Some of the Best Iowa Wedding Venues

With the 2026 wedding season just around the corner, I've been taking some time to look back on everything 2025 brought my way. What a year it was! I got to photograph some truly breathtaking venues, and I can't stop thinking about them. Here are a few of my favorites from the year. I might need to make a part 2 because I had so many beautiful venues this year!

Iowa Taproom:

This past year, I had the chance to photograph at the Iowa Taproom a few times, and it quickly became one of my favorites. Tucked into the East Village in Des Moines, it's a smaller venue with such a cool industrial feel that honestly feels refreshing when you spend as much time at barn venues as I do. The The brick walls and wood accents are just perfect.

Every single time I've photographed a wedding there, the staff has been an absolute dream to work with. I have to mention one of my favorite little perks of shooting at the Iowa Taproom: stopping at Molly's Cupcakes on the way out. It's basically a tradition at this point. I cannot wait to get back there in 2026!

Rollins Mansion:

Rollins Mansion is an absolute dream, and I mean that wholeheartedly. This place is stunning from every angle, and no matter where you turn, there is another perfect photo spot waiting for you. Sitting on top of a hill on the south side of Des Moines near the airport, it overlooks the downtown skyline in the most beautiful way. The mansion has multiple spaces that can fit just about any wedding vision you could have, and at 101 years old, every single square inch of it has so much character and charm. It is elegant, it is elaborate, and it makes the most gorgeous backdrop for a wedding day. One little note for my fellow photographers: some of the indoor lighting can be a bit tricky to work with, so make sure you have your flash handy. Trust me, your photos will thank you!

Willow on Grand:

Willow on Grand was a first for me this year, and honestly? I'm obsessed. This Des Moines venue checks every box: great location, stunning aesthetic, and outdoor spaces that genuinely made my jaw drop. The bridal suite alone is worth talking about. It's massive compared to most I've seen, and the green spaces have this gorgeous, whimsical feel that photographs like a dream.

The cool thing about this venue is that it works for just about any vibe. Small and intimate? Perfect. Big and elaborate? Also perfect. It just works.

I got to photograph a spring wedding here and everything was so pretty. The grounds were in full bloom and the whole day had this effortlessly beautiful energy to it. Oh, and the staff were wonderful. Genuinely some of the easiest, most pleasant people to work alongside. Basically, if you're venue hunting in Des Moines, put this one on your list.

Surety Hotel:

Okay, Surety Hotel might genuinely be my favorite downtown Des Moines venue, and that's saying something. Every single space in this hotel feels intentional and thoughtfully designed, and the variety is unreal. You go from one room to the next and each one has its own completely different personality, but somehow it all flows together perfectly.

The solarium, though. Oh my gosh, the solarium. I'm pretty sure my jaw actually hit the floor the first time I walked in. The exposed brick, the natural light pouring in, it's just chef's kiss. The ballroom is equally stunning in a more classic, elegant way. Basically there is no bad corner in this building.

As a photographer, I was absolutely in heaven. So many different looks and backdrops all under one roof means couples walk away with such a diverse, beautiful gallery. Fair warning to my future Surety couples, I'm building in extra time for portraits because I refuse to rush through all those incredible spots.

Des Moines honestly surprises people when it comes to wedding venues, and I hope this list is proof of that. Whether you're drawn to the whimsical outdoor charm of Willow on Grand or the jaw-dropping interiors of Surety Hotel, this city has something for every couple and every vision.

At the end of the day, the "best" venue is the one that feels like you. The one where you walk in and just know. And lucky for you, Des Moines has no shortage of those moments waiting to happen.

If you're still in the planning stages and looking for a photographer to capture it all, I'd love to be there. There is nothing I love more than exploring a beautiful space with a couple who is head over heels for each other. Let's make something beautiful together.

Haley Matias Photography is a wedding photographer located in Des Moines, Iowa and services all Iowa weddings, Omaha, and beyond.