Entryway into the main floor at the Alexander Majors Barn dance and wedding area.
“So, I think that people who are starting the beginning of a new chapter of their lives kind of have that instinct to reach backwards, even if they don’t totally realize it themselves.” Stephanie and Shane Faris only looked at the Alexander Majors Barn in their venue search, and then the remainder of their wedding was planned around the selection. The couple wanted a relatively simple venue for their out-of-town guests to access, while still being in Kansas City and close to where they live. They also wanted a venue that was primarily outdoors, while still having quick accessibility to an indoor space. “It really just ended up being pretty perfect,” Stephanie said. The couple was drawn to the natural elements of the Barn, so they opted for minimal decorations. “We left it alone because we loved the rustic-ness of it,” Stephanie said. They wrapped Christmas lights around the trees outside, as well as in the rafters in the wagon room. The cake display took place on two old whiskey barrels with down flats across the top to make a table, with additional crates to support the cupcakes. Outdoors, the couple opted for simple tables with white tablecloths, while their wedding colors were navy and gold. For centerpieces, they purchased crates and stained them with tea and vinegar, while their centerpiece flowers were hydrangea and soft pink roses, with burgundy accent colors and hops. The Alexander Majors Barn has seen “the total gamut of expense, effort, and time” put into wedding ceremonies and receptions, White said. Rental of the space includes use of the main Barn area and loft, the “wagon room,” the private bridal suite, restrooms, and the catering kitchen. Rental also includes use of the grounds, while the Alexander Majors House can be opened for tours for an
New chapter while stepping back in time
The Alexander Majors Barn is one-half of the Wornall/Majors House Museums, a nonprofit organization that includes the John Wornall House at 61st Street and Wornall Road, ripe with its own history. The Barn’s grounds are adjacent to the Alexander Majors House, one of the few surviving antebellum houses in the Kansas City area. In addition to weddings, the grounds also play host to numerous museum events, craft fairs, and other events throughout the year. “I like that the Majors Barn is a kind of traditional atmosphere to create non- traditional events, weddings, and receptions,” said Lena White, rentals coordinator at Alexander Majors Barn. In March, the Alexander Majors Barn — for the second year in collaboration with Strawberry Swing Indie Craft Fair — hosted its second wedding showcase event, in which local photographers, caterers, florists, bartenders, and other vendors were on hand for those preparing for their special day. The day also served up some nostalgia for several couples in attendance. “I saw two different couples that came that morning because they had gotten married here 15 years ago, 20 years ago, and they wanted to see how it had changed, and if it was the way they remembered,” White said. Some couples choose the Alexander Majors Barn for their wedding because of the sentimental nature of the property. Others are more drawn to the historical components of the Barn, “especially south Kansas City, since a lot of the buildings in this commercial corridor here are a lot newer,” White said. “This is one of the last places in the immediate surroundings where we have that connection to the very beginning of Kansas City.”
Rental of the Alexander Majors Barn includes access to the newly renovated bridal suite, which includes vintage- inspired elements in its décor.
16 VINTAGEKC SUMMER 2018
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