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About this vendor

Jim &  Michele Shively
Jim & Michele Shively
Owner

No business details yet

6 years in business

We speak English

2 team members

Willows Bend – Lakeside Venue is a Carbondale, Kansas-based wedding venue. Situated just steps from the lake’s edge, this venue is surrounded by glassy water on three sides. This secluded atmosphere makes for a magical and serene place to celebrate one of the most important days of your life. A combination of rustic charm and classic elegance, the beauty of Willows Bend is perfect for any couple. With both indoor and outdoor event spaces available, this breathtaking venue is perfect for weddings any time of the year.

Facilities and Capacity
With three main event spaces available, Willows Bend – Lakeside Venue has capacity for up to 300 guests. When your guests arrive to this tranquil space, they’ll approach what the venue calls the Field of Dreams, with unbelievable sights of water and willow trees on every side. When it’s time for the ceremony, your guests will sit excitedly as they watch you say “I do” in any of the venue’s spectacular indoor or outdoor ceremony spaces. A covered patio is also available at Willow’s Bend, perfect for a standing cocktail hour while you take wedding portraits. Following cocktail hour, your guests will make their way to the main event space which features exposed wood, concrete floors and stunning chandeliers.

Services Offered
Willows Bend – Lakeside Venue offers a variety of wedding day services. With an elegant bridal suite on-site, you’ll be able to relax and prepare for the aisle just steps from your ceremony location. Additionally, with in-house event planning services available, you’ll feel supported and encouraged throughout the entire planning process. For your convenience, Willows Bend also allows couples to bring in outside vendors in order to completely customize their big day. Services include:

  • Bridal suite
  • Event planning
  • Tables
  • Chairs
  • Event rentals
  • Lighting/sound
  • In-house bar
  • Pet friendly
  • Outside vendors
  • Vendor referrals
  • Wireless internet
  • Setup
  • Cleanup
  • Parking
  • Wheelchair access

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Pricing information

$2,150 starting price $2,150 starting price
$2,650 average price $2,650 average price
Reception
$4,000 starting price
Ceremony
$3,200 starting price
Bar service
$8 per person
These prices are available for the months of April through December.
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FAQ

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during peak season?

$4,000

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during off-peak season?

$3,500

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during peak season?

$3,200

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during off-peak season?

$3,200

Which of the following are included in starting site fee?

Bridal Suite
Chairs
Clean Up
Event Planning
Lighting/Sound
Parking
Set Up
Tables

Which of the following are included in the cost of wedding catering?

Cake Cutting

What is the starting price per person for bar service?

$8

Which of the following are included in the starting price for bar service?

Bartender(s)
House Beer
House Wine

What is the minimum number of guests required to book your venue?

50

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

1

Describe your venue:

Banquet Hall
Barn
Waterfront

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Covered Outdoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Elopements
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Bar Services
Catering Services
Clean Up
Event Planner
Event Rentals
Get Ready Rooms
Outside Vendors
Pet Friendly
Wifi

What catering services do you offer?

Buffet
Family Style
Stations

What bar services do you provide?

Bartender(s)
Cash Bar
Champagne Toast
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine
Limited Bar
Liquor License
Open Bar
Outside Alcohol
Premium Liquor
Signature Drink
Specialty Beer
Specialty Wine

What event items are available?

Altar/Arch
Audio Equipment
Chairs
Dance Floor
Decor
Furniture
Lighting
Tables

What food and beverage items are available?

Linens

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Shuttle
Wheelchair Access

What months are included in your peak season?

April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

What months are included in your off-peak season?

January
February
March
December

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Wedding couple

Reviews of Willows Bend

This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Review summary

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Willows Bend is described as a beautiful, well-equipped venue with attentive and helpful owners, Jim and Michelle. Reviewers highly recommend this venue for weddings, mentioning the seamless flow of the evening, even amidst challenges like windy weather and rainstorms. The space offers various fun options such as fireworks and cold sparks send-off, and the recommended vendors worked well with the venue, ensuring a perfect experience for a daughter's wedding. Guests appreciated the scenic outdoor space, bridal suite, and grooms' room, making it a highly recommended choice for a wedding out by the lake.

Review summary

Powered by AI
This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Willows Bend is described as a beautiful, well-equipped venue with attentive and helpful owners, Jim and Michelle. Reviewers highly recommend this venue for weddings, mentioning the seamless flow of the evening, even amidst challenges like windy weather and rainstorms. The space offers various fun options such as fireworks and cold sparks send-off, and the recommended vendors worked well with the venue, ensuring a perfect experience for a daughter's wedding. Guests appreciated the scenic outdoor space, bridal suite, and grooms' room, making it a highly recommended choice for a wedding out by the lake.

Weddingwire
4.8/5 36 reviews
Google
4.6/5 172 reviews
Larissa
Larissa Sent on 04/24/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Beautiful Lake Venue in Kansas

My (now) husband and I had our wedding here a couple of weekends ago, and it was an amazing experience! The venue is beautiful, and many of our friends and family commented on how beautiful it was! There were also lots of fun options to choose from, such as fireworks and a cold sparks send-off that many other places don't have. Further, the owners were very helpful and quick to respond to any questions that we had. All of the vendors that we chose have worked with this venue before, and it made the whole evening flow seamlessly. If anything went wrong, I had no idea. (It was pretty windy and some rain storms came through later in the night, but we all worked together to come up with a plan that allowed us to still go outside for the fireworks and cold sparks!). I HIGHLY recommend this venue if you are looking for a beautiful venue out by the lake!
Brennan
Brennan Sent on 05/22/2022
5 out of 5 rating

BEAUTIFUL SETTING!, Very accommodating, incredibly helpful

We were married at Willow’s Bend on April 9th 2022 and our day was wonderful! Jim and Michelle were very helpful right from the moment we booked. They had wonderful suggestions for vendors as well! They were very accommodating and kind to both us and our families. Our wedding day was like a fairytale and we could not have asked for a better venue. Guests are still talking about how beautiful everything was and so are we! Both my husband and I would reccomend Willow’s Bend to anyone looking for an event venue. -Brennan and Justin Richter
Elizabeth
Elizabeth Sent on 08/05/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Excellent Venue and Staff

We just had our wedding here this past weekend and it was nothing short of amazing! Jim and Michelle are incredible. They run their business as a business, not as a swap meet. The prices and details of what is included are up front. No surprises. Every single one of our guests, complimented the venue's beauty on several occasions. It's the perfect venue and I wouldn't have changed it from the world. Thank you Willow's Bend for making our dream day, come true.
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Awards

36
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2022 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2021 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2020 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2019 Winner
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Team

Jim &  Michele Shively
Jim & Michele Shively
Owner

Professional Network & Endorsements

Sound Origin Productions
5.0 out of 5 rating , 1 review
· Wedding DJs
Engroff Catering
4.3 out of 5 rating , 18 reviews
· Wedding Caterers
Thomas Felts Photography
5.0 out of 5 rating , 35 reviews
· Wedding Photographers

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Willows Bend frequently asked questions

Willows Bend includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Bridal Suite
  • Chairs
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planning
  • Lighting/Sound
  • Parking
  • Set Up
  • Tables
Willows Bend includes the following items and services in its wedding catering costs:
  • Cake Cutting
The bar service starting price at Willows Bend includes:
  • Bartender(s)
  • House Beer
  • House Wine
The space offered by Willows Bend for wedding events is known for:
  • Banquet Hall
  • Barn
  • Waterfront
Willows Bend offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Covered Outdoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
Willows Bend offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
  • Elopements
  • Rehearsal Dinner
Willows Bend offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Bar Services
  • Catering Services
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planner
  • Event Rentals
  • Get Ready Rooms
  • Outside Vendors
  • Pet Friendly
  • Wifi
Willows Bend offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Altar/Arch
  • Audio Equipment
  • Chairs
  • Dance Floor
  • Decor
  • Furniture
  • Lighting
  • Tables
Willows Bend is recommended by 97% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.8 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 4.9 in average response time, 4.8 in quality of service, 4.8 in flexibility, 4.8 in professionalism and 4.8 in value.

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