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About Us

A Magical Location Located Just South of Topeka, KS

Located on 30 acres on the Water’s Edge of Strowbridge Reservoir near Carbondale, KS sits Willows Bend Wedding & Event Venue. The venue is surrounded by water on 3 sides that create a peaceful and tranquil setting unlike any other venue. Many brides and grooms refer to Willows Bend as a country but elegant destination wedding.

The venue is located on family property homesteaded back in the late 1800’s. There is a lot of tradition that surrounds Willows Bend and the owners Jim & Michele Shively live across the cove from the venue.

Jim & Michele love to help each bride and groom create a one of a kind wedding tailored to meet their vision and dreams. 

“Your Dreams begin on the waters edge at Willows Bend”

Your Dream Event

At Willows Bend, we can provide you with all of the resources you need to plan your perfect day.

  • Comprehensive Vendors List
  • Hotel Accommodations
  • Shuttle Service
  • Wedding Planner Recommendations

Your Dream Venue

Bridal Suite

A beautiful 800 sq ft bridal suite located upstairs featuring three barber chairs at the hair and make-up station, bathroom, love seat, couch, ottoman and an elevator for those who may need it.

Groomsmen’s Room

We have a spacious groomsmen room located downstairs for all the men in the bridal party to prepare for the big day.

The Balcony

The bridal suite has a balcony that overlooks the entire seating area and is used for the bride and groom’s surprise entrance. Above the balcony is a wedding bell the bride and groom can ring after their entrance.

The Space

Downstairs the venue can comfortably seat 300 guests, leaving the center section open for dancing. The room is fully automated, with the push of a button the venue goes dark with the latest in sight and sound with the colored lights and the most modern sound system specifically designed for the room.

All Inclusive

Your Perfect Day

Wedding Reviews

Choosing Willows Bend for our wedding was truly one of the best decisions we have ever made! I cannot say enough wonderful things about this venue and the incredible people who helped make our wedding day everything I had always dreamed of and more! Willows Bend is absolutely breathtaking, and it was the perfect place to celebrate such a special day. From the beautiful scenery to the gorgeous venue itself, everything was exactly what I had envisioned for our wedding. It was truly a dream come true, and I wish I could go back and relive every moment! What makes Willows Bend so special, though, is the people behind it. Jim and Michele are some of the kindest, most genuine people you will ever meet. They truly care about their couples and go above and beyond to make sure everything comes together beautifully. They made the entire experience so wonderful, and we are incredibly thankful for all the time, care, and effort they put into our day. Leslie was an absolute LIFESAVER on our wedding day! I genuinely don’t know what we would have done without her. She is hands down the best wedding coordinator a bride could ever ask for! She made sure everything ran smoothly, handled all the little details, and took so much stress off our shoulders. Because of her, we were able to be fully present and enjoy every second of our wedding. I cannot recommend her enough! Aaron, our DJ, was absolutely amazing as well! He did such a wonderful job throughout the reception, and the photo booth he set up was a HUGE hit with our guests! Everyone had so much fun with it, and it was such a great addition to our evening. We also had fireworks and cold sparks, which made the night even more magical! Those moments were some of our absolute favorites and made our celebration feel like something out of a fairytale. I also loved that we were able to choose our own outside vendors and really make the day our own. Everything came together so beautifully, and every penny we spent was worth it. The entire experience exceeded our expectations! Our wedding day was genuinely the most beautiful and unforgettable day of our lives. It was everything I had hoped and prayed for, and I am so thankful we chose Willows Bend to be part of such a special memory. The venue is stunning, but the people are what truly make it exceptional. If you are considering Willows Bend for your wedding, I cannot recommend it enough! I would choose them again a thousand times over. Thank you, Jim, Michele, Leslie, and Aaron, for helping make our wedding day so incredibly special. We will forever look back on that day with so much happiness and gratitude. Willows Bend will always hold such a special place in our hearts! 🤍

Grace Jacas 
Grace Jacas

My daughter was just married here last weekend. So many people commented that it was a “fairytale wedding”, and “how did you get it to go so smoothly?”, and I must agree. The venue itself is gorgeous and has so many features. The outside ceremony area near the water is perfect. The building has a wonderful bride’s room, curved staircase which is perfect for pictures, and warm wood structure throughout. The lighting is awesome for both dinner and dancing later. The vendors the team uses are top notch, and you can tell they work with each other often, so the whole event goes off without a hitch. If we could do it again we absolutely would change nothing. I cannot thank Willows Bend, Jim, Michele and their team enough! My daughter truly had the wedding she dreamed about.

Clayton Janasek 
Clayton Janasek

When my husband and I decided to get married here at Willows Bend, we were blown away by the gorgeous landscape, and well thought through layout of the building. We had some unexpected life situations come up and had to push our wedding back a year. Jim and Michelle were very understanding, outlined their expectations for us to move the date, and helped us get things moved around. Then, my family experienced a tragedy 7 months before our wedding when my brother was hit by a pickup truck that drove through the building he was sitting in. He did not survive. When I communicated this tragedy to Michelle, she immediately offered to push the date out again, even though they typically only allow moving the date once, since this was such an unexpected and unique situation. I thanked her, but we opted to keep our date, October 31, 2025. My family is from Mexico on my father’s side, and we had decided 2 years ago to have a Day of Dead themed wedding. In the Mexican culture, Day of the Dead is when our loved ones who have passed are able to come back and visit the living. It felt like my brother was still invited to my wedding. Leslie, our day of coordinator, worked very hard to make sure our day went as smoothly and perfectly as it possibly could have. Aaron was absolutely incredible as the DJ/MC for our wedding. Jim and Michelle were wonderful to work with, and Colton and I would both highly recommend Willows Bend for anyone looking for a beautiful place to get married.

Bekah Juarez Married on 10/31/25
Bekah Juarez

I cannot recommend this venue highly enough! From start to finish, our experience was nothing short of perfect. The venue itself is absolutely stunning — every corner is beautiful and thoughtfully designed, creating the ideal setting for a memorable celebration. Whether you’re looking for something classic or modern, the venue has an elegance that will make your wedding day truly special. What truly made our experience exceptional, though, was the incredible service from the owners, Jim and Michele. They were hands-on from the very beginning, offering expert advice, answering every question, and providing thoughtful suggestions to help make our wedding day seamless. Their attention to detail and genuine care for us as a couple was clear throughout the entire planning process. On the big day itself, Jim and Michele were there every step of the way, ensuring everything went smoothly and that we didn’t have to worry about a thing. Thanks to their support, our wedding day was completely stress-free, and we were able to fully enjoy every moment. If you’re looking for a beautiful venue with amazing owners who truly care about making your wedding day perfect, look no further. I’m beyond grateful for Jim and Michele and the wonderful experience they provided!

Haileigh M. Married on 09/13/2024
Haileigh M.
Your Journey Begins At

Willows Bend

Book a tour today or read through our Frequently Asked Questions for more info.
We are available for tours from 8 am – 10 pm each day of the week.
See you at the water's edge!

Willows Bend
S Berryton Rd E 141st Street,
Carbondale, KS 66414

Jim & Michele Shively
(785) 633-7334 or (785) 633-7335
info@wbwed.com