Wedding season is in full bloom, and we can’t wait to share the beautiful photos from real weddings and inspired wedding pros! Remember, you can always submit your own big day online for a chance to be featured in an upcoming issue.
We kick things off with a bold, edgy styled shoot by wedding gown designer Sarah Beals of Dame & Maiden, captured perfectly by Raelyn Ramey Photography. This striking collaboration shows how daring details and unconventional touches can really set your wedding apart. We’re also shining a light on the planners and designers who pull every detail together. Check out our Vendor LUST pages for expert tips, plus a curated list of pros who can bring your vision to life. You’ll find plenty of local experts ready to make your day unforgettable.
In “It’s My Big Day,” we spotlight two special celebrations. First, Taylor + Trevor’s romantic Eastern Iowa wedding, featuring a timeless green color palette, lush greenery, and thoughtful personal touches that tell their love story. Meanwhile, Ivy + Bryce’s Central Iowa celebration brims with heartfelt moments and classic style—from elegantly crafted décor to a memorable first look, perfectly capturing the joy of friends and family.
We hope these stories spark fresh ideas for your own plans. For a FREE copy of Heartland Wedding Ideas delivered straight to your door, sign up at heartlandweddingideas.com/ido-crew-signup, and let the inspiration continue. Happy planning!
CALL OR TEXT: 515.635.1608 | EMAIL: info@HeartlandWeddingIdeas.com
WEBSITE: HeartlandWeddingIdeas.com
Follow us!
We’re on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. For inspiring ideas, local weddings, events, and vendor spotlights, follow our feed: @heartlandweddingideas.
HWI MAY/JUNE 2025
STYLED SHOOT: ROCK ’N ROLL ELOPEMENT 4-8
VENDOR LUST: EVENT PLANNING & DECOR 12-16
20-26
IT’S MY BIG DAY: TAYLOR + TREVOR
30-34
IT’S MY BIG DAY: IVY + BRYCE
Special thanks to this crew:
Marissa Sakakhanone
Designer + Digital Media Manager
Kelly Visser Copy Editor
COVER: BROOKE PAVEL
PUBLISHER: HEARTLAND WEDDING PARTNERS
PRINTING: SUTHERLAND PRINTING
Rock’n Roll Elopement
An album cover in the making.
by Brianne perfects the look with these effortless curls.
Gas up the bus, check the mics, this hard rock elopement is about to take the stage! We’re starstruck with the edgy, vintage, impromptu vibes of this styled shoot Dame & Maiden curated with fabulous Central Iowa wedding vendors.
Tattoo “I Do's,” bridal fringe, and a tambourine bouquet strike the right chord for these bandmates turned lovers, and we’re cheering for an encore.
MEET THE WEDDING PROS
CONCEPT, WARDROBE, WEDDING DRESS DESIGN
DAME & MAIDEN
PHOTOGRAPHER:
RAELYN RAMEY PHOTOGRAPHY
SET DESIGN & FLORAL:
UPCYCLED DSM, LE DESIGN, CC DECOR, HANK’S VINTAGE DESIGN
HAIR: HAIR BY BRIANNE
MAKEUP: KELSI ZIEMANN ARTISTRY
MODELS: SIERRA, ELI CLARK, MAGGIE SENN, OTHER BROTHERS, SHAY JOHNSON
VINTAGE CLOTHING: B’S KNEES VINTAGE
CAKE: HY-VEE
HAND LETTERED SHEET MUSIC: TENACIOUS TIMBERS
GRAPHIC DESIGN: BRAD WILLEMSEN
Hair
What about this pant suit from Dame
The creativity of this shoot is next level, so many fantastic details that fit the vibe perfectly.
& Maiden? AHHH.
We can’t even with the orange Elvis suit.
Raelyn Ramey nailed it with these vintage feeling photos.
So many incredible textures, and of course disco balls, on this tablescape.
The eyes! The cheeks! The lips! Kelsi Ziemann always delivers the most stunning makeup.
VENDOR lust
SPOTLIGHT ON EVENT PLANNING & DECOR
HIRING A PLANNER
It’s tempting to think, “I love parties — I can handle this!” But a wedding planner can recommend reliable wedding pros that match your style, coordinate them seamlessly, and catch any missing details, saving you stress. They’ve planned countless weddings, so they know what works.
Even if you'd like to manage most details yourself, consider a “Day Of” Coordinator to handle logistics while you’re getting ready and greeting guests. They’ll also oversee cleanup, so your family can enjoy the celebration instead of stripping linens and dismantling tables.
Either way, planners book up fast, so reserve yours early — even if you don’t need them until the week of your wedding!
OUR PREMIER PLANNERS
Complete Weddings + Events // Des Moines & Eastern Iowa Wedding Shows (Planning Event) // Era Events & Design
YOUR DECOR & RENTALS
Decide if you’re buying or renting decor. If you don’t want to resell everything, rent! Buying items like linens often isn’t worth the hassle. If you have a very specific look in mind, a rental company might not carry the exact piece, but many offer a wide range of specialty items these days. An experienced planner who’s partnered with multiple rental vendors can help you find what you need, and might even have extras on hand (like table numbers, votives, or frames) to complete your vision.
OUR PREMIER DECOR RENTALS
Beyond Elegance // Era Events & Design
Meet our Heartland Premier Wedding Pros
Beyond Elegance
Era Events & Design
Complete Weddings & Events
VENDOR
lust
ATTIRE & TAILORING
Celebrations Couture
WEST DES MOINES, IA celebrationscouturedsm.com
Merci's Tailoring CEDAR RAPIDS, IA mercistailoring.com
Skeffington's Formal Wear DES MOINES, IA skeffingtons.com
BEAUTY & WELLNESS
Hello Darlin' Glam DES MOINES, IA hellodarlinglam.com
Indian Creek Dental MARION, IA smileinmarion.com
vIVid Wellness / Aesthetics / Lifestyle DES MOINES & NORWALK, IA livin-vivid.com
CATERING
Baratta's DES MOINES, IA barattas.com
Cedar Ridge Distillery SWISHER, IA cedarridgedistillery.com
Hy-Vee Catering & Deli IOWA hy-vee.com/stores
CAKE & DESSERT
ChaCha’s Hiland Bakery DES MOINES, IOWA chachashilandbakery.com
Hy-Vee Bakery IOWA hy-vee.com/stores
DECOR & RENTALS
Beyond Elegance Party Rentals WEST DES MOINES, IA beyondelegance.com
DECOR & RENTALS (CONTINUED)
Era Events & Design DES MOINES, IA eraeventdesign.com
Royal Rental Co., Restroooms IOWA rentwithroyal.com
DRINKS
& BARTENDING
Apres Bar Co. DES MOINES, IA apresbarco.com
Your Private Bar WEST DES MOINES, IA yourprivatebar.com
EVENT PLANNING
Complete Weddings + Events CLIVE, IA completewedo.com
Des Moines Wedding Show CENTRAL IOWA desmoinesweddingshow.com
Eastern Iowa Wedding Show
IOWA CITY / CEDAR RAPIDS easterniowaweddingshow.com
Era Events & Design DES MOINES, IA eraeventdesign.com
FLORAL
Hy-Vee Floral IOWA hy-vee.com/stores
MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT
Complete Weddings + Events CLIVE, IA completewedo.com
DJ DAS Entertainment DES MOINES, IA dj-das.com
MicDrop Entertainment DES MOINES, IA micdropentertainment515.com
VENDOR
lust
MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT
(CONTINUED)
Silver Fox DJ DES MOINES, IA dj-silverfox.com
SnapXP Photobooth WEST DES MOINES, IA snapxp.com
Vows & Vibes DES MOINES, IA vowsandvibes.com
OFFICIANT
Vows & Vibes
DES MOINES, IA vowsandvibes.com
PHOTOGRAPHY
Complete Weddings + Events CLIVE, IA completewedo.com
Katie McDonald Photography DES MOINES, IA katiemcdonaldphotography.com
Studio Anne Photography
DES MOINES, IA studioanne.co
Sweet Story Photography DES MOINES, IA sweetstoryphoto.com
STATIONERY & GIFTS
Humble Hands DES MOINES, IA humblehandsjg.com
TandemHart Paperie
DES MOINES, IA tandemhartpaperie.com
TRAVEL & HONEYMOON
Mosaic Shores Travel Co.
DES MOINES, IA mosaicshores.com
VENUES
1868 Farmhouse
BOONE, IA 1868farmhouse.com
VENUES (CONTINUED)
Barnes' Place ADEL, IA barnes-place.com
BeerStyles Taproom & GastroPub
WEST DES MOINES, IA beerstyles.com
Cedar Ridge Distillery
SWISHER, IA cedarridgedistillery.com
The Chateau
CAMBRIDGE, IA whiteoakchateau.com
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden DES MOINES, IA dmbotanicalgarden.com
Iowa State Fairgrounds DES MOINES, IA iowastatefairgrounds.org
Old Brick IOWA CITY, IA oldbrick.org
Pella Opera House PELLA, IA pellaoperahouse.org
Prairie Meadows Event Center ALTOONA, IA prairiemeadows.com
Scottish Rite Consistory DES MOINES, IA dmscottishrite.org
Sherwood Forest Event Center
WINDSOR HEIGHTS, IA sherwoodforesteventcenter.com
WineStyles
WEST DES MOINES / JOHNSTON / ANKENY / CORALVILLE / CEDAR RAPIDS winestyles.com
Windsor Heights Community Center and Pavilion
WINDSOR HEIGHTS, IA windsorheights.org
World Food Prize, Hall of Laureates DES MOINES, IA halloflaureates.org
VIDEOGRAPHY
Filmmaking Masters
CENTRAL IOWA filmmakingmasters.com
IVY + BRYCE
TAYLOR + TREVOR
LOVE IN BLOOM TAYLOR + TREVOR
Taylor and Trevor's love story began in a classic Iowa fashion — at an Iowa vs. Iowa State tailgate party. What started as a friendship turned into something more, and a few years later, Trevor popped the big question while on a vacation to Mexico. Taylor was totally surprised but gladly said “yes” on the beach surrounded by family and friends.
For their wedding day, the couple went with a natural and simple vibe, inspired by white garden flowers with green accents. “I’d been dreaming about this day for so long, so picking out colors, vendors, and stationery was so much fun!” Taylor said.
While she loved getting into the details and creating their own personalized stationery, the most important thing to the couple was that their wedding stayed true to who they are — laid-back, fun, and full of love.
When it came to pulling together the right vendors for their day, reviews were key. “I did most of my research online, checking out vendor work and reviews,” Taylor explained. “And in Iowa, everyone knows someone, so word of mouth helped a lot too.”
A huge help in making their day come together was Elizabeth Bliss Events. Taylor raves about how she helped the day run smoothly, recommended wedding professionals, and handled all the little details and fixed hiccups before anyone ever knew there might be an issue. She also perfectly coordinated the extra rental details with Unique Events to complete the space.
The Exchange on Vine in Riverside, Iowa, was perfect for the intimate wedding they envisioned — surrounded by rolling hills and a private pond, the space felt secluded and
These pops of green are perfect.
peaceful. The blank canvas interior, with its huge windows and tons of natural light, made everything feel bright and airy. There were so many personal touches throughout their day — so we give BIG kudos to Alexa Karen Photography for capturing every detail and moment beautifully, reflecting the day’s light, crisp feel.
One of the most special moments was when Trevor’s grandma made Taylor’s veil, stitching their last name and wedding date on the edge. His other grandma made Taylor’s getting-ready robe out of his mom’s wedding dress, creating a stunning robe with lace and silk that made the moment even more meaningful. So much love!
A big benefit of the venue is the gorgeous outdoor ceremony space, with benches and a walkway. Taylor was absolutely stunning in her modern fit and flare dress with delicate flower details, and of course, their pups made an adorable appearance as ring bearers.
Taylor says the vows were a highlight of their special day. They had a family friend officiate
and the couple was torn between saying the vows privately or during the ceremony, but in the end, they decided to speak them in front of everyone.
Their first dance was just as memorable. Instead of just dancing, they recorded heartfelt messages for one another to play during the song. She says it was so fun to hear each other’s feelings for the first time while we were dancing. Then DJ DAS did what he does best — he got the dance floor rocking and everyone was ready to dance the night away!
Taylor’s best advice for other couples? “Make the day your own, and be sure to include your fiancé in the planning. It makes the process way less stressful! And at the end of the day, no matter what happened, you get to be married.”
Cheers to Taylor and Trevor on their forever love story!
The white parasols were such a fun photo opp!
How darling are these napkins?
These gorgeous floral cake details are the definition of too pretty to eat (almost!) — Parinda Cupcakes always nails it.
Such a fun idea to line the aisle with stemmed white floral buds.
TAYLOR + TREVOR
WEDDING MOOD
WEDDING STYLE
CLASSIC, NATURAL, EARTHY
COLOR PALETTE
VENDOR LUST
PREMIER VENDORS
Reception Music DJ DAS Entertainment
ALL VENDORS
Photographer Alexa Karen Photography
Videographer BellaJean Photo and Film | Event
Planner & Coordinator Elizabeth Bliss Events
Venue The Exchange on Vine | Caterer Dostal
Catering | Cake & Dessert Parinda Cupcakes
Bartending The Exchange on Vine | Floral
Flourish by Faith | Tuxes Bauman & Co.
Bridesmaids Dresses Birdy Grey | Hair Aurora
Blush Beauty | Makeup Makeup by Danielle
Tanning Your Tanning Bar | Stationery DIY by bride | Programs Newspaper Club
Jewelry Siebke and Hoyt | Ceremony Music
Starlight Audio | Extra Rentals Unique Events, Rolling Hills Event Rentals | Officiant Ryan Hajek, family friend | Hotel Riverside Casino and Golf
Resort | Neon Sign & Koozies Image 360
Photo below Laura Wills Photography
CENTRALIOWA
Thank you for voting us GOLD for Tuxedos & Suits at Wedding Choice Awards 7 years running!
IVY + BRYCE
PASTEL PERFECT DAY
Ivy and Bryce’s wedding day was filled with sunshine, genuine joy, and natural beauty, and the love of their family and friends.
The couple’s engagement was the perfect prelude for their unforgettable wedding. Bryce worked with Ivy’s family to plan the surprise proposal. While all riding horses together at her family farm, Ivy’s brother casually mentioned a new litter of raccoons in the woods. Ivy quickly ventured off with Bryce to find them — only to discover a beautiful setup for an intimate proposal. It was the perfect surprise, and Ivy’s “yes” was an easy one!
When it came to wedding planning, Ivy and Bryce wanted their celebration to reflect Ivy’s personality — bright, happy, timeless, and full of natural beauty. They chose Ivy’s family farm in New Sharon, Iowa, as their venue. Known as “Lower Grove Farm,” the pasture, rolling hills, pond, and cattle grazing peacefully nearby felt like the perfect backdrop for their wedding day — plus it was home to many of Ivy’s cherished memories with her family.
Bringing their wedding vision to life took a village, with support from loved ones who worked tirelessly to make it happen. Ivy was especially grateful for her mom, who was by her side throughout the planning process.
“My heart overflows with gratitude for my saint of a mother,” Ivy said. “She was my right-hand woman, showing me patience and kindness every step of the way.”
Ivy says she is incredibly fortunate to be related to Shelly and Emerson Sarver of Shelly Sarver Designs, who shared their creative brilliance for florals and wedding décor and details to make
A herd of Red Angus cattle grazed peacefully next to the LOVE sign!
This invite is a pastel dream come true!
IT’S MY Big DAY CENTRAL IOWA
the day shine. They also worked with event planner Gina Cramer of Make it Happen Events to help pull everything together seamlessly from start to finish.
“Even if you think you don’t need one, hire a wedding planner,” Ivy shared. “Being able to rely on a professional to ensure the day ran smoothly alleviated all of my stress and allowed me to cherish every moment.”
The wedding day itself was a pastel-colored dream. The florals, from the altar archway to the bridal bouquet and boutonniere, were absolutely showstopping and created the perfect setting. The grove was transformed into a joyful, whimsical space with light-up LOVE signs, a teal rowboat filled, string lights, and a colorful dance floor that made the celebration feel straight out of The Notebook.
Guests were treated to specialty drinks, dinner, and dessert from the fantastic Apres Bar Co., Lidderdale Catering, and Molly’s Cupcakes — some of our favorite wedding day vendors!
Another very special guest was Charlotte’s Shenanigans, a Beverage Burro company owned by Ivy’s aunt, starring Charlotte the miniature donkey and her sweet colt serving waters out of her saddlebags.
The relaxing, love-filled reception at sunset held some of the couple’s favorite memories of the day.
Bryce’s family has a fun tradition of performing a skit for the newlyweds, and their comedic, exaggerated portrayal of Bryce and Ivy’s love story had everyone laughing. Ivy’s dad also delivered a perfectly funny, surprisingly sweet speech before playing a heartfelt rendition of “I Will Always Love You” on acoustic guitar.
“Tears flowed through the entire song. And I wasn’t the only one,” Ivy shared.
Of course, the talented Brooke Pavel flawlessly captured every joyful moment of the day to make sure these memories would last forever.
We’re sending all our love to the beautiful couple! Here’s to your forever!
Ivy’s
a
for the big day! She is quite a reminder of their proposal story.
pet raccoon Juniper had
special flower collar
Shelly Sarver Designs has the most incredible creative vision.
We love this drink setup by Apres Bar Co. The lemonade is too cute!
Officiant Mike Goodwin, groom’s uncle | Portable Restroom A King’s Throne |
Hotel Royal Amsterdam, Comfort Inn (Pella), Fairfield Inn (Oskaloosa) | Rehearsal Dinner
Butcher’s Brewhuis
TO A WEDDING AT THE FAIRGROUNDS
TO A WEDDING AT THE FAIRGROUNDS
TO A WEDDING AT THE FAIRGROUNDS
Celebrate your special day at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Historic buildings, modern facilities and picturesque outdoor settings await you and your guests. Enjoy free, close parking for your guests, an accessible location and a staff ready to assist you with every detail.
Celebrate your special day at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Historic buildings, modern facilities and picturesque outdoor settings await you and your guests. Enjoy free, close parking for your guests, an accessible location and a staff ready to assist you with every detail.
Celebrate your special day at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Historic buildings, facilities and picturesque outdoor settings await you and your guests. free, close parking for your guests, an accessible location and a staff ready to assist you with every detail.
To schedule your wedding at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, visit iowastatefairgrounds.org or contact Off Season Events at 515-262-3111, ext 282.
To schedule your wedding at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, visit iowastatefairgrounds.org or contact Off Season Events at 515-262-3111, ext 282.
To schedule your wedding at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, visit iowastatefairgrounds.org or contact Off Season Events at 515-262-3111, ext 282.
