Eloping means that you forego a formal wedding, and instead, choose to elope for the ceremony. It doesn't necessarily mean that you secretly run away with your partner without telling anyone. However, this is the notion some people still have when they hear about elopements. That being said, you can call it what you want - elopement, minimony, micro wedding, destination wedding... We get it. You might hear us say "we eloped" but all that really means is we opted to have a small, private ceremony with just our parents and one European-based friend.

We got married in July in Northern Italy, and we only took our parents with us. We wanted to get married abroad and it was important to us to have a small, intimate ceremony. However, we also want the opportunity to celebrate our union with our friends and family back in Kansas City. An elopement party may look and feel a little different than a traditional wedding reception but serves a similar purpose.

There’s so much flexibility with an elopement party, which is what we love. We will have live music throughout the evening, there will be a dance floor (but no planned or rehearsed dancing), certain friends/family will give speeches throughout the night, and lots of mingling and talking.

Amy can't go four hours without eating so we don't expect you to either! We will serve dinner (tacos!) and will have an open bar serving select drinks and will provide non-alcoholic options.

We prefer dressy but also don’t want anyone to stress. Wear what makes you feel best, and we will love you all the same! Think "dressy, comfortable". Dressy = blazer, nice jeans, dress pants/skirt, dresses, nice sweater, suit… are all acceptable! Wear your boots if you've got'em! There may be an opportunity to show-off your two-steppin' skills!

We are asking that kids stay home (outside of immediate family). We want you to have a fun time without worrying about your kids and how to keep them entertained.

We want you to do what feels best for you! It was really important to Amy and Mitchell to have a designated party to celebrate with friends and family. Growing up, Amy remembers getting to see her family mostly when there was a loss in the family or occasionally at weddings. We didn’t want to let a “joyful” opportunity to be together pass us by. We love being with family and friends but also know not everyone will have the means or availability to take off work or find a sitter, and we totally understand! More than anything, we want you to know that you are special to us regardless of whether or not you're able to be present.

Our party is in Paola, KS, which is a small town roughly 30 minutes south of Olathe and 40 minutes south of Lenexa (where we live). Aside from Spring Hill, there isn't much between Olathe and Paola. If you are getting a hotel, we would suggest staying in Olathe if you want to be closest to the venue (30 minute drive). The venue is in the town square so there is not a parking lot and parking is around the square and in front of the building. There is also Reach Church within walking distance as another parking option.

As previously mentioned, we will be providing alcoholic options for our guests. We ask that everyone drink responsibly and coordinate transportation home prior to arriving if planning to consume more than the driving limit. Uber and Lyft are commonly used in Kansas City but given that Paola is a small town further south, you may want to book your ride in advance to avoid longer wait times. Otherwise, we suggest riding with a friend who doesn't plan to drink.

Yes! We would love to see friends and family over the weekend that visiting from out of town. Check out our list of recommendations if you’re looking for fun things to do!