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Iowa Taproom Wedding - Carissa & Jeffrey
Carissa and Jeffrey walked down the aisle as husband and wife to a classical version of the Star Wars theme song beaming. They kept their ceremony short but there wasn’t a shortage of tears and smiles during it. Instead of taking additional photos during their cocktail hour they hung out with their guests and ate the delicious appetizers they hand picked out. They didn’t rush from one thing to the next; they enjoyed each moment and I loved being a part of it.
Carissa and Jeffrey walked down the aisle as husband and wife to a classical version of the Star Wars theme song beaming. They kept their ceremony short but there wasn’t a shortage of tears and smiles during it. Instead of taking additional photos during their cocktail hour they hung out with their guests and ate the delicious appetizers they hand picked out. They didn’t rush from one thing to the next; they enjoyed each moment and I loved being a part of it.
Do what you want on your wedding day, not what you think your mom wants (no offense moms) or what Pinterest tells you is tradition. Do what you want to do on your wedding day. You won’t regret it.
Des Moines Metro Wedding Venue Guide
An exhaustive list of the current Des Moines metro wedding venue. This isn’t a little list that teases you with 5 options, but leaves you still searching. This is an in-depth list that includes the important information about each venue, so you can know what to do next when you find a venue that interests you.
When wedding planning finding the right venue that’s available, in your budget and that you can envision getting married can be overwhelming. As a wedding photographer, I have the privilege to visit and photograph many different venues. Below is an exhaustive list of the Des Moines metro wedding venue options. This isn’t a list that teases you with 5 options and leaves you still searching. This is an in-depth list that includes the important information about each venue, so you know what to do next when you find a venue that interests you. If I have photographed at the location I’m also including a blog post, so you can preview the space without an visit in person 🙂 The 50+ venues are broken out into four categories (plus one a bonus category at the end): Des Moines wedding venues, Des Moines outdoor venues, Des Moines Metro wedding venues and Des Moines Intimate wedding venues. No matter what you are looking for there is a venue in Des Moines for your wedding day!
Des Moines Wedding Venues
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
909 Robert D. Ray Dr, Des Moines, IA 50309
Style: Tropical with Indoor & Outdoor Space Available
Guest Count: up to 220
ALISON & CALEB
Teachout Building
500 E Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Style: Historic, Industrial, Indoor Space
Guest Count: 250 people standing, 200 seated
TIA & ZACH
Rollins Mansion
2801 Fleur Dr, Des Moines, IA 50321
Style: Historic, Elegant with Indoor & Outdoor Space Available
Guest Count: 125 in outdoor ceremony space
KATHRYN & TREVOR
The Tea Room
713 Walnut St UNIT 600, Des Moines, IA 50309
Style: Modern, Elegant, Indoor Space
Guest Count: up to 300
KELLY & NICK
BashDSM
1312 Locust St #101, Des Moines, IA 50309
Style: Historic, Industrial, Indoor Space
Guest Count: up to 300
DELANEY & JUSTIN
The Loft DSM
100 Indiana Ave 2nd floor, Des Moines, IA 50314
Style: Historic, Industrial, Indoor Space
Guest Count: Up to 280
MIRANDA & COLLIN
River Center
340 SW 3rd St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Style: Urban, Industrial, Indoor Space
Guest Count: 300+
Iowa Taproom
https://iowataproom.com/events
215 E 3rd St #100, Des Moines, IA 50309
Style: Urban, Industrial, Indoor Space
Guest Count: up to 200
CARISSA & JEFFREY
The Big Room at Mainframe Studios
https://mainframestudios.org/venue
900 Keosauqua Way, Des Moines, IA
Style: Contemporary, Industrial, Indoor Space
Guest Count: up to 250
LINDSEY & JORDAN
Curate
322 E Court Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309
Style: Contemporary, Industrial, Indoor Space
Guest Count: 300+
TAYLOR & JEREMY
Willow on Grand
6011 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa
Style: Modern Cottage
Guest Count: up to 300
Hotel Fort Des Moines
1000 Walnut St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Style: Historic, Elegant, Indoor Space
Guest Count: up to 250
Des Moines Scottish Rite Consistory
519 Park St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Style: Traditional, Indoor Space
Guest Count: 300+
Des Moines Embassy Clubhouse
7th and Grand Ave/34th Floor, Des Moines, IA
Style: Classic, Indoor Space
Guest count: 300+
Jasper Winery
2400 George Flagg Pkwy, Des Moines, IA 50321
Style: Estate-style with Indoor & Outdoor Space Available
Guest Count: up to 250
Des Moines Heritage Center
120 E 5th St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Style: Modern, Historic with Indoor & Outdoor Space Available
The Depot Guest Count: up to 80
The Center Guest Count: up to 300
The Conservatory
315 E 5th St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Style: Contemporary, Indoor Space
Guest Count: up to 275
Sherwood Forest Event Center
7400 Hickman Rd, Des Moines, IA 50325
Style: Industrial Chic, Indoor Space
Guest Count: up to 250
Blank Park Zoo
7401 SW 9th St, Des Moines, IA 50315
Style: Nature based with Indoor & Outdoor Space Available
Guest Count: up to 300
The Science Center
401 W Martin Luther King Jr Pkwy, Des Moines, IA 50309
Style: Industrial, Museum, Indoor Space
Guest Count: up to 400
Salisbury House & Gardens
4025 Tonawanda Dr, Des Moines, IA 50312
Style: Tutor, Gothic with Indoor & Outdoor Space Available
Guest Count: up to 300
Des Moines Outdoor Ceremony Sites
Brenton Skating Plaza
520 Robert D. Ray Dr, Des Moines, IA 50309
Style: Industrial, City
Guest count: up to 430 seated
Greenwood Park - Clare & Mills Rose Garden
4500 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312
Style: Garden Party
Guest count: up to 200
Sylvan Theater / Greenwood Park Outdoor Theater
4500 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312
Style: Nature, Wooded
Guest count: up to 200
Simon Estes Amphitheater
75 W Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Style: City, Downtown Backdrop
Guest Count: up to 1,200
Long Look Garden (behind city hall)
400 Robert D Ray Drive, Des Moines, IA 50309
Style: Traditional, Garden Party
Guest Count: up to 100
Denman Memorial Fountain
2201 George Flagg Pkwy, Des Moines, IA 50321
Style: Nature Based
Guest Count: Unknown
Shattering Silence Monument
1111 East Court Avenue, Des Moines
Style: Modern, Artistic
Guest Count: Unknown
Gray’s Lake Park - Christine Hensley Terrace
2101 Fleur Drive, Des Moines, IA 50321
Style: Outdoor, Modern, Nature
Guest Count: up to 300
Union Park Floral Garden
725 Thompson Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50316
Style: Nature
Guest Count: up to 250
Principal Park
1 Line Dr, Des Moines, IA 50309
Style: Sporty
Guest Count: up to 300
Jamie Hurd Amphitheater in West Des Moines
4100 Mills Civic Pkwy, West Des Moines, IA 50265
Style: Modern, Nature
Guest Count: Up to 2000
Wedding Venues In the Des Moines Metro
Glen Oaks Country Club
1401 Glen Oaks Dr, West Des Moines, IA 50266
Style: Traditional, Elegant with Indoor & Outdoor Options
Guest Count: up to 300
Decades Event Center
1208 Grand Ave, West Des Moines, IA 50265
Style: Rustic, Indoor Space
Guest Count: up to 250
Toast
1345 SW Park Square Drive, Ankeny, IA 50023
Style: Industrial Chic
Guest count: up to 400
The District Venue
1350 SW Vintage Pkwy, Ankeny, IA 50023
Style: Modern, indoor space
Guest count: up to 350
Hyperion Field Club
7390 NW Beaver Dr, Johnston, IA 50131
Style: Contemporary Country Club
Guest count: up to 300
The Simpson Barn
6169 Northglenn Dr, Johnston, IA 50131
Style: Rustic
Guest count: up to 170
Stoney Creek Conference Center
5291 Stoney Creek Court, Johnston, IA 50131
Style: Traditional, Rustic
Guest count: up to 300
Irishman Acres
8382 NE 88th St, Bondurant, IA 50035
Style: Modern Rustic
Guest count: 250+
Happy Apple Celebrations
3408 Clarke St, Norwalk, IA 50211
Style: Country Chic, Rustic
Guest count: up to 500
Carper Vineyard & Winery
4603 Dakota St, Norwalk, IA 50211
Style: Contemporary Country, Indoor & Outdoor Options Available
Guest count: 300+
Country Lane Lodge
29300 Prospect Cir, Adel, IA 50003
Style: Country Chic, Indoor & Outdoor Options Available
Guest count: up to 400
Barnes Place
20932 350th St, Adel, IA 50003
Style: Rustic, Indoor & Outdoor Options Available
Guest count: up to 250
The Hive at Busy Bee
5901 Hwy 65-69, Indianola, IA 50125
Style: Modern, Indoor & Outdoor Options Available
Guest count: up to 300
Jester Park Lodge
11121 NW Jester Park Dr, Granger, IA 50109
Style: Country, Rustic
Guest count: up to 250
Intimate Wedding Venues in Des Moines
Vows DSM
111 E Grand Avenue , #109 - East Village
Style: Urban
Guest count: up to 70
The Small Room at Mainframe Studios
900 Keosauqua Way, Des Moines, IA
Style: Contemporary
Guest count: 20-25
Surtley Hotel
206 6th Avenue, Des Moines, IA
Style: Elegant, Modern, indoor space
Guest count: up to 150
Windsor Heights Community Center Pavilion (Colby Park)
6900 School St, Windsor Heights, IA 50324
Style: Modern Rustic, Indoor & Outdoor Options Available
Guest Count: 70-150
The Riverwalk Hub
215 Water St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Style: Modern, Urban
Guest count: 32 inside, 45 outside. There is an additional plaza that can be rented, which seats 75.
Noce DSM
1326 Walnut St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Style: Jazz, Moody
Guest Count: up to 180
BAYLIE & AARON
The Thoreau Center
3500 Kingman Blvd, Des Moines, IA 50311
Style: Historic
Guest Count: up to 50
The Republic on Grand
401 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309
Style: Modern Sophisticated
Guest Count: up to 60
West End Architectural Salvage
22 9th St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Style: Vintage, Eclectic
Guest Count: 100 comfortably, 200 max
Raccoon River Park Nature Lodge
500 Grand Ave, West Des Moines, IA 50265
Style: Nature
Guest Count: up to 120
Revel Hotel
11211 Hickman Rd, Urbandale, IA 50322
Style: Modern
Guest Count: up to 70
Living History Farms
11121 Hickman Rd, Urbandale, IA 50322
Style: Historical, Rustic
Church of the Land Guest Count: 130 seated
Visitors Center Guest Count: 155 seated
Flynn Barn Guest Count: 160 seated
William G. Murray Education Center: 55 seated
Hotel Renovo
1167 Hickman Rd, Urbandale, IA 50322
Style: Modern
Guest count: up to 150
Looking for something different & Up for a drive?
The Prelude
20632 35th Ave, New Virginia, IA 50210
Style: Modern, Romantic, and Regal
Guest Count: up to 175
Iris Aisle
2352 Holliwell Bridge Rd, Winterset, IA 50273
Style: Whimsical Victorian Conservatory
Guest Count: up to 75
Eagle’s Ledge
1892 330th St. , Madrid, IA, 50156
Style: Modern, Indoor & Outdoor Available
Guest Count: up to 420
Comment below if you think I missed one and need to add it to the list ✨
I want to be an asset to your wedding day!
Iowa Spring Wedding - Stephani & Colton
Stephani and Colton officially got married last summer in their families backyard so grandparents could attend. This Spring they wanted to celebrate with all their family and friends 🙂 They decided to focus on their blended family and not have a wedding party. Even though their wedding day was technically their second wedding the day was just as special and emotional.
Stephani and Colton officially got married last summer in their families backyard so grandparents could attend. This Spring they wanted to celebrate with all their family and friends 🙂 They decided to focus on their blended family and not have a wedding party. Even though their wedding day was technically their second wedding the day was just as special and emotional. I knew Stephani from high school and she has always been a talented artist. She made her invites, all the florals, ceremony backdrop and table decor herself. Scroll through to see the emotion and beautiful details of Stephani and Colton’s wedding day 😍
The Teachout Building Wedding - Zach & Tia
Zach and Tia celebrated their wedding day at the Teachout Builidng in downtown Des Moines. From Tia’s bold makeup to their surprise choreographed first dance they created themselves (that was amazing and so them) I had so much fun photographing every single element of their day.
Zach and Tia celebrated their wedding day at the Teachout Builidng in downtown Des Moines. From Tia’s bold makeup to their surprise choreographed first dance they created themselves (that was amazing and so them) I had so much fun photographing every single element of their day. Throughout the day they radiated joy and it was infectious. One thing I loved about their day was how obvious it was that they were there to celebrate and fully enjoy the day. Photos were a priority for them so we scheduled 3 separate times for portraits with just the two of them: after their first look, after the ceremony and at sunset, which I loved. At each time of the day the lighting was completely different and we had the opportunity to go to 3 locations within minutes of one another for a fun different feel. Zach and Tia made their wedding day exactly what they wanted and it was a blast to to photograph.
If you are wedding planning and struggling with people pleasing look through these photos and take them as a not so subtle hint to make your wedding day exact what you want 🥰
Vendors
Location: The Teachout Building
Videographer: Sanders Visual
Decor: Borrow my Vintage
Dress: Perry Bridal
Hair: Oliver & James Salon
Makeup: Laynee Rietz
Dessert: Molly’s Cupcakes
Caterer: Cosi Cucina
Randi Kate & Brad Wedding - Decorah Iowa
Randi-Kate and Brad were high school sweethearts who said I do to forever at Decorah Lutheran Church in front of all their family and friends. The amount of support and love they had from their family and friend was so sweet and very evident throughout their wedding day. Although it was oddly warm and there was no snow in sight these two still had a beautiful winter wonderland wedding day.
Randi-Kate and Brad were high school sweethearts who said I do to forever at Decorah Lutheran Church in front of all their family and friends. The amount of support and love they had from their family and friend was so sweet and very evident throughout their wedding day. Although it was oddly warm and there was no snow in sight these two still had a beautiful winter wonderland wedding day 🙂
For their reception Brad and Randi-Kate celebrated at T-bocks located in the heart of downtown Decorah.
Hi, I'm Megan!
Thanks for stopping by my corner of the internet! I’m a Des Moines wedding photographer passionate about serving couples through photography. I also love planning, spending time with family & friends, all forms of potatoes, and being in nature.