Before the Power & Light District; before the Sprint Center; before First Fridays; even before the new Kansas City Star building, Ron Berg (That’s Berg, not Burg) was hanging out at 15th and Grand in one of Kansas City’s hippest urban loft spaces.

You may never have met Ron Berg, but I’m sure you’ve seen his photography. He does fabulous commercial work for top-tier companies: AMC, American Century, Amoco, Backwoods, Bayer, Beechcraft, Blockbuster, Blue Bunny Ice Cream…. I haven’t even gotten to the C’s yet. Anyway, years ago Ron got the wild idea to buy the old Studebaker showroom at 1525 Grand and convert it into a studio. He was way ahead of his time: these days it seems like everyone in Kansas City is moving to the crossroads or the Power & Light District (We’ve even considered it ourselves).

From Studebaker to Studio

Ron did a great job restoring the studio and adding a few architectural touches to give it a contemporary feel. The hardwood floors, the freight elevator, the brick walls and overhead wooden beams are all original and dripping in character. The galvanized staircase and cast concrete bar are newer additions, but they feel right at home in the urban experience that is the Berg Event Space (again, that’s Berg with an e; not Burg Event Space).

Of course, it wasn’t always an event space. Ron used the space exclusively as a studio until his work began to take him on location much of the time. I guess he decided it would be selfish to keep such a great space empty while he was away, so he opened the Berg Event Space.

80% of the Berg is below the surface

Weddings are very important to us at the Berg Event Space. So many couples choose us for one of the most memorable days of their lives. That’s an honor for us and a very big decision for them. We don’t take that lightly. – Sandy Riley

You can get a decent feel for the space by looking at the pictures and reading the facts below, but to really understand, you have to visit. The Berg Event Space has a certain electricity and life about it. It just feels like a good place for a party. It could be the location, or it could be the combination of vintage guts and modern refinement, I don’t know. Either way, we hear comments on the energy of the space far too often for it to be a coincidence. More importantly, the Berg has some great people behind the scenes, namely Sandy Riley.

Ron brought Sandy on board a couple of years ago to manage the space and to see that events run smoothly and easily. He made a good decision when he did. “Weddings are very important to us”, Sandy told me. “So many couples choose us for one of the most memorable days of their lives. That’s an honor for us and a very big decision for them. We don’t take that lightly.”

When you book an event at the Berg Space in Kansas City, you can be sure that Sandy will be keeping tabs on things, making sure that the space looks great and the vendors are tactful, tasteful, and on time.

The Fun Stuff

The Berg has a range of unique features that make it a perfect fit for weddings. Here’s just a few:

• The Berg courtyard: The courtyard has become something of an icon in the Kansas City Wedding Scene. If you’ve spent much time looking through photographer’s websites, you’ve probably seen the shots of the courtyard lit up at night in all it’s romantic appeal
• The freight elevator: I know this sounds like a strange perk, but we love it. This isn’t a modern elevator. It’s an old wooden dinosaur with huge wooden doors that look as if they’ve survived a few wars and but still open gracefully to the event space. Many bride’s and grooms use it to enter the ceremony or reception. It’s a great urban twist on the traditional church door entrance.
• Beams and rafters: These are great for hanging lights, lanterns, garlands, fabric, etc… In fact, some couples even get married in the center of the room with the chandelier overhead and ceiling treatments such as paper lanterns radiating from the center.
• Steel Wall: At the front of the room, beside the freight elevator is a wonderful curved steel wall. It makes a great place to display pictures and memorabilia.
• Aesthetic flexibility: If you can dream it, you can do it. Don’t get me wrong, Ron and Sandy won’t let you hurt yourself, abuse the space, abuse them, break the furniture, etc… Still, if your florist or designer has a great new idea for the space, Ron and Sandy will stand back and applaud.

The Facts

So you’re sold, right? You just need a little information to be sure that the Berg is right for your wedding or event. Well I have what you need. Keep in mind that this info is accurate at the moment (March 08), but it’s certainly going to change over time.

• Rates: At the time of this writing, the Berg rates are $3000 on Saturdays and a bit less for other days (That’s a steal of a deal for such a great space).
• Max standing/seating room: The Berg Event Space can accommodate 250 people in a mixed standing/seating party.
• Max seating room: If all guests are to be seated at tables, the Berg Event Space can seat about 185.
• Ceremony & Reception in one location: Many couples like to have their wedding and reception in a single location. Sandy can accommodate with ease. The space can be configured in several different ways for a ceremony; then after the ceremony, the guests can mingle at the landing or in the courtyard while the Berg’s staff flips the room for the reception.
• Time Available: Rental rates include six hours for the event and four hours prior for set up. Last call is at Midnight. Additional hours needed are billed at $250 an hour.
• Security: The Berg Event Space requires a security guard to be on site for all events, and can provide one at a reasonable rate of $50 an hour.
• Extras: The rental fee includes a range of seating, amenities and decorative items. For full description, download the Berg Event Space Information Sheet.

To get the full picture, you should really visit the space. It’s located at 1525 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108. Make sure you call 816.842.8480 to schedule an appointment. Ask to speak to Sandy and tell her we sent you.
Berg Event Space Information Sheet
Berg Event Space Website

A few more images of the Berg Event Space