Heartland Wedding Ideas May/June Issue 2024 (Spring)

EDITORS' LETTER

We are excited to kick off the issue with a beautiful styled shoot full of sprintime splendor! Wait until you see these gorgeous florals created by m.klyn floral design. We are swooning over all these romantic details and color palette thanks to Jennifer Weinman's vision for the day.

Make sure to check out the talents of our vendor LUST section to meet and be inspired by our incredible wedding pros. There's someone to fit every need.

Our first 'It's My Big Day' is in Eastern Iowa featuring vintage stylings for Celia + Christian's wedding. Wilson’s Ciderhouse & Venue provided the perfect setting for their mood and vision.

Next, we go to Central Iowa for Sawyer + Cody's nuptials. We are so proud to feature the wedding of one of our Heartland Wedding Ideas alum. This was a family affair, as everybody chipped in and created a chic black and white wedding covered in LOVE.

We hope that you find some inspiration, ideas and vendors for your upcoming wedding. And please continue to send us your beautiful photos and love stories for a chance to be featured in our 'It's My Big Day' section. Don't forget to visit us at heartlandweddingideas.com for additional content and wedding professionals. Happy spring!

STYLED SHOOT: SPRINGTIME SPLENDOR 6-10

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. IT’S MY BIG DAY: SAWYER + CODY 36-41 Marissa Sakakhanone Designer + Digital

Special thanks to this crew:

LASAGNA LOVE NIGHT AT DES MOINES WEDDING SHOW'S SIPS & SOCIAL!

CENTRAL IOWA

STYLED SHOOT

Springtime Splendor

Love is in bloom, and it feels like absolute sunshine! We are swooning over this romantic floral styled shoot led by photographer Jennifer Weinman at Tamory Hall in Pella, Iowa. The space’s incredible natural light paired with the soft, cheery color palette makes this one feel like stepping into a dreamy spring garden — delicate Dutch blooms, dusty blue glassware, feminine floral lace, pastel invitation suite — need we say more?

MEET THE WEDDING PROS

PHOTOGRAPHER

Jennifer Weinman

Photography @jenweinman

VENUE

Tamory Hall

@tamoryhallevents

CAKE

Let There Be Cake

@lettherebecake_iowa

FLORALS

m.klyn floral design

@m.klyn.floral

RENTALS

Pella Rental & Vowed Vintage

@pellarental & @vowedvintage

MAKEUP & HAIR

Powder Studio

@powderstudioia

BRIDAL GOWN & ACCESSORIES

Modern Dress

@moderndress

TUX

Skeffington’s Formal Wear

@skeffingtonsformalwear

INVITATIONS & SIGNAGE

Dana Osborne Design

@danaosbornedesign

LINENS

BBJ La Tavola

@bbjlinen

Tamory Hall’s light brick walls and big windows create a dreamy space for any event.

did an incredible job bringing the springtime vibe to life through florals.

m.klyn

So many soft, romantic details. Heart eyes.

We love the big ribbon and watercolor map on the invite suite by Dana

Design. It sets the tone for classic romance.

Osborne

Did you know that blue is one of the rarest colors to find in nature?! The pop of blue adds a spectacular contrast to the warm coral tones and perfect for spring.

Kelly from Powder

brought the whole vibe together with the classic romantic hair and makeup styling.

Studio

The floral motif carries through into the lace pattern on the stunning dress from Modern Dress.

VENDOR lust

SPOTLIGHT ON VENUES

We hope you were able to attend last month's Venue Tour, created by Des Moines Wedding Show. After showcasing some amazing spaces in central Iowa, we hope you're well on your way to finding your perfect wedding spot.

PS – Mark your calendars for the Des Moines Wedding Show Sunday, Aug. 18 and the Eastern Iowa Wedding Show Sunday, Sept. 22!

PICKING YOUR DATE & VENUE

Embarking on the journey of planning your dream wedding is an adventure filled with excitement and possibilities. Central to this adventure are the crucial decisions of when and where to tie the knot. Let's sprinkle some magic onto your wedding planning and delve into the art of selecting the perfect date and venue.

First things first, let's talk dates. Instead of fixating on a specific day, widen your scope to encompass an entire month or even a season. So, whether you're envisioning a sun-kissed summer soirée or a cozy winter wonderland affair, let the season set the stage for your love story.

Now, onto the venue — picture a canvas waiting to be painted with your unique love story. From urban lofts to rustic barns, the options are as diverse. Choose a blank slate to unleash your creativity or a venue that mirrors your style, ready to be adorned with personal touches.

OUR PREMIER VENUES:

Meet our Heartland Premier Wedding Pros

Many venues now offer luxurious bridal suites, providing a sanctuary for you and your entourage as you prepare for your special day. Whether you envision an intimate gathering or a grand celebration, there's a venue out there to suit your needs. When exploring venues, ask all the questions. Dive into the details to ensure there are no surprises on your big day. With the perfect date and venue by your side, your wedding day will be the prologue to your forever—a beautiful beginning to your love story. Cheers to love, laughter, and happily ever after!

Now, let's talk logistics. Some venues offer all-inclusive packages, providing everything from catering to decor, while others allow for more customization. Whether you're dreaming of an intimate gathering or a grand celebration that would make even the royals envious, rest assured, there's a venue out there with your name on it.

1868 Farmhouse // Barnes' Place // Bash // The Chateau at White Oak // Curate // Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden // Hotel Millwright // Iowa State Fairgrounds // he Iowa Taproom // Old Brick // Pella Opera House // Scottish Rite Consistory // Sherwood Forest Event Center // Sunset Ridge Barn // Hall of Laureates, World Food Prize

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden

Hall of Laureates World Food Prize

VENDOR

ATTIRE & TAILORING

Merci's Tailoring

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA mercistailoring.com

Skeffington's Formal Wear DES MOINES, IA skeffingtons.com

BEAUTY & WELLNESS

Bare Tones

Organic Spray Tanning Bar CEDAR RAPIDS, IA baretonescr.com

dsm Salon DES MOINES, IA dsmsalonandspa.com

vIVid Wellness / Aesthetics / Lifestyle

DES MOINES & NORWALK, IA livin-vivid.com

CATERING

Baratta's DES MOINES, IA barattas.com

Bash DES MOINES, IA bashdsm.com

Cedar Ridge Distillery

SWISHER, IA cedarridgedistillery.com

Christiani's Catering DES MOINES, IA christianiscatering.com

The Iowa Taproom DES MOINES, IA iowataproom.com

CAKE & DESSERT

Glorious Desserts

WINDSOR HEIGHTS, IA gloriousdesserts.com

The Bake Shoppe

WINDSOR HEIGHTS, IA thebakeshoppe.org

BARTENDING & DRINKS

Apres Bar Co. DES MOINES, IA apresbarco.com

Your Private Bar

WEST DES MOINES, IA yourprivatebar.com

DECOR & RENTALS

Bella Flora Event Design

URBANDALE, IA bellafloraeventdesign.com

Beyond Elegance Party Rentals

WEST DES MOINES, IA beyondelegance.com

Era Events & Design DES MOINES, IA eraeventdesign.com

Royal Rental Co., Restroooms IOWA rentwithroyal.com

Shelly Sarver Designs

PELLA, IA shellysarverdesigns.com

EVENT PLANNING

Bella Flora Event Design

URBANDALE, IA bellafloraeventdesign.com

Old Brick

Cedar Ridge

Pella Opera House

VENDOR

PREMIER WEDDING PROS

lust

EVENT PLANNING (CONTINUED)

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

Shelly Sarver Designs PELLA, IA shellysarverdesigns.com

FLORAL

Bella Flora Event Design

URBANDALE, IA bellafloraeventdesign.com

Shelly Sarver Designs PELLA, IA shellysarverdesigns.com

MUSIC

Complete Weddings + Events CLIVE, IA completewedo.com

DJ DAS Entertainment DES MOINES, IA dj-das.com

Vows & Vibes DES MOINES, IA vowsandvibes.com

OFFICIANT

Vows & Vibes DES MOINES, IA vowsandvibes.com

PHOTOGRAPHY

Complete Weddings + Events CLIVE, IA completewedo.com

PHOTOGRAPHY (CONTINUED)

Everlasting Photo CENTRAL IOWA everlastingphotoia.com

Midwest LifeShots Photography DES MOINES, IA midwestlifeshots.com

SnapXP – Photobooth WEST DES MOINES, IA snapxp.com

STATIONERY & GIFTS

Humble Hands DES MOINES, IA humblehandsjg.com

TandemHart Paperie DES MOINES, IA tandemhartpaperie.com

TRAVEL

Mosaic Shores Travel Co. DES MOINES, IA mosaicshores.com

VENUES

1868 Farmhouse BOONE, IA 1868farmhouse.com

Barnes' Place ADEL, IA barnes-place.com

Bash DES MOINES, IA bashdsm.com

Cedar Ridge Distillery SWISHER, IA cedarridgedistillery.com

The Chateau CAMBRIDGE, IA whiteoakchateau.com

Curate DES MOINES,, IA curatedsm.com

Sherwood Forest Event Center

VENDOR

VENUES (CONTINUED)

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden DES MOINES, IA dmbotanicalgarden.com

Hotel Millwright AMANA, IA hotelmillwright.com

Iowa State Fairgrounds DES MOINES, IA iowastatefairgrounds.org

The Iowa Taproom DES MOINES, IA iowataproom.com

Old Brick IOWA CITY, IA oldbrick.org

lust

Pella Opera House PELLA, IA pellaoperahouse.org

Scottish Rite Consistory DES MOINES, IA dmscottishrite.org

Sherwood Forest Event Center DES MOINES, IA sherwoodforesteventcenter.com

Sunset Ridge Barn PROLE, IA sunsetridgebarn.com

World Food Prize - Hall of Laureates DES MOINES, IA halloflaureates.org

BigDAY IT’S MY

Lavishly large or quietly quaint. Boho, rustic, or modern. Small budget or unlimited. And everything in between. We know you poured your heart and soul into it. And we want to feature it!

SAWYER + CODY

CELIA + CHRISTIAN

CELIA + CHRISTIAN

VINTAGE VOWS

Celia and Christian had crushes on one another in high school, but their first date wasn’t until they crossed paths during college. After a few years of dating, the couple traveled to Salem, Massachusetts, for an epic Halloween celebration as Beetlejuice and Lydia Deetz. Christian popped the big question while they were in full costume — it was an easy yes!

When envisioning their big day, the couple wanted a relaxed, elegant, moody, and vintage vibe. And they knew guest experience — specifically food and music — was the most important priority for their day.

“By defining a few key words or values to capture the experience you want to create, you’ll have an easier time evaluating options and making choices that align with your vision,” Celia shares.

Selecting Wilson’s Ciderhouse & Venue for their venue and catering, was really important for pulling off their vision. The rustic venue is nestled in a beautiful orchard outside of Iowa City, and it has a perfect patio for an outdoor ceremony and a gorgeous indoor reception space. The ciderhouse was also a meaningful spot for the couple because they had gone on dates there while living in Iowa City.

IT’S MY Big DAY EASTERN IOWA

After perusing Instagram, it was a no brainer to choose Mikayla Slaubaugh Photography for photos and video because of the warmth and candid feel of her photos. And wow, she captured the day so beautifully and nailed the moody vibe and all the little details that make a wedding day so special.

Celia looked absolutely stunning in her vintage-inspired A-line dress, paired with an incredible layered necklace and white gloves. Each of the bridesmaids got to select their own dresses based on Celia’s colorful bouquet. We love how they effortlessly mixed the patterns, jewel tones, and textures — it worked so perfectly and adds such a colorful dimension.

Curating the music was a favorite part of the planning process for Celia and Christian.

They worked with their DJ to create a mix of their favorite “lesser known” songs for the cocktail hour and dinner, then lined up a playlist of top 90s hip hop and 2000s pop punk songs when it was time to pack the dance floor. They also asked their loved ones to send songs from their own weddings to be played throughout the day.

Beyond the memorable first dance and loving speeches, one of the most special moments of the reception was between Celia and her dad. He has Multiple Sclerosis, so instead of a father-daughter dance, they decided to show a slideshow of their photos together over the years. Such a sentimental and creative way to honor their relationship!

Cheers to the couple and the beginning of the rest of their lives together!

The couple went to a local bakery the day before their wedding to pick out the cake – which was technically a birthday cake. Delicious and spontaneous!

These Nana Jacqueline gloves are giving all the vintage vibes.

Sneaking away for sunset photos with Mikayla Slaubaugh

Photography was a favorite moment of the day.

CELIA + CHRISTIAN

WEDDING MOOD

WEDDING STYLE

VINTAGE, MOODY, EARTHY

COLOR PALETTE

VENDOR LUST

ALL WEDDING VENDORS

Photographer & Videographer Mikayla Slaubaugh Photography | Ceremony & Reception Venue Wilson’s Ciderhouse & Venue Cakes & Dessert DeLuxe | Wedding Dress Carolina Herrera gown from Glamour Closet, Chicago | Engagement Rings Adornment & Theory, Chicago | Celia's Wedding Band Brilliant Earth | Hair & Makeup Avenson Salon | Floral Memorable Moments by Every Bloomin’ Thing | Veil Etsy, larde123 | Bridal Gloves Nana Jacqueline gloves, Anthropologie | Invites Minted Ceremony & Reception Music Energy Wave Entertainment Hotels Literary Hotel, Solon, IA and The Graduate, Iowa City, IA

SAWYER + CODY

BLACK, WHITE & LOVE ALL OVER

Special editors’ note: We’re thrilled to feature this wedding for many reasons, but especially because Sawyer was a former copywriter intern for Heartland Wedding Ideas! Congrats on your BIG DAY!

Black, white, and love all over! Sawyer and Cody’s gorgeous, classic wedding day was made even more joyous thanks to special touches from loved ones.

When envisioning their big day, the duo wanted everything to be crisp, clean, and classic. They pulled off this vibe by asking guests to wear black, selecting all white floral, and creating simple, yet meaningful, décor choices such as a stunning head table backdrop of black and white engagement photos.

“I had a good idea of how I wanted things to look and feel, and with my mom by my side, we could create anything to get to that vision,” she shares. “My dad was also at the ready with white paint for anything we needed!”

The couple and their bridal parties got ready for the day at Sawyer’s childhood home. The personal setting was incredibly meaningful for Sawyer, and the wall of mirrors with etched love

We love the neckline on this dress and the flowy sleeves!

notes and wedding elements added such a gorgeous “get ready” element. Her chiffon dress with flowy sleeves was romantic and dreamy, perfectly paired with a pearl beaded veil and the earrings her mother wore for her wedding day. And Cody and his groomsmen looked sharp in their classic black tuxedos from Skeffington’s Formal Wear. The couple was married in a traditional ceremony at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Slater. Sawyer says walking down the aisle with her first love (her dad) and having him

give her away to her forever love was one of the most special moments of the day. Wow, we’re tearing up.

The Iowa State Fairgrounds Elwell Family Food Center made the perfect reception venue for the couple — in part because it was a blank slate with all the amenities to accommodate their large guest list, but more importantly because it had special family ties. The bride’s grandfather donated money to have the building built in honor of his parents.

Ever since eighth grade, Sawyer knew she wanted her bridesmaids to wear white.

The etched phrases and wedding day words on these mirrors are such a fun element for getting ready.

CENTRAL IOWA

Sawyer was eager to involve other family members in planning and being a part of their big day — from florals to hair styling to creating décor — and even making the wedding cake with a special Elwell family recipe. She worked with her cousin at The Chateau at White Oak to handle additional rentals such as linens, silver Chiavari chairs, and silverware.

The reception was made extra special by heartfelt speeches that summed up their love and the people who have contributed to their story over the years.

Sawyer’s advice for wedding planning is simple — be present.

“Time moves way too fast. Enjoy every moment of bridal showers, planning, venue touring, tastings, and so on. Because those moments in your life are some of the best and the last thing you want to do is rush something or push it to the side,” she shares.

Nothing Compares

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, 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.

Kristin Imboden Photography

SAWYER + CODY

WEDDING MOOD

WEDDING STYLE

CLASSIC, ELEGANT, TRADITIONAL

COLOR PALETTE

VENDOR LUST

PREMIER WEDDING VENDORS

Reception Venue

Iowa State Fairgrounds, Elwell Family Food Center

Stationery

TandemHart Paperie

Groomsmen Tuxedos

Skeffington's Formal Wear

ALL WEDDING VENDORS

Photographer Betty Ann Photography

Ceremony Venue Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Slater | Caterer Great Caterers of Iowa | Cake Elwell Family Wedding Cake | Bartending

Campbell’s Concessions | Floral Mary Elwell

Steele, bride’s aunt | Wedding Dress Rosalie

Veil Rosalie | Hair Kelsey Crowdes, bride’s cousin

Makeup Blush Parlour & Co | Tanning Tanique

Nails Grace Nails | Engagement Rings + Groom's Ring Owens Jewelry Design | Reception Music

KNM Productions, Nicholas Miller | Extra Rentals

The Chateau at White Oak | Officiant Pastor Nat with Bethlehem Lutheran Church | Rehearsal Dinner Greenbriar