SEPT/OCT 2022 STYLED SHOOTS SECRET-AND-ADMIRER WOW WAREHOUSEVOWS IT'S MY BIG DAY MADELINE + AUSTIN MORGAN + MICHAEL MERCI'S TAILORING YOUR FLAWLESS FIT N.S.S. OBSESSED
Morgan + Michael's refined and elegant wedding was a contemporary vision. The architecture of The HarMac was something the couple instantly fell in love with and we can see why! The pillars, brick, and windows were the perfect backdrop to their magical day. You will instantly adore Madeline + Austin's autumn wedding day. Morgan Moon's photography highlighted the couple's nuptials completely. The colors of the dresses, florals, and fall accents will instantly make you feel warm all over. We hope that as you soak in the crisp fall weather, you enjoy the latest issue and find inspiration for your big day! And as always, please make sure to share your wedding day with us and you could be featured in a future issue. LETTER
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CALL OR TEXT: 515.635.1608 | EMAIL: info@HeartlandWeddingIdeas.com WEBSITE: HeartlandWeddingIdeas.com A lesha & Lisa XOXO, HWI SEPT/OCT 2022 Contents COVER PHOTO: MORGAN MOON PHOTOGRAPHY PUBLISHER: HEARTLAND WEDDING PARTNERS PRINTING: SUTHERLAND PRINTING IT'S MY BIG DAY: MORGAN + MICHAEL 26-33 IT'S MY BIG DAY: MADELINE + AUSTIN 36-41 STYLED SHOOTS: SECRET ADMIRER & WOW WAREHOUSE VOWS 6-19 Follow us! We’re on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. For inspiring ideas, local weddings, events, and vendor spotlights, follow our feed: @heartlandweddingideas. N.S.S. OBSESSED: YOUR FLAWLESS FIT MERCI'S TAILORING 22 CopywriterSophiaLacyIntern CopyVisserKellyEditor Special thanks to this crew: Summer was a blur of fun, sweat, and fury! We hope you had as much FUN as we did. Now, we look forward to a change of seasons as we relax into a cozy fall. We are so excited to bring you not one, but TWO styled shoots in this issue, from central and eastern Iowa! First, we feature a colorful, artistic styled shoot at Secret Admirer in Des Moines, led by Sage Collective. This unique shoot brings inspiration to couples who are looking to do something bold and expressive. Next up, a warehouse shoot with Unique Events transforming an unlikely space into a swoon-worthy wedding day, featuring Peach Cart Co.'s mobile bar.
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HEARTLANDWEDDINGIDEAS.COM 4 Catering, Events & Italian Restaurant • barattas.com 2320 S. Union Des Moines, IA • 515.243.4516
The goal — to show couples that you can do whatever you want for your wedding day and push the boundaries of a traditional wedding. When you go outside the lines it can be a really beautiful thing and these wedding pros showed it was possible. Every wedding pro showed up 110%, bringing their unique perspectives to create a uniquely styled day.
Sage Collective knew the vision instantly and it was going to be bold and brillant. They brought together their crew of trusted wedding partners to pull it all together. Terracotta Events, who discovered the venue spot, Secret Admirer, south of downtown DSM, really made the vision come to life. The venue was a perfect canvas for color and had the cutest heart wallpaper, art, and outdoor mural!
Meet The Wedding Pros: Photography + Creative Direction Sage Collective sagecophotography.com Event TerracottaPlanningEvents insta @terracotta_events SecretVenue Admirer secretadmirerdsm.com Floral Design Pretty Petunia prettypetuniafloral.com PureDressBridal purebridaliowa.com Models Brooke Heldt & Kade Shafer CENTRAL IOWA
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7HEARTLANDWEDDINGIDEAS.COM Sage Collective's photography and creative direction shines in all of the photos and design elements of this styled shoot.
Secret Admirer has the cutest heart wallpaper, eclectic art, and stunning outdoor mural, which provided a unique ambiance for this styled shoot.
Secret Admirer is a quaint and airy bar with a skyline facing inspiredurban/garden/park-patio.
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HEARTLANDWEDDINGIDEAS.COM 9 Pretty Petunia brought the BOLD with the florals. Wow, we just adore these bright and stunning arrangements. Pure Bridal provided a modern look with a contemporary neckline.
HEARTLANDWEDDINGIDEAS.COM10 Always donuts. You can't go wrong with this beloved dessert and the photo-ops are endless.
Terracotta
Events took event planning to new levels with every detail.
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HEARTLANDWEDDINGIDEAS.COM12 TENTS • RENTALS • DECOR randdevents.com 319.202.8374 |@randdevents |
HEARTLANDWEDDINGIDEAS.COM 13 N othing 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 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. 3000 EAST GRAND AVENUE | DES MOINES, IA | 515.262.3111 EXT 282 | IOWASTATEFAIRGOUNDS.ORG
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You put in all the work and planning for your day with wedding professionals and family. When it finally arrives, those wedding pros are there to take the unexpected curve balls and make your day fabulous. And that's just what Unique Events did for this elegantly styled warehouse shoot.
The day had been planned as an outdoor event, everything leading up to it said they were a go! And then … mother nature had a different idea. That didn't ruin the day! It just meant a change of plans. So the Unique Events team did what they do best, and turned the shoot into a perfectly styled warehouse wedding day at their facility in Cedar Rapids.
One of our cardinal rules for Iowa weddings: always be prepared. Your day will be unforgettable. The things that come up will just add to the memories you'll cherish forever.
VOWSWAREHOUSEWOWMeetTheWedding Pros: Planning, Design + Floral Unique Events uniqueeventsiowa.com IlyPhotographerPhotoCompany Insta @ ilyphotocompany Bar + Drink Styling Peach Cart Co. peachcartco.com AllegraStationeryPrinting allegramarketingprint.com Hope'sDress Bridal hopesbridal.com Hair + AuroraMakeupBlush aurorablush.com STYLED SHOOT EASTERN IOWA
HEARTLANDWEDDINGIDEAS.COM 15 Unique Events took their warehouse and created a unique ambiance with design and floral.
HEARTLANDWEDDINGIDEAS.COM16 Isn't she lovely?! Aurora Blush styled Mariah's hair and flawless makeup. We love a sleeve, especially with pearls.
HEARTLANDWEDDINGIDEAS.COM 17 Allegra Printing created unique stationery for the warehouse setting. From decor and rentals, to florals and planning — Unique Events can handle so many of your details all under on roof.
HEARTLANDWEDDINGIDEAS.COM18 Hope's Bridal provided all the perfect bridal LOOKS. Make sure to find them all!
HEARTLANDWEDDINGIDEAS.COM 19 Ily Photo Company captured all the angles and elements of this stunning styled shoot. Peach Cart Co. brought the drinks and the fun with their bar stylings.
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FIT
mercistailoring.com319-377-0751IA
YOUR FLAWLESS
After you’ve found that perfect gown, you'll quickly be reminded once you try it on that it wasn’t custom-made to your measurements! Unless you happen to perfectly fit the designer's sizes, you probably need some adjustments. If you bought your gown at a specialty wedding shop, many have a seamstress on staff, so alterations can be simple. But what if you have special requests the boutique can't take on or didn’t get your dress at a local boutique? The solution? Seek out your local tailor, seamstress, or alterations shop, like Merci's Tailoring in Cedar Rapids. Their name may say "tailoring," but they work on everything for couples and family members whether your day is formal, or casual, and for all styles and fits. We love their attention to detail. They start by taking precise measurements to ensure a great fit, then consult with you to determine the look you're trying to attain and will return your garments to you in the exact condition you requested. So wherever you find the gown or suit of your dreams, Merci's Tailoring is the place to get the perfect fit!
MERCI'S TAILORING
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Merci's Tailoring CEDAR RAPIDS, See more HeartlandWeddingIdeas.comat
obsessed
NOT SO SECRETLY It's that new trend, that "pin-worthy" thing we can’t stop thinking about or that wedding pro who stands out from the crowd. See everything we're obsessing about right here and on Pinterest.com/HeartlandWed.
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26 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! Big DAY IT’S MY MORGAN + MICHAEL
27 MADELINE + AUSTIN HEARTLANDWEDDINGIDEAS.COMSubmityourweddingdayphotosforachancetobeinanupcomingissueat heartlandweddingideas.com.
HEARTLANDWEDDINGIDEAS.COM28 REFINED ELEGANCE IT’S MY Big DAY MORGAN + MICHAEL EASTERN IOWA
An ongoing joke in Morgan and Michael's family is that Morgan actually never said “yes” to his proposal. As she walked into the restaurant, intending to find Michael’s family for her upcoming birthday dinner, she found her parents sitting alongside them. After the shock of it all, Michael proposed. The surprise was so full of joy and excitement that the words never left her mouth, her happieness in the moment was all she needed to say "yes."
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If Morgan were to describe the vision of their wedding, she would say “timeless with a touch of modern.” The palette was full of neutral tones with hints of gold and clean design. The venue was absolutely gorgeous. Held at The HarMac in Cedar Rapids, the white pillars, brick walls, and massive windows created the perfect look for the ceremony. The couple even said the venue was their favorite part of the details of their day. “The most memorable moment was
IT’S MY Big DAY VISIT HEARTLANDWEDDINGIDEAS.COM TO SEE ALL OF MORGAN AND MICHAEL'S BIG DAY! EASTERN IOWA
The whole event was something out of a movie. The couple couldn’t have imagined
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There was also a lounge area where guests could mingle featuring a couch, arm chairs, and a “The Hudsons” neon sign.
ceremony. The space was so beautiful and filled with everyone we loved the most,” Morgan said. With the venue in mind and the couple both loving flowers, they wanted to incorporate florals without overwhelming the space. Luckily, they had help from Unique Events. The company had an incredible team that made their dream a reality by designing an 8-foot floral installation at the end of the altar. And they helped with so much more. “The team at Unique Events took over everything on wedding day from setup to tear down and all the logistics in between. It was a perfect day!” Morgan said.
At the reception, some of the guests’ favorites were the dessert station and lounge area. Arranged along gold and glass shelves, there were mini cupcakes, pies, and cheesecakes to enjoy. Definitely a fun treat!
All of these beautiful moments were captured by their photographer Decora Topp. A special touch for the couple was having photos of their dog Murphie at the wedding since she couldn’t make it from the couple’s home in Georgia. Fortunately, Decora had previously traveled down for the engagement shoot and took some fantastic photos with Murphie. She truly went above and beyond to photograph the couple’s special day and their engagement.
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HEARTLANDWEDDINGIDEAS.COM 31 The couple favorite part of the wedding planning was trying all the wonderful flavors from Molly’s Cupcakes. Are you drooling yet?! This dessert station was arranged with mini cupcakes, pies, and cheesecakes. YUM!
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HEARTLANDWEDDINGIDEAS.COM32 IT’S MY Big DAY a better celebration. Their biggest piece of advice for future newlyweds is to enjoy the day. “It’s the only time of your life where everyone important to both of you are together in the same place,” Morgan said.
The couple favorite part of the wedding planning was trying all the wonderful flavors from Molly’s Cupcakes. The venue, The HarMac, was the perfect setting with white pillars, brick walls & massive windows.
HEARTLANDWEDDINGIDEAS.COM 33 MORGAN + MICHAEL WEDDINGMOODWEDDINGSTYLE MODERN, DELICATE, AIRY COLOR PALETTE Photographer Decora Topp | Videographer Forest Bound Films | Ceremony & Reception Venue The HarMac | Shower Cafe St. Pio | Rehearsal Dinner Cedar Ridge Winery Desserts Take the Cake | Caterer Peppercorn Food Company | Dessert Take the Cake | Floral, Decor, Rentals, Planning, and Ceremony Music Unique Events | Hair Aurora Blush Makeup Beauty by Melissa, Melissa Votroubek | Nail Salon iNails | Bridal Dress White Magnolia, Atlanta | Groom's Suit Calvin Klein | Reception Music Steve Ly | Stationery Minted | Officiant Brandon Braner | Hotel Cedar Rapids Doubletree VENDOR LUST
HEARTLANDWEDDINGIDEAS.COM34 COMPLETEDESMOINES.COM #partywithcomplete 515.266.1355 • PHOTOPHOTOGRAPHYSue@CompleteDesMoines.com•VIDEOGRAPHY•DJBOOTH•LIGHTING•COORDINATION
HEARTLANDWEDDINGIDEAS.COM36 FALL IN LOVE MADELINE + AUSTIN IT’S MY Big DAY The white barn at The Hive at Busy Bee provided a gorgeous fall canvas. CENTRAL IOWA
We love these jewel tone dresses and personalized styes.
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One of the couple’s favorite things to do is walk around the West Des Moines Public Library pond. They would walk and talk or sometimes picnic and read. It was a special spot, like a sanctuary for them. One of these days, out of the blue, Austin proposed with a stunning ring from Josephs Jewelers. It meant so much to both of them for it to be at one of their favorite spots.
An autumn wedding after a romantic proposal. What a Thoughdream!theyattended seventh grade together, Madeline and Austin connected after college through mutual friends. At a gathering, Madeline spotted him on a friend’s couch asleep with a dog on his lap. It was super sweet, and she knew she needed to get to know him better. And that's all it took!
“The white barn was a perfect canvas to add all the pops of color and showcase the floral, rentals, and decor perfectly,” Madeline said.
Initially, the couple was going to have an early summer, all-white wedding. When the date changed to fall, Madeline was soon inspired by the colors of changing leaves. With beautiful jewel tones and romantic accents, their wedding was absolutely gorgeous. Held at The Hive at Busy Bee in Indianola, the couple loved having the new, white barn surrounded by the fall leaves.
HEARTLANDWEDDINGIDEAS.COM38 VISIT HEARTLANDWEDDINGIDEAS.COM TO SEE ALL OF MADELINE + AUSTIN'S BIG DAY!
As for Austin, he and his groomsmen wore perfectly fitted suits from Skeffington’s Formal Wear that complemented the bridesmaids dresses. Everyone looked spectacular!
IT’S MY Big DAY
One of the couple’s favorite parts of the wedding was that they were now officially a family of three. While having to put off their wedding until the pandemic settled down, the two were fortunate to have a son. The little ring bearer made the day all the more memorable and something they will cherish Weddingforever.planning can be stressful, but it can also be a really fun time if you let it. Madeline's advice echos what we remind couples of all the time. "Remember that in the end, everything truly comes together in the way that it is supposed to. All the little details that you worry about before the big day, if they don’t happen, it’ll still be perfect and they WILL NOT be the things you remember when looking back."
CamBam Custom Florals created the perfect autumn bouquets for their big day!
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Their photographer Morgan Moon snapped all the autumn-inspired aspects. The couple loved how their photos turned out and how she was able to capture their vision. Not only were the photos stunning, but Morgan was such a great resource and friend to the couple. Madeline wore an elegant gown covered in lace with a few sparkles paired with her lovely autumn bouquet from CamBam Custom Florals.
HEARTLANDWEDDINGIDEAS.COM 39 Finally a family of THREE! Congratulations to this beautiful family.
The couple favorite part of the wedding planning was trying all the wonderful flavors from Molly’s capturedtheirMorganCupcakes.Moon,photographer,theirmagicalautumnday!
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HEARTLANDWEDDINGIDEAS.COM 41 MADELINE + AUSTIN WEDDINGMOODWEDDINGSTYLE COZY, FALL, SCENIC COLOR VENDORPALETTELUST PREMIER HEARTLAND WEDDING IDEAS VENDORS Suits Skeffington’s Formal Wear Photobooth Snap XP ALL VENDORS: Photography Morgan Moon | Ceremony & Reception Venue The Hive at Busy Bee | Bachelorette Winery Tour Jasper Winery, Penoach Winery, Covered Bridges Winery | Caterer Ferinheit Wood Oven Pizza, Street Eats DSM Food Truck, Charcuterie by Kylie | Dessert Sweet Cactus Bakery | Floral CamBam Custom Floral | Bride's Hair Shade Hair Studios | Bride's Makeup Kelsi Ziemann Artistry | Nails Stiletto Nails | Wedding Gown Schaffer’s Bridal | Stationery Greenenvelope.com | Wedding Rings Josephs Jewelers | Reception Music Damon Dotson | Event Planner Dot The i's Event Management | Décor Design Borrow My Vintage | Rentals Beyond Elegance | Transportation 515 Party Bus | Hotel Country Inn & Suites by Radisson
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