W

hen my mother and father married, 
they had known each other for several 
years and all lived in the same section 

of New York. When I married my husband, we 
both lived in Kansas, but his parents lived in 
Texas and my parents in New Jersey. Our wedding 
was the first time they all met. Two families 
joined together, our parents and our siblings all 
becoming “in-laws,” for better or for worse, in the 
course of one afternoon.  

We live in a culture where people usually do 

not marry their childhood sweethearts, where 
families do not know one another. We may move 
far away from our hometown for school or work 
and return home to introduce our future spouse. 
Our weddings are filled with people from far-flung 
locations who have never met one another. 

And that is not always a plus.
As a marriage and family therapist (who 

much prefers doing pre-marital counseling to 
divorce mediation), I often recommend, if at all 
possible, that families of the couples meet before 
the wedding. Book a weekend in a neutral location, 
where everyone has a private room to decompress. 
Just a little time to get to know each other, have 
a few meals, go for a walk or an excursion, share 
something about their respective histories and 
anecdotes about their respective children. 

I also highly recommend that engaged 

couples schedule a weekend away, alone, six or 
eight weeks prior to the wedding. 

They should set aside 48 hours, with 

no interruptions (put away anything with a 
screen), to remind themselves, in the midst of 
the inevitable pre-wedding stress, why they are 
making this commitment. 

Here are just a few options of hotels, B & Bs 

and guest ranches across Kansas that could be 
perfect for your pre-wedding escape or for pre-
marital, multi-generational family introductions.  

MILFORD LAKE | 

ACORNS RESORT

Located right on Milford Lake, with a small 

beach and lake swimming, this venue allows you 

to choose from large, modern 5 BR cabins with 
spacious decks, cozy studios and 1 BRs. For very 
large parties, there are also a number of additional 
hotel-style rooms in a central lodge. There are 
kayaks and canoes, or you can rent a pontoon boat 
for a sunset cruise. BBQ or grill for the gang, or eat 
at the new Cove Bar and Grill. There is also a new 
convention center on the grounds, with ample room 
for weddings of any size. Go to acornsresortkansas.
com for more information. 

WICHITA | 

HOTEL AT OLD TOWN

This hotel sits smack in the middle of Old 

Town, the renovated, historic section of Wichita 
where you can hear music drifting over from 
bars and clubs as soon as you walk out the door. 
It’s a bustling, urban atmosphere with plenty 
of choices for every age. Dine at Public, just 
across the square, for scrumptious food. The 
hotel provides a full breakfast in a lovely 4-story 
lobby atrium, perfect for family gatherings. The 
staff will set up informal appetizers/buffets for 
getting-to-know-you brunches. Aunt Sally can 
even play the grand piano. For more specifics, go 
online at hotelatoldtown.com or email kwhite@
hotelatoldtown.com. 

COTTONWOOD FALLS | 

GRAND CENTRAL 

HOTEL AND GRILL

This small-town venue features a lovely 

dining room with brick walls and 10 rooms, 
a patio area with 7-8 tables and a historic 
downtown with that “village” feel. Guests can hike 
or tour the National Tallgrass Prairie Preserve just 
down the road (and an outdoor wedding on one of 
the bluffs, with panoramic vistas of the Flint Hills, 
is about as “destination” as you can get). For more 
information, go online at grandcentralhotel.com.

WILSON | 

MIDLAND RAILROAD HOTEL AND 

RESTAURANT

Just off Interstate 70 and a few miles from 

the trails and lake of Wilson State Park, this 1889 
hotel features romantic rooms, a dining area and 

SET ASIDE 
48 HOURS, 
WITH NO 
INTERRUPTIONS 
TO REMIND 
YOURSELVES, IN 
THE MIDST OF 
THE INEVITABLE 
PRE-WEDDING 
STRESS, WHY 
YOU ARE 
MAKING THIS 
COMMITMENT.

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kansas weddings