As engagement season fills the air, we’re excited to bring you a magazine full of inspiration and beautiful love stories. This time, we explore wedding themes from vintage elegance to modern romance, celebrating couples who made their day truly unique.
We kick things off with a styled shoot that’s dripping in mob-wife vibes, with details crafted by a talented team of vendors. MK from Everlasting Photo went all out, bringing big energy to every shot. Get ready to be immersed in a world of opulence and sophistication.
Our Vendor Lust section is packed with tips on finding the perfect photographer and other talented wedding pros.
In “It’s My Big Day,” we highlight Hannah and Lauren’s celebration, infused with heartfelt moments and rainbow touches, it was a joyful embrace of love. Their Tea Room wedding included meaningful elements like a ring-warming ceremony and unity plant symbolizing their roots.
Next, we travel to Eastern Iowa for Maggie and Eric’s wedding day at Walker Homestead. A blend of family traditions and superhero nods, their day featured vintage decor, heirlooms, and a Marvel-themed entrance — truly unforgettable.
We hope these stories inspire your planning journey. Don't forget to sign up to get the magazine FREE by mail at heartlandweddingideas.com/ido-crew-signup for more inspiration. Happy planning!
lesha & Lisa
CALL OR TEXT: 515.635.1608 | EMAIL: info@HeartlandWeddingIdeas.com
WEBSITE: HeartlandWeddingIdeas.com
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VENDOR LUST: SPOTLIGHT ON PHOTOGRAPHY 16-20
IT’S MY BIG DAY: MAGDALENA + ERIC 24-31
IT’S MY BIG DAY: HANNAH + LAUREN 34-39
Special thanks to this crew:
Marissa Sakakhanone Designer + Digital Media Manager
Mob wife to the max was the inspiration for this styled shoot. MK at Everlasting Photo pushed the boundaries of what a wedding day can look like by bringing together an incredible group of central Iowa vendors to create this bold Godfather glam wedding day – complete with a moody speakeasy, stunning orchid bouquet, and looks that dripped of old money vibes.
MEET THE WEDDING PROS
DESIGN/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER: @EVERLASTINGPHOTOIA
VENUE: @THESHOPDSM
GOWNS: @KALONBRIDALSTUDIO
JEWELRY: @CHRISTOPHERSJEWELRYDSM
MENS ATTIRE: @SKEFFINGTONSFORMALWEAR
FLORALS: @WILDFLOWERDSM
FEATHER BACKDROP: @THEGOODCO.DSM
HAIR: @HAIRBY.ASHTON
MAKEUP: @THE.ALTEREDHOUR
MODELS: @DESIREEANNGOURLEY + @GGOURLEY11
BEHIND THE SCENES: @FIREANDFERNCREATIVE
The Shop DSM delivers with its basement speakeasy
Talk about a mob wife – TikTok trends have nothing on these dresses from Kalon Bridal Studio.
Wildflower DSM took it to a new level with this massive orchid bouquet.
Feather wall backdrop screams old money all the way.
The couple dripped in sparkles and gold.
Skeffington's Formal Wear always has the perfect on-trend color for suits and tuxes to fit your vibe.
The elegant makeup and gorgeous updo made Desi feel like a million bucks.
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
VENDOR lust
HIRING YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER
Finding the perfect photographer for your big day should be a priority, right alongside securing your date and venue. Planning early not only gives you a wider selection – since top photographers book fast – but also allows you to schedule engagement photos, ideal for Save the Date cards or personalizing your wedding website.
Your photographer’s style will define how your memories are captured, so don’t just browse their favorite portfolio highlights. Instead, review how they document an entire wedding. This helps you see their adaptability across different lighting situations, from bright sunlight to candlelit venues and evening receptions. A skilled photographer’s versatility ensures that every special moment is beautifully preserved, no matter the setting.
OUR PREMIER PHOTOGRAPHERS:
Complete Weddings + Events // Everlasting Photo // Katie McDonald Photography // Studio Anne Photography // Sweet Story Photography
Everlasting Photo
Studio Anne
VENDOR
lust
ATTIRE & TAILORING
Merci's Tailoring CEDAR RAPIDS, IA mercistailoring.com
Skeffington's Formal Wear DES MOINES, IA skeffingtons.com
BEAUTY & WELLNESS
Beauty Op NORTH LIBERTY, IA beautyopbysm.com
dsm Salon DES MOINES, IA dsmsalonandspa.com
vIVid Wellness / Aesthetics / Lifestyle DES MOINES & NORWALK, IA livin-vivid.com
BARTENDING & DRINKS
Apres Bar Co. DES MOINES, IA apresbarco.com
Your Private Bar WEST DES MOINES, IA yourprivatebar.com
CATERING
Baratta's DES MOINES, IA barattas.com
Bash DES MOINES, IA bashdsm.com
Cedar Ridge Distillery SWISHER, IA cedarridgedistillery.com
Hy-Vee Catering & Deli IOWA hy-vee.com/stores
The Iowa Taproom DES MOINES, IA iowataproom.com
Complete Weddings + Events
CAKE & DESSERT
The Bake Shoppe WINDSOR HEIGHTS, IA thebakeshoppe.org
ChaCha’s Hiland Bakery DES MOINES, IOWA chachashilandbakery.com
Glorious Desserts WINDSOR HEIGHTS, IA gloriousdesserts.com
Hy-Vee Bakery IOWA hy-vee.com/stores
DECOR & RENTALS
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
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
Silver Fox DJ DES MOINES, IA dj-silverfox.com
SnapXP – Photobooth WEST DES MOINES, IA snapxp.com
Vows & Vibes DES MOINES, IA vowsandvibes.com
VENDOR
OFFICIANT
Vows & Vibes
DES MOINES, IA vowsandvibes.com
PHOTOGRAPHY
lust
Complete Weddings + Events CLIVE, IA completewedo.com
Everlasting Photo CENTRAL IOWA everlastingphotoia.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
Barnes' Place ADEL, IA barnes-place.com
Bash
DES MOINES, IA bashdsm.com
BeerStyles Taproom & GastroPub
WEST DES MOINES, IA beerstyles.com
Cedar Ridge Distillery SWISHER, IA cedarridgedistillery.com
The Chateau CAMBRIDGE, IA whiteoakchateau.com
Curate DES MOINES,, IA curatedsm.com
Greater Des Moines
Botanical Garden DES MOINES, IA dmbotanicalgarden.com
Iowa State Fairgrounds DES MOINES, IA iowastatefairgrounds.org
The Iowa Taproom DES MOINES, IA iowataproom.com
Northbridge Event Center DES MOINES, IA northbridgedsm.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 DES MOINES, IA sherwoodforesteventcenter.com
Sunset Ridge Barn PROLE, IA sunsetridgebarn.com
WineStyles
WEST DES MOINES / JOHNSTON / ANKENY / CORALVILLE / CEDAR RAPIDS winestyles.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!
Submit your wedding day photos for a chance to be in an upcoming issue at heartlandweddingideas.com
VINTAGE VOWS MAGDALENA + ERIC
Many
Local, vintage vibes and thoughtful family and superhero touches came together to create Magdalena and Eric’s perfect wedding day.
What started as a dating app connection in the early days of the pandemic turned into Maggie and Eric’s forever love story! The duo quickly knew their love was the real deal, and Eric pulled off an epic mountain-top surprise proposal in California to make it official.
Maggie and Eric didn’t set out with a super specific vision for their wedding day – they just wanted it to reflect their personalities and relationship and to keep it fun.
“We went to the Eastern Iowa Wedding Show which helped get the ball rolling as far as what all the different elements were to take into consideration. Like, do we want a videographer, a planner, etc.,” Maggie explains. “Then working with Lauren, our wedding planner/superwoman, was a HUGE help in getting us connected with our different vendors to get exactly what we were envisioning.”
They found the perfect venue in the Walker Homestead in Iowa City. Nestled in picturesque rolling hills, the space has a gorgeous outdoor ceremony area and a modern barn with all the amenities for the wedding reception.
of the blooms were locally sourced from Beautifully Bloomed.
EASTERN IOWA
Another big plus of Walker Homestead was its in-house catering, which featured included local produce and ingredients sourced from Iowa – another priority for the couple. The catering team helped them honor their families and heritage by including appetizers from both of their cultures – perogies for Eric’s Polish heritage and mini-tostadas for Maggie. The Walker Homestead also helped put a creative spin on the drink menu.
“We had a dry wedding and Kristy and the Walker Homestead team went above and beyond to help us create some fun mocktails to serve instead,” Maggie says. “They even had mocktails for us at our catering tasting and the Valentine’s dinner we celebrated there.”
Picking up on their natural, vintage vibe the couple worked with Tessa at Borrow My Vintage, Kathryn at Beautifully Bloomed, and their event planner Lauren at Elizabeth Bliss Events to create the beautiful and cohesive décor. The seating areas, romantic tablescapes, and ceremony arch all came together to create the perfect vibe.
Maggie and Eric incorporated a lot of personal elements into their wedding
ceremony. One of Eric’s best friends to be their officiant, which made the ceremony fun and reflective of their love. Maggie tied her granny and mother’s wedding rings to her bouquet, and she carried a Bible from her grandma's nursing school graduation which had also been carried by her grandma, aunts, and cousins at their weddings.
One of the most memorable moments for Maggie was walking down the aisle. She secretly found a musician who made a mashup of the traditional wedding song, Pachelbel’s Canon, with a custom arrangement of the Marvel Avengers Theme.
“Eric has always loved Marvel and introduced me to all the movies and now it’s something we both really love,” she explains. “I knew he’d be totally surprised, so seeing his face and him seeing me was such a memorable moment for both of us.”
Congratulations to the newlyweds!
Making a lounge area for a photo opp is always a favorite spot at weddings
We love that Maggie wore her "Mrs." jean jacket at the reception.
Talk about a joyful wedding day! Hannah and Lauren absolutely beamed on their special day, a dream come true with thoughtful personal touches, pops of Pride, and the endless love of their family and friends.
The duo’s love story began online with a serendipitous match. At the time, Hannah lived in Duluth, Minnesota, and Lauren lived in Ankeny – but luckily, they were able to date “long distance” without having to be apart due to remote working setups during COVID. A year after meeting, Hannah made the move to Ankeny and the couple began dreaming of the rest of their lives together.
Lauren and Hannah both decided to arrange surprise proposals – and they both pulled it off in such special ways! Lauren popped the question while they were visiting Lake Superior in Duluth, where they first fell in love. It was an icy cold -20-degree day, but the freshly fallen snow was beautiful and a warm celebration with friends afterward made it worth the chill.
A few months later, Hannah proposed to Lauren at Juniper & Olive Co. in Jewell. The couple loves exploring new restaurants and shops, so she leaned into that sentiment and worked with café’s owner to pull off a gorgeous surprise – it was a very easy “yes” to spending the rest of their lives together.
We love this vintage phone that guests can leave a voice message!
CENTRAL IOWA
When envisioning their wedding day, Hannah and Lauren wanted a timeless, beautiful wedding with sentimental touches that embraced family and friends. And of course, a few surprise rainbow elements to celebrate Pride throughout!
The wedding ceremony and reception was held at the gorgeous Tea Room in downtown Des Moines. The space, plus the blush and gold color palette, really created an elegant vibe.
The couple put a lot of thought into making their ceremony personal and meaningful, which was officiated by a mutual friend.
Throughout the ceremony, they had a “ring warming” where their brothers-in-law carried their rings, then handed them off to the bridesmaids. Each bridesmaid held
the wedding bands offering well wishes, thoughts, and prayers, then passed them down the line in time for Hannah and Lauren to exchange their rings. They also did a plant unity during the ceremony where their parents added soil from their homes, and Hannah and Lauren added soil from their own home. So creative and meaningful!
As they exited the ceremony, their bridesmaids waved colorful streamers in rainbow order – it was a moment they will never forget! Another high point was the “hype” of the room for their announcement into the reception as Mrs. & Mrs. Stratton –joy, joy, joy.
Their first dance as a married couple was another highlight of the day. They had a special remix of “Simply the Best” that ended with “Shut Up and Dance” when all
All the florals were rented from Something Borrowed Blooms!
their family and friends joined the dance floor with rainbow foam and streamers!
Throughout the wedding planning process, the couple picked their vendors based on their care, attention to detail, and experience working weddings with other same sex couples. For them, it was very important they could trust the expertise of their vendors and that inclusive language was used.
Hannah and Lauren will forever remember the genuine love and support they felt from their family and friends all weekend.
“Marriage for all was legalized less than 10 years ago, so a dream we didn’t know we could have when we were younger, came true," they share.
A Home Sweet Cone cream cart with a two-scoop minimum? Count us in!
How fun is this “newlywed post” newspaper? It had fun facts, wedding games, and a note from their pets.
