Wedding  Reception

Ceremony

Reception

Our Wedding

Joseph Rezek was born in Wayne, Nebraska and grew up in Worthington, Minnesota. Margaret Pendleton was born and raised in Lawrence, Kansas. Through a few twists of fate and a handful of mutual friends, the two met in Manhattan, Kansas while attending Kansas State University in 2009. Their friendship began with casual backyard BBQs and K-State sporting events and soon blossomed into a deeper connection. Fueled by a shared love for the great outdoors, their early days were less about candlelit dinners and more about adventures in nature. You would often find them trekking through the Tallgrass Prairie or Kansas River Valley, eyes peeled for the elusive morel, or casting lures into local lakes, hoping for a bite from a hungry bass. While in school, the couple dated for nearly two years. As great as those two years were, they acknowledged they were going in different directions and went separate ways to pursue their own careers. But their story together was nowhere near an end. They remained friends, even inviting each other to birthday celebrations and other reunions with friends.&nbsp;They always knew the sparks were there, but the distance between where the two lived seemed insurmountable. Fast forward to March 2020, when the world shut down due to the global pandemic. With newfound time to spend on the phone, they started talking even more regularly. Becoming increasingly isolated, Joe convinced Margaret to make the three-hour drive from Manhattan to Shenandoah, Iowa for Memorial Day weekend. They soon found themselves in a long-distance relationship, alternating nearly every weekend on the road. After thousands of miles traveled and too many weekdays spent apart, Joe FINALLY proposed to Margaret on June 30, 2024 and moved to Manhattan in the Spring of 2025. The Proposal The proposal was as perfectly “them” as it could possibly get.&nbsp;It was a fittingly beautiful night; Margaret was scheduled to attend a charity event near one of their favorite fishing lakes and Joe was down for the weekend. With boat in tow, it was the perfect opportunity for an “impromptu” fishing trip. As the sun was setting, Joe asked Margaret if she would like to try a new “fishing lure” that he had recently bought. Begrudgingly, she accepted and turned around to find Joe on one knee, with a beautiful ring in his outstretched hand. He popped the question, and she said YES!

Our Story

Photos

Wedding Party

Where is the ceremony?We will have a small ceremony with family at 1 PM at St. John the Evangelist Church in Lawrence. Where is the reception taking place?Our reception will be held outdoors at the beautiful BlueJacket Crossing Vineyard and Winery at 4 PM. There will be some indoor seating, but plan to be outside. What should I wear?Garden party chic – something dressy enough to feel special, but comfortable for walking on grass and mingling outside. What’s the weather plan?We’re hoping for sunshine and great weather, but we do have an indoor backup plan in case of rain. We’ll update the website if the forecast changes dramatically. Will there be seating?Yes! There will be plenty of tented seating outdoors, as well as additional limited seating indoors for dinner and lounging. Cocktail tables will be scattered throughout the space for mingling. Is there parking available?Yes, there is ample parking at the venue. Signs will be placed along the route to guide you to the winery. Once you arrive, there will be some young volunteers to guide you to your parking spot. Please let them know if you would like a ride from your car to the entrance. Carpooling or ride-sharing is encouraged if you plan to enjoy the bar. Will there be food?Yes! We will have light snacks during cocktail hour and for dinner, there will be a BBQ buffet with vegetarian and gluten-free options. For the kids, we also have hot dogs and mac-n-cheese. If you have any specific dietary concerns, please ask the catering staff. Will there be alcohol?Yes! We will have a curated selection of our favorite wines from BlueJacket Crossing. We will also have a couple of beer options from our friends at Free State Brewing Company. We have also brought a few bottles from our own bourbon collection. Non-alcoholic options will also be available. What’s the vibe?Relaxed, joyful, and celebratory. Expect lawn games, live music, dancing, and great company at one of our favorite places. Can I bring my kids?Absolutely! We’ll have a kid-friendly menu and quite a few activities to keep little ones entertained. Are you registered?We decided to not do a gift registry – while working to combine two households, it seems that we have 2 or 3 of most things. Your laughter and company on our wedding day is the greatest gift of all. If you do wish to honor us with something more, a gift or contribution toward our future would be warmly appreciated. What’s the timeline for the day?We will kick off the reception at 4 PM, starting with a cocktail hour with live music and yard games, followed by dinner, toasts and dancing into the evening. Should I bring bug spray?We’ll have some on hand, but feel free to bring your favorite. Can I take photos during the reception?We have an awesome photographer who will be capturing the evening and also encourage guests to take plenty of photos as well! We will provide a QR code for guests to send any pictures or videos that they would like to share with us.

Q + A

Due to the University of Kansas having a home game in Lawrence this weekend, we have reserved rooms in Olathe, KS. The reception venue and hotels are 22 miles apart and are all located right off of K-10 highway. We have a block of rooms available at the Embassy Suites by Hilton (direct link to block of rooms below).

Embassy Suites by Hilton Kansas City Olathe

Additional Hotels in Olathe

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Olathe West by IHG

Four Points by Sheraton Kansas City Olathe

Travel

Things To Do

The area has a number of Farmers Markets on Saturday mornings. These three are all “growers” markets, meaning that you are buying directly from the farmer who grew the produce or flowers. Lawrence Farmer’s Market7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. 800 block of New Hampshire St (1 block east of MassachusettsStreet in Downtown Lawrence, KS) Lenexa Farmers Market8 a.m. - Noon Lenexa civic campus, 17101 W. 87th St. Pkwy., Lenexa, KS 66219 Olathe Farmers Market7:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Downtown Farmers Market 219 W Loula St, Olathe, KS7:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Black Bob Farmers Market 14500 W 151st St., Olathe, KS&nbsp; Pendleton’s Country Market9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Saturday 1446 E 1850 Rd., Lawrence, KSThis is the farm of John and Karen Pendleton, parents of Margaret. Their market will beopen with limited staffing this weekend. Feel free to stop by, but you may also be put towork!

Other Things To Do in the Lawrence, Eudora, DeSoto, Olathe Area! The Baker University Wetlands Discovery CenterHours: Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – noon &amp; 1 – 3 p.m.The Wetlands have more than 11 miles of trails that are free and open from dawn todusk so you can hike the Wetlands to your heart’s content. Prairie Park Nature Center2730 Harper St., Lawrence, KSThe Prairie Park Nature Center is located within a 100-acre nature preserve on the eastside of Lawrence, KS. The preserve features a five-acre lake, as well as wetland, woodland, and prairie environments. Visitors may walk the trails to see a wide variety of native Kansas wildlife and plants.The education building features natural habitat dioramas, educational displays and live animals, including a bird of prey collection.&nbsp;Open Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.The nature center is free to all visitors. Overland Park ArboretumThe 300-acre Overland Park Arboretum &amp; Botanical Gardens is a vibrant educational,recreational, and cultural resource for the Kansas City region. At the Arboretum, you’llfind over 1,700 species carefully cultivated across themed gardens and naturallandscapes.&nbsp;Hours: Monday-Sunday | 9 a.m.-5 p.m.Admission: Children ages 5 and under are free.$3 ages 6-17, $7 ages 18+ Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead, 13800 Switzer Rd., Overland Park KSVisit more than 250 animals and birds, learn about growing flowers and vegetables,experience a Kanza Indian encampment or a one-room schoolhouse, and take a strollthrough Main Street to the fishing pond.Hours – Sunday – Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Children ages 2 and under are free. $5ages 3+ Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop &amp; Farm Historic SiteExplore 1860s-era life, reenactments, blacksmith demos, and more.Open Monday through Friday$3/adults, $2/children ages 5-11, children 4 &amp; under are free.September and October, SaturdaysAll living history activities included with admission: $9/adults, $7/children ages 5-11, children 4 &amp; under are free. Enjoy features offered Monday through Friday as well as: stagecoach rides, blacksmith and cookstovedemonstrations, visiting the Mahaffie house and seasonal farming activities. Ernie Miller Nature Center &amp; Park909 N. Hwy 7 Olathe, KS 66062Enjoy this 116-acre park with three hiking trails, a nature center, and an outdoor amphitheater, all for free! The nature center features a wildlife viewing room, 500-gallon aquarium, and nature displays. There is a KU home football game on the 20th of September, but if you come to the areaearly, many of the museums on campus are open on Friday. Here is a list of interestingmuseums:-The Natural History Museum – Dyke Hall-The Booth Family Hall of Athletics – attached to Allen Fieldhouse-The DeBruce Center (Home to the original rules of basketball) - next to AllenFieldhouse-Spencer Museum of Art-Dole Institute of Politics – the Dole Center Where to find a bite to eat! In Lawrence, our favorite restaurants include: Merchant’s Pub and Plate – Farm to Table Restaurant – they work with their neighbors with area farms to bring the best of what is locally available to the table for a great meal. Free State Brewery – The first brewery in the state of Kansas after prohibition and our go-to spot! Wheatfield’s Bakery – WheatFields is an artisan bakery cafe in downtown Lawrence. Breakfast and lunch are their specialty! The town of Eudora features a variety of fun restaurants: Maine Street Scoops and Sweets – a new ice cream shop Barbwire Barbecue – classic BBQ with a small town feel Charritos Plaza – Mexican Jasmine Restaurant – Mexican and Chinese, for when you can’t decide Restaurants near the Embassy Suites Hotel: Johnny’s Tavern - (across the street from the hotel) the original Johnny’s is in Lawrence The Burger Shed – great burgers inside the Embassy Suites Hotel Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que – one of the best in KC Sylas &amp; Maddy’s Homemade Ice Cream – we like ice cream! The Rub – one of Kansas City’s newest BBQ favorites

Margaret & Joe

Margaret & Joe

M&J

Wedding Reception