Behind the Scenes at Arcadia Academy Wedding Reception Venue in Missouri: A Day full of Love, Chaos, & Missouri Mood Swings

Chrystal Battaglia
Jun 28
5 min read

Ah, wedding day at the historic Arcadia Academy. A beautiful blend of love, family, joy, and that unmistakable scent of hairspray, the smell of Brisket smoking, and just a little bit of panic. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like behind the scenes of a wedding here in Arcadia Valley, buckle up. You’re about to get the full, unfiltered, family-infused experience with a generous side of Missouri’s bipolar weather and a pinch of Battaglia-Buechner-Christodora-level chaos.

8:00 AM – The Calm Before the Storm (aka Before Sam Finds Out Someone Touched Her Special Tub of Sour Cream)

Chef in a purple apron plates food in a kitchen. Trays of food sit on the counter. A person is visible through the window in a golf cart. — (AI Generated LOL)

Sam, our queen of catering, is already in the kitchen with a full playlist of aggressive 2000s pop and a look that says “touch my knife and you die.” Garrison, her loving husband and self-proclaimed “Cart Boy,” is driving in circles on the golf cart pretending to be working. No one asked him to but he is ready to take your Grandma on a ride.

Mom (Darla) pops in to share seven ideas she had overnight—none of which involve her executing them. Dad (Matt) has already leaf-blowed the back walkway, fixed 7 lightbulbs, mowed 15 acres, and forgot where he put his glasses. It’s 8:12 AM.

9:00 AM – Hair, Makeup, and Existential Dread (with a Mimosa Garnish)

The bridal suite is alive. Lashes are being glued, edges are being snatched, and someone’s already sweating under their Spanx. A bridesmaid asks if she can switch chairs because “the energy feels off in this corner.”

Meanwhile, the guys are in their suite trying to iron a tie with a flat iron and asking Jeremiah if the wi-fi is strong enough to stream the Cardinals game during the ceremony. The best man went wandering for the bathroom and we caught him

11:00 AM – Missouri Weather Mood Swing #1 at Reception Venues in Missouri

It’s sunny. No—it’s raining. Wait, is that… hail?

This is why we built multiple ceremony options. Outdoor by the pond? Check. Historic chapel? Check. Lawn outside the Chapel? You got it. Because Missouri weather has the emotional range of a toddler with a juice box and no nap.

Matt checks the radar and says we’re “not looking good.” Everyone knows that means absolutely nothing, he really just doesn't want to move 150 chairs or the girls' heels to ruin his grass.

12:30 PM – Mom Mode: Activated

Woman lights candle on set table in a rustic room. Another woman holds a trash bag, and a man in overalls sits nearby. Warm, cozy atmosphere. — Another AI photo because why not LOL

Chrystal is speed-walking across the property with a headset, a coffee she hasn't finished since 6am, and the haunted look of a woman who's already solved six crises and still hasn’t had a cinnamon roll. She’s calming a crying flower girl, retying someone’s bow tie, and somehow still managing to tell the DJ where the outlets are… without breaking stride.

Meanwhile, Ariel is in the bakery elbow-deep in dough, rolling her life away, baking four trays of dinner rolls, and side-eyeing anyone who dares to walk too close to the oven. Someone asks if they can help and Ariel doesn’t respond. She just turns slowly with a whisk in her hand like she’s about to enter combat.

3:00 PM – Ceremony Time (Cue the Ring Bearer Feral Moment)

Guests are seated. Matt is up in the balcony, beaming like the proud Academy Dad he is. The bridal party suddenly forget their names, who they are walking with and in what order. Chrystal straightens them out while she simultaneously rounds up the grandparents. The flower girl does a TikTok dance down the aisle. The ring bearer throws the rings and yells “touchdown.” No one stops him.

The couple kisses, everyone claps, and someone’s uncle whispers, “Well, that’s done, let’s drink.” (Honestly, same.)

4:00 PM – Cocktail Hour: Where the Real Magic Happens

Nicole, our tattooed, cocktail-slinging free spirit behind the bar, is slaying espresso martinis while reorganizing the bar for the fifth time today. No one asked her to, but we support her.

Guests are mingling, drinking, and telling each other “You clean up so well” like they’re surprised. A charcuterie board is now a battlefield. Tony is sneaking brisket bites from the back. Sam pretends not to see it.

6:00 PM – Reception: The Show Begins

Dinner is served. Sam’s food is cheffed to perfection.

Kathy is two steps ahead of everyone, wiping tables before guests even finish their bites, powered by nothing but pure adrenaline and Diet Dr. Pepper. She’s muttering under her breath about people not scraping plates and aggressively reorganizing the drink station for the third time because it “wasn’t flowing right.” She has already made 7 trips to the kitchen for paper towels, came back with butter knives and still forgot the paper towels.

And Dad? He’s in the back pretending to "oversee" the buffet line but mostly just moving food to the wrong chaffer because he refuses to wear his hearing aids. Chrystal yells “NOT THAT ONE!” for the fourth time while he proudly nods and does the exact opposite. He’s still somehow the MVP.

Speeches begin. The best man tells a story that starts in Cancun and ends with “and that’s why we no longer talk to Kyle.” Grandma is passing out butterscotch candies and judging the DJ’s playlist. Aunt Carol is on her third glass of champagne and starting to dance like no one’s watching—which is unfortunately not true.

8:30 PM – Dance Floor Drama & Auntie Shenanigans

It’s hot, it’s sweaty, and it’s glorious. Guests are two drinks in and fully committed to their choreography. Someone loses a shoe. Someone else proposes to their date (it’s their third one this year).

Sam’s in the kitchen whisper-yelling “Where’s the tin-foil?” while Tony dances in socks and accidentally starts a soul train. We roll with it.

Waylon and Graysen are zooming across the parking lot on a sugar high, probably unsupervised. Matt is sitting next to the fire pit like he’s guarding the perimeter. We are thriving.

10:00 PM – Send-Off Sparkles and Silent Screams

Sparklers are lit. Half the guests are crying. Someone’s confused about which exit to use. Grandma is trying to video with her phone and then steps right into the photographers view. Fail.

The couple makes their grand exit and whispers “That was amazing.” And it was. Because weddings at Arcadia Academy are a beautiful blend of love, laughter, and a little bit of chaos—just like the families that make them happen.

Plan Your Wedding with a Side of Realness (and Possibly a Weed Eater)

At Arcadia Academy, we don’t just host weddings—we live them. With transparent pricing, on-site everything, and a crew that’s equal parts talented and completely unhinged (in the best way), we’ve got your day covered.

You bring the vows. We’ll bring the cinnamon rolls, mimosas, backup ceremony plan, and probably a family member or two with a paint roller at 6am.

👉 www.arcadiaacademyweddings.com

bride and groom with dog in st josephs chapel in arcadia mo

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