Today we’d like to introduce you to Angela Berry.
Hi Angela, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Alan and I were married in 2004. At that time, Alan was a wedding DJ with over 10 years of experience and I was a general manager for Marriott. It was apparent from the beginning that we both enjoyed taking care of people. Alan always encouraged me to become a DJ too. Before I knew it, we were both out with our sound systems and light shows DJing weddings all over the Kansas City area.
Every weekend we were off to different venues. Often after events, we’d share our experiences with each other regarding the specific venues – what worked and what could have been better. Before long it was evident that our long-term goal was to take what we had learned and incorporate it into our own design and ultimately our own wedding venue.
We had a dream. I can’t tell you how many times we would talk about what it would take to start our own venue. How much would it cost to buy land and build a building? Where should it be located? How do we take what we have learned and build into the venue? What about catering, sound systems, and lighting? The list went on, but it was fun dreaming!
In 2013, God answered our prayers and we were able to purchase a perfect tract of land and a beautiful barn – a previous home to Clydesdales. Instantly, we had that blank canvas for our ideas and Berry Acres was born. Alan is the visionary in the family and integrated our ideas and experiences into our new venue. Berry Acres was ultimately designed and built specifically to give every couple the perfect wedding day.
We can’t believe that we are so blessed with such a beautiful venue and are so excited to share it with you!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We haven’t faced big challenges which has been a blessing from the Lord. We just sold our smaller venue across the street and were excited to take the Berry Acres to the next level and make things easier for our staff. Keep doing a good job and maybe do a better job. We are constantly trying to make things better here at Berry Acres, whether it’s making our chair carts more accessible or only taking on only one venue to manage!
A day at Berry Acres looks calm and relaxing for the bride. If we do our job right and get the stress taken care of ahead of time. Hopefully when the big day comes, they are relaxed enough to actually take in the event and enjoy the activities of the day and their guests. The guests don’t know that we changed ceremony sites, that the bridesmaid didn’t show up, they don’t know that the bride had a panic attack and we calmed her down and everything went smoothly. From the guests perspective, everything should be perfect. You would try to shield the bride from any type of stress or things that go wrong but sometimes you have to involve her if she needs to know. But if you get to know her pretty well, you know how to take care of the problem without even talking to her about it– you know what she would want. But the guests hopefully show up and love the facility and love everything about it and they have a good party.
We’ve been impressed with Berry Acres, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Booking a wedding with Berry Acres from the bride’s perspective, it is rainbows and lollipops. What are her needs? We are going to anticipate her needs throughout the entire day. Being met at the door with a hug and a smile. If she looks halfway thirsty, there is already a glass of water or beer or wine on the way to her hand.
A wedding at Berry Acres looks very organized, very smooth. So many people compliment “I have been in so many weddings and this is the most well-run wedding I have ever been to or ever attended” I can tell it is the most fun wedding they have ever been to. From the guest and bride perspective: a wedding at Berry Acres looks very smooth– no hiccups, no problems.
Booking with Berry Acres right now is a very personal thing. I want to do a tour with a bride in person. When she sits to write a contract and we are going over it line by line, I want to be able to look at her face. I can see if there is confusion or a question that needs to be asked. That’s important to me.
I can’t think of anything else we would ever want to do. Alan and I would stand up in the DJ booth during an event and we can not believe that we did this, these people are here– **paused here to grab tissues!!* –look at them having just such a fun time. That person over there eating cake and talking, this person even though they aren’t on the dance floor singing the song and of course the people on the dance floor having fun. It’s just such a happy place.
I just never thought of doing anything else. If anyone asked what else I would want to do, I really don’t have an answer, it’s just fun.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Berry acres services are probably used best to their potential for the bewildered bride, who really don’t know what to do or ask their people. The gal that is completely lost, she’s going to use us the most. She can feel it when she walks into our venue that we are going to take care of her and walk her through every bit of this process. I don’t like to watch people struggle. I am gonna look at the sunset time on your wedding day and you didn’t even know that you needed to do that. A day at Berry Acres looks calm and relaxing for the bride. If we do our job right and get the stress taken care of ahead of time. Hopefully when the big day comes, they are relaxed enough to actually take in the event and enjoy the activities of the day and their guests. The guests don’t know that we changed ceremony sites, that the bridesmaid didn’t show up, they don’t know that the bride had a panic attack and we calmed her down and everything went smoothly. From the guests perspective, everything should be perfect. You would try to shield the bride from any type of stress or things that go wrong but sometimes you have to involve her if she needs to know. But if you get to know her pretty well, you know how to take care of the problem without even talking to her about it– you know what she would want. But the guests hopefully show up and love the facility and love everything about it and they have a good party.
Alan Berry, Angela’s husband also chimed in for this question: “Back in the mid 90s, someone asked me to DJ a wedding. I was DJing bars and nightclubs at the time. I just DJed for a wedding, I learned what to do and what not to do. I always just focused on just keeping the bride happy. And that really worked, if the bride was happy then everyone else was happy. If she needed a fan to keep cool or a drink or if I had to pay a hundred dollars to the videographer so that he would stay longer and the bride wasn’t crying at the head table. You just do whatever to keep the bride happy.”
Pricing:
- Off Peak Season: Range from $4300-$6500
- Peak Season: Range from $4300-$7500
- Micro-Weddings: Range from $700-$3995
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.berry-acres.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/berryacres/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/berryacresweddings/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Berry-acres
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@berryacres
