St. John’s Chapel by the creek

Nothing says romance like establishing a wedding chapel on your 10th wedding anniversary, and that is exactly what Mike and Leslie Klanchar, owners of St. John’s Chapel by the Creek, did on September 28, 2012. They have now gone on to host more than 250 weddings over the past 11 years, each with its own unique ambiance.

Mike and Leslie both have a background in the hotel business. He was the Manager of the Clarion Hotel in Branson and she worked for Choice Hotels International. Leslie credits a co-worker who knew they were both single, with arranging a meeting. Six months after that Mike called and asked Leslie out for their first date, and they were married 11 months later. But the chapel idea didn’t come immediately. 

“My mom and I had attended a wedding in Northwest Arkansas at this little stone chapel,” Leslie said, “And I looked at it and thought, I think Mike and I could do something like that on our property, only bigger and with a reception area.” Two years later, St. John’s Chapel by the Creek became a reality. 

They were planning the chapel when Leslie’s father John F. Lovell, Jr. passed away quite suddenly. The couple named their son John in his memory, and it seemed only fitting to name the chapel likewise. “The name John has actually been a family name now for over 4 generations,” Leslie said.

The venue allows each wedding to have its own special look and feel, and many of the weddings are designed and executed by the bride, her family, and friends. “Even with limited flowers and decor, the surroundings with the creek, the rock, and nature allow a wedding to feel over the top,” Leslie said. As guests arrive and walk over the bridge, they are immediately greeted by music playing in the trees as they enter the chapel grounds. 

“It really is a romantic sound in the air mixed with all the beauty of nature,” Leslie said. In the evening as everyone departs, spotlights illuminate the water and the bride and groom are driven away in a classic 1938 Vintage White Chevy.

And according to Leslie, each wedding is different and unique. One of the weddings featured a printed vinyl floor custom designed by the bride for the dance floor. And this year, an artist came to paint the ceremony while it was happening. “She sketched during the ceremony itself and then started the watercolor art during the reception,” Leslie said. “It was amazing to see that canvas become a custom piece for the bride and groom to treasure for the rest of their lives.” 

St John’s Chapel by the Creek can host weddings of all sizes but specializes in up to 200 guests for an outdoor event and typically 120 for an indoor ceremony. The grounds also include Oakwood Terrance, a 4000 sq ft pavilion featuring a stone fireplace, bride’s room, service kitchen and stone patio.  Tours are by appointment and usually couples start planning about one year out, but Leslie says they have also booked ceremonies as quickly as one month ahead.

“We have been blessed to get to work with wonderful couples,” Leslie said. “We have had two sets of siblings get married a few years apart. We love seeing our couples when we go out and getting to follow them as their families grow on social media. Having some couples come back to do maternity and family photos is always fun. It lets us know that we really do have a special place to start memories that last a lifetime.”

Another thing that is very important to both Mike and Leslie is the practice of supporting Saline County businesses as their preferred vendors, although they are not limited to anyone exclusively.

“We do offer a complete planning guide with preferred vendors listed,” Leslie said. “They have been to St. John’s Chapel many times and they know the complete layout and our set-up practices.” St. John’s Chapel also offers planning and coordination of the wedding day with every booking. “We try to go above and beyond with what we provide in order to make our couples’ day run as smoothly as possible,” she said.

Above all, St. John’s Chapel by the Creek is family owned and operated. “We pour our heart and soul into the wedding day, but we also work hard before the wedding,” Leslie said. Along with their staff they will mow, clean, and pressure wash the pavilion to ensure everything is pristine for the day. They even include a parking attendant to direct guests as they arrive and assist in loading and unloading supplies with the vendors as they arrive with décor and food.

“We are there from the time the gate opens until long after the bride and groom leave for the honeymoon,” Leslie said. “We want them to feel they had the personal attention to every last detail to make sure their day is everything they dreamed of.”