A Whimsical, Shabby-Chic Wedding at Paola Town Square in Paola, Kansas

Alexis Wheeler (25 and a director of operations for author Cliff Graham) and Andrew Potter (28 and the owner of RoKC) were all about keeping things fun and non-fussy when it came to planning their wedding. Wanting a venue with a shabby-chic vibe, the couple thought a barn originally would be the ideal fit. But the logistics associated with planning an event at such a venue proved to be complicated and the couple quickly put the idea on the back burner. Luckily, a close friend recommended Paola Town Square in Paola, Kansas, and after just one visit, they were won over by the space’s quaint exposed brick walls, elegant chandeliers, vintage tin ceiling and Michelle Kaiser, the property’s owner and event-planning whiz. “Michelle was a saint,” Alexis says. “She took on the role of wedding planner, decorator, chef, florist and all-out wedding genius. I would recommend her to anyone and everyone.” Playing off the venue’s rustic, old-world charm, Alexis and Andrew worked with Michelle to bring their playful, shabby-chic vision to life. The tables were decorated with fresh bunches of full, pastel blooms and gilded candelabras dripping in crystals, while chalkboard signs, lanterns and shimmery linens infused the room with a subtle vintage-meets-glam touch. “The colors, style and entire feel of the wedding fit our style perfectly,” Alexis says. “It was funny because my husband joked that our wedding colors are how I decorated our house.” Guests having a good time was high on the couple’s priority list and they put extra thought into the evening’s schedule of events to ensure that there would never be a dull moment. They took all their photos before the ceremony, treated guests to drinks and snacks as they arrived and had dinner, drinks and a photo booth ready to go right after the ceremony so they wasted no time starting the celebration. A few tips from Alexis: “Do what makes you happy. It's your special day and if you do exactly what you want, it will be stress free! Do a list of the top three things you and your fiance want to spend money on. For me, the dress was incredibly important. For him, he wanted glow sticks. That way, you each get exactly what you want and you can compromise on everything else. And let other people help you. Don't try to do everything on your own. Learn to delegate.”