The UNION 828 in downtown Kansas City, MO.
Kansas City’s Modern Warehouse Venue
When looking for the ideal wedding venue, many engaged couples flock to the downtown area for the abundance of amenities that you simply can’t achieve anywhere else. These venues are often spacious, dripping in history, close to beautiful hotels (for all of your out-of-town guests!), and are steps away from some of Kansas City’s most notable attractions. Being so close to the action comes with many benefits including ease of access to popular wedding party photography sites, such as The Kauffman Center of Performing Arts, The Nelson-Atkins Art Museum, and Loose Park, just to name a few. Some of my favorite weddings to photograph are hosted by venues in the Crossroads District. One of my particular favorites is UNION 828.
Get To Know UNION 828
UNION 828 is a three-story warehouse wedding venue located off of Baltimore Avenue in KCMO. Every aspect of this venue sets the stage for an unforgettable party and a flawless flow. Able to cater to 200 seated guests, it’s incredibly efficient that there’s multiple floors for all of your festivities.
Two getting ready suites (separate floors to make sure there’s no peeking before first look!)
Ceremony on the ground level
A bar on every floor
Speakeasy for cocktail hour
Rooftop access for photos
Reception upstairs
Having this breakdown for large weddings is super ideal in keeping the party going and providing comfort for your guests. For smaller wedding guest counts, a “room flip” is becoming more and more popular (read my assessment of the Pros and Cons of Room Flips). While there’s a time and a place for a room flip, I think it’s a huge win that the UNION has the space available to avoid the logistical nightmare that comes with a room flip. This early-staging ability allows for larger and more complex decorations and seating arrangements and adds to the wow factor for an event.
Two Getting-Ready Suites
I’d like to just emphasize again that there are TWO getting ready areas for the couple which is incredibly dreamy, as a client and as a photographer. The only thing I can complain about is I will absolutely be getting my steps in, however there is an elevator that makes accessing both easy and convenient for when you need a break. You can choose from the dark and moody recesses of their speakeasy area or the light and airy openness of the upstairs suite. Both are the perfect places to toast to your wedding party, write those last-minute vows, and do those first looks with your crew.
Your Ceremony on Ground Level
You can have your ceremony on any floor, but one of the common ways I see this venue styled is with the ceremony on the main floor so guests are instantly greeted with the main event: your wedding! There’s plenty of room for guests to mingle pre-festivities or have spacial flow for a receiving line after you’ve tied the knot. Maybe it’s just the time of me posting this, but I think it would be sooo magical to have a winter wonderland ceremony in this space. Think of the cozy vibes! The welcome hot chocolate bar, the cute cookies… Think on it and get back with me. Because I would like to be invited.
a Speakeasy for Cocktail Hour
My favorite feature of this venue is that after the ceremony, guests are ushered downstairs to a moody cocktail lounge for mingling and hors d’oeuvres. It creates a nice separation for family members to hang back and take family portraits in front of the altar. The lounge area starts setting the mood for a night of dancing and merriment with the low lights and the hum of the party goers within.
On a photography note, it’s best to have two photographers if capturing this guest time is high up on your wish list. While the main photographer is capturing those formal portraits of family and golden hour with you and your partner, they can be at the cocktail hour, snapping away. On a personal note, I think it’s so fun getting images back that you weren’t there as they were captured. It’s like a little Easter egg to see your guests enjoying the event you so carefully planned and all of the pieces falling together. For this reason, a second photographer will always have a special place in my heart!
Breath-Taking Golden Hour Location
A bonus element to UNION 828 as your one-stop wedding day venue is the jaw-dropping downtown view of Kansas City. It’s the perfect place to experience golden hour with your beau away from the hustle and bustle of the party below. In every direction there’s an iconic downtown view just waiting for you to enjoy. I’m going to keep this section brief because honestly, the photos speak for themselves.
Party Like a Rockstar
Partying the night away has never been easier than this. The sounds, the lighting, the ambience: everything screams “a night to remember.” Simply book your favorite DJ and get ready to have the time of your life! I deeply love that it has plenty of dance floor AND your don’t have to sacrifice table space for dinner.
Featuring photos from Nick and Michael’s wedding and Renee and John’s wedding lovingly captured by Milestone KC.
Is UNION 828 Right for You?
Access to downtown and hotels
Within walking distance to photo-opts of notable Kansas City locations
ROOFTOP photo opportunities
Sit down service for 200 guests
Multiple floors for the ultimate party
ADA Accessible
Two getting ready areas
a Cocktail Hour speakeasy lounge
Bars on every floor
And SO many more great ammenities that you’ll just have to explore for yourself with your venue representative.
I hope this helped introduce you to one of my favorite downtown wedding venues! It’s truly worth the looksie as you continue your event planning journey. For more information, check out https://union.828venues.com/ and fill out a contact form to connect with the team! Good luck and happy planning!
