An Elegant Modern Wedding at the Stanley Historic Event Space in Lee's Summit, Missouri

From the elegant pale gray and pastel pink color palette to the garden-inspired flower arrangements, Mallory Bennett (26 and a dental front office coordinator) and Ray Dlugolecki’s (26 and an epidemiologist) wedding was all about timeless romance. The couple was able to host both their ceremony and reception at The Stanley Historic Event Space in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. The venue’s unique mixture of historic and industrial touches, like intricate tin ceilings, exposed brick and a loft-inspired feel delivered a contemporary, yet vintage vibe that tied in seamlessly with their vision. Key in creating an intimate and romantic ambiance were Monarch Flowers' centerpieces. Dotting the tables were bunches of full blooms in soft shades of pink, ivory and white in elegant candelabras and silver bud vases, arranged next to hundreds of brightly lit votive candles and arrangements of twigs and curly willow draped with strands of pearls and flowers. Wanting the reception to reflect their laid-back personalities, while making things as fun as possible for their guests, Mallory and Ray opted for a menu filled with classic comfort foods and served them up buffet style. The approach allowed guests to mix, mingle and eat at their leisure. A set list of upbeat, yet laid-back tunes encouraged guests to get out on the dance floor, but made it easy for friends and family to kick back and chat as well, without having to yell over loud music. Another personal touch was Mallory and Ray’s unity ceremony. Instead of lighting a candle or mixing sand, the couple opted for a tree planting ceremony. They both took soil from their childhood homes and used it to pot a small plant to put in their home. A tip for the taking from Mallory: "My only advice is to not stress about the small things, no one is going to notice if something doesn't go quite as planned. At the end of day you will be married and that's all the truly matters, so enjoy it!"