About Kansas City
This town was first known as the Town of Kansa, followed by the City of Kansas, and finally the current Kansas City. This cheerful town was home to the first Happy Meal as well as Walt Disney’s very first animation studio which went by the name of Laugh-O-Gram Studios. That studio was also where the famed Mickey Mouse character was created, named after a real mouse who lived in the building. You might hear people call Kansas City the City of Fountains, which is well earned as over 200 fountains can be found scattered throughout it.
You’ll have much to do in this town, like visiting the Country Club PLaza which was the first suburban shopping district in the country, or taking a stroll in the beautiful Swope Park which is over twice as big as New York’s famous Central Park. With more boulevards than Paris, 103 playgrounds, 220 parks and 29 lakes, you’ll get lost having fun in Kansas City.
Reception Options in Kansas City
A reception venue is usually a gathering of people who are participating in the same event. Whether you are holding an anniversary reception, dance recital reception, gallery reception or function of some other type, there are several things that you will need to plan before hosting the get-together.
- Decorations
You will need your reception venue in Kansas City to be welcoming for your guests, and decorating the space is a great way to do that. Consider visiting a decoration shop or hiring a professional company to help you out.
- Music
Your event will be filled with mingling guests, and it would be nice to have some background entertainment to set the scene. Hiring a local band, music DJ or even just renting speakers for your Kansas City reception venue will make it all that much better.
- Caterer
You might not need to feed everyone at your reception venue a full meal, but having a small buffet table or a waiter circling around with some platters and finger foods will keep your guests satisfied. A local Kansas City catering company can help you plan this part of the event.
Reception Companies in Kansas City
A reception venue can get busy and require lots of planning to pull off, but fortunately Kansas City has a bunch of companies that are prepared to help you plan the perfect event.
- Ultrapom Event Rental
No matter what you need to make your reception venue in Kansas City look great, you should check out Ultrapom Event Rental. This company can provide you with furniture, decorations, lighting and structure rentals right here in Kansas City.
- Omni Entertainment
Omni Entertainment is a company that connects event planners with local bands who can play at your event. Whether you want jazz music, a rock band, DJ, country music or the blues playing at your reception, they can help you find the entertainment that you need.
- Grandma’s Office Catering
The professionals at this catering company are experts at feeding large groups of people at once. They offer buffet style as well as party trays that can be perfect for your reception venue in Kansas City.
Pros and Cons of Receptions in Kansas City
The location that you choose will play a large role in your event and how it will play out, and some locations are better suited for different events than others. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of hosting a reception venue in Kansas City.
Advantages
- The nightlife
Kansas City is one of the places that comes to life at night with lots of restaurants and nightclubs to visit. Many people also like to celebrate the sporting events in this city, and “watch parties” are a common occurrence.
- Lots of free events to attend
One great thing about Kansas City is that it is very affordable as most of its tours are free to the public. The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art as well as the Boulevard Brewing Company and Harley-Davidson Vehicle and Powertrain Operations facility are some of the attractions that you don’t need to pay to see.
- Barbeques
Kansas City is ranked as one of the top best barbeque cities, and you’ll have a hard time finding food at a restaurant that isn’t absolutely delicious. The Westside of town is also known for its Mexican food, if that is more your taste.
Disadvantages
- Getting around
The metropolitan district in Kansas City is a big area, spanning almost 315 square miles. This means that there is lots to explore, but you will most likely need a car to get around. Kansas City does offer a metro and bus system, but not all outlying areas can be easily accessed through public transportation.
- High crime rate
Unfortunately, Kansas City has a fairly high crime rate ranking in the top five of the country’s most dangerous. Violent crime in this city is almost 4 times higher than the national average. This is still a great location for a reception venue, just be sure to lock your personal belongings away and stay with a friend if you are planning to go out late at night.
- The weather
This city has a hard-to-love climate, with humid summers and fairly unpredictable winters. As well, the temperatures tend to switch rapidly depending on the time of year making spring and fall seasons practically non-existent. Try to research the average temperatures at the time of your reception venue in Kansas City, especially if you were planning to have it outside.
Famous Locations in Kansas City
- The National World War I Museum
This famous museum is located at the Liberty Memorial and offers the chance to see a variety of historical artifacts dating back from 1920. They boast the world’s biggest collection of items relating to the first world war, with over 75,000 objects available to the public to see.
- LEGOLAND
One of the most popular family-friendly attractions, LEGOLAND in Kansas City displays some impressive models made completely of these tiny toy bricks. One of the most astounding models is a full replica of the city that uses more than 1.5 million pieces of LEGO. Other attractions at LEGOLAND include a 4D cinema and interactive rides.
- American Jazz Museum
This museum, unsurprisingly found in the city’s jazz district, has immersive exhibits like listening stations and videos educating on the history of jazz. You can also enjoy live jazz music by visiting the Blue Room, a club that is found right inside the museum.