1. Real Weddings

A Classic Art Deco Wedding at Hotel Phillips in Kansas City, Missouri

Katie Ware (25 and works in media sales) and Sean Lenz (31 and works in financial planning) met through mutual friends about five years before they st

Katie Ware (25 and works in media sales) and Sean Lenz (31 and works in financial planning) met through mutual friends about five years before they started dating. Sean proposed on a romantic, impromptu cruise vacation. “At our first destination, Progreso, Yucatan, we went to tour the Mayan Ruins,” Katie says. “It was 12-12-12 so we were so excited to tour the pyramids on the supposed date of the end of the world. Upon arrival we decided to break away from our tour group. I saw a pyramid no one was near and quickly rushed Sean to run up and take a photo with me at the top. Little did I know, I was setting him up for the ultimate proposal. As we got to the top, Sean dropped to one knee. I didn’t know what he was doing. He had planned the perfect speech, but says due to nerves he completely forgot. However, I thought it was absolutely perfect. I’m not sure I actually said, ‘Yes,’ but it was fairly obvious to all I accepted when I leaped into his arms.” The couple decided to get married at Hotel Phillips in Kansas City because they loved the gold, vintage-looking building, which matched their art deco theme perfectly. Katie and Sean spent their engagement picking up unique decor for their wedding from estate sales and antique shops. One of their favorite finds was a vintage ballroom dancing trophy, which they used for the cake topper. Using shades of white, black and gold, the couple had a neutral, chic color scheme to match their Old Hollywood theme. Katie is a celiac, and wanted a venue that could cater an entirely gluten-free menu, and Hotel Phillips definitely came through. During cocktail hour guests enjoyed herb and shallot rubbed Tuscan bread, mini quiche and mini crab cakes while the gentlemen took advantage of the custom cigar and humidor table. The white and gold wedding cake was even gluten free by Kansas City Cake Company. At the end of the night, the couple danced to an eclectic mix of classic Sinatra-swooners to modern hits, which was carefully prepared by close friend of the couple, DJ Mark Styles of Audio Jack Entertainment.

Gold Engagement Ring and Wedding Band
Katie carried garden roses, peonies and ranunculus in her neutral blush and white bouquet.
The bridesmaids wore floor-length champagne chiffon dresses and the groomsmen wore classic tuxedos from Tip Top Tux in Leawood, Kansas.
Classic, Formal, Black-and-White Groomsmen Look
Katie and Sean First Kiss
“The moment we walked in to The Hotel Phillips we knew this was our spot,” Katie says. “The hotel has a rich history, and is exquisite down to the last detail. We had always dreamed of an Old Hollywood meets Great Gatsby-esque wedding, and the Phillips offered a more than suiting backdrop for our wedding dreams. We loved that we would be able to have the ceremony, cocktail hour, formal dinner and dancing all in one location without a guest ever having to see any sort of room flip.”
“The moment I tried on my dress, my mother and I both knew it was the one by the size of my smile,” Katie says. “I wore a White by Vera Wang dress, with all of the tulle and fabric for the dramatic entrance I always dreamed of. With a full train it required a French bustle for the reception, but I definitely did not mind carrying the weight of the beautiful train around with me.”
The centerpieces included white feathers and hydrangeas, taper candles and gold Old Hollywood table numbers.
Marissa Denton of Kansas City Cake Company made the gluten-free four-tier cake accented with gold to match the art deco wedding theme. It was topped with a vintage ballroom dancing trophy Katie found at a garage sale.
“Our reception was musically an eclectic mix of classic Sinatra-swooners to modern hits, all carefully prepared by close friend of the couple, DJ Mark Styles of Audio Jack Entertainment who has worked with some of the worlds top talents from Kaskade to John Legend,” Katie says. “Our first dance was to ‘Only Have Eyes for You’ by the Flamingos.”