al the joy you have brought us. Be Safe & Happy Holidays !!!

Reviewed On 6/24/2020 by Mikala P

I just had my fairytale wedding at Willows Bend and I'm still on Cloud 9!!! This was actually the only venue we looked at because it just felt perfect from the get go! It is just unbelievably gorgeous with the most beautiful setting. Jim and Mi...

chele are so fun to work with, they helped everything run smoothly, and they truly cared about my husband and I and OUR wishes for our wedding. They took so much stress off my shoulders, were quick to answer my hundreds of questions, and made me feel SO special! They've thought out everything so carefully! The bridal suite was PERFECT for my eight bridesmaids and me to get ready in, the ceremony and reception set-up is exactly what I had envisioned, they allow outside catering, and the beverage packages are very reasonable! I loved my Friday wedding, as I was able to rent the venue out on Thursday for 6 hours to decorate and hold our rehearsal. Honestly, we didn't have to do much decorating because the venue is already so elegant! My wedding was my absolute dream and it had so much to do with this venue. I've gotten HUNDREDS of compliments on the venue from our guests! I 110% recommend Willows Bend!

Reviewed On 6/12/2019 by Heather L

The venue is so amazing. It is beautiful on the inside and out. The bridal suite is absolutely gorgeous. However, the grooms room is basically unusable. The owners were extremely rude to me and the only thing that was stressful my wedding day w...

ould have been the owners. 2 out of my 5 vendors told me they will not go back. Since this is a brand new place hopefully the owners will learn (I was the third wedding) but as of right now, My pictures and everything will be beautiful but it would have been a stress free day somewhere else I believe. Sad to say and I hope things change for future brides

Contact Info for Willows Bend

2441 E 141St St, Carbondale, KS

Meet the Team

Jim & Michele Shively

Owner

We are very passionate about the venue and have thought of everything to make your wedding day very special. The property the venue sets on has been in the family since 1876. The venue sets on a bend of a 300 acre lake and you will get married just yards away from the waters edge. We wanted to share our tranquil setting with couples and so we decided to build a wedding venue to share our beautiful setting with couples.

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Starting Cost: $$ – Affordable

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