As someone who has a home base and is a wedding photographer in Iowa (and someone who specializes in photographing small, intimate gatherings where you’re surrounded by your favorite people and no one else) I knew I had to share with you about a wedding I recently photographed near Des Moines.
I recently had the opportunity to photograph a lovely couple, Ella and Andrei, at Iris Aisles in Winterset for their small wedding.
After photographing this wedding it got me thinking about how often you only get the chance to learn about a wedding venue and what it offers.
But you don’t actually get to peek behind the curtain and learn more about the couple who recently had their wedding at a venue you’re considering, see their wedding timeline for the day, learn about what they wanted and how they were able to make it happen, and so much more that happens.
That’s why I wanted to share with you more about Iris Aisles and give you a behind-the-scenes look at one couple in particular so you can get a better feel for what you want your own wedding day to look like.
Iris Aisles Wedding Venue
Iris Aisles has so much to offer – it’s intimate, has a gorgeous conservatory, and promises to be a unique venue.
Iris Aisles is locally owned by a fellow Iowa photographer and gives that “secret garden wedding” vibe!
You’ll seriously feel so secluded at this elopement venue in Iowa. It’s a cute little intimate, Victorian-style conservatory that’s tucked away in a freakin’ cedar tree forest. I’m sure you’ve never heard of something more magical-sounding.
You can do so much with this venue and if you want your wedding aesthetic and vision to combine magic, enhancement, and romance I can’t think of a better place for you to tie the knot or elope with your partner.
The couple who I recently photographed, Ella and Andrei, chose this venue because they loved the property with its abundance of wildflowers, a hemp farm, and plenty of space to wonder) and they also loved the conservatory. This was extra important for them as they love detail shots and wanted to feature different parts of the venue in their photos.
The bride also made a stained glass window which was also highlighted in their photos and served as a “unity spot” during their ceremony.
Another great thing about Iris Aisles is that it’s possible to do so much in just 8 hours.
Take a sneak peek at everything we did for Ella and Andrei so you can see how your day could go as well –
– 11:45 am Photographer’s Arrive scout out location (Getting ready Location: Iris Aisle)
– 12:00 pm Photograph Details (Venue / Flowers / Rings / Suits / Dresses)
– 1:00 pm Getting Ready Photos taken
– 1:30 pm Bridal Portraits (Ella alone / Andrei alone)
– 2:00 pm Private time Ella + Andrei
– 2:30 pm VIP Friends Portraits (Location – Around Iris Aisle)
– 3:00 pm Family Portraits (Location – Conservatory / Stained Glass)
– 4:30 pm Pre Ceremony / Details
– 5:00 pm Ceremony Coverage
– 5:30 pm Candids / Greeting Guests / Appetizer hour
– 6:00 pm Food Truck
– 6:45 pm Dancing (E+A, Mother&Son, Father&Daughter)
– 7:00 pm Reception Candids + yard games
– 7:30 pm Sunset photos of Couple (Sunset ~8:30 pm)
– 7:45 pm S’mores campfire
– 8:00 pm Photography Coverage Ends
If you want your wedding to be a place where you can get together with all of your friends and family, have a fun relaxed time, and be surrounded by lush meadows and greenery then you have to look at Iris Aisles!
Ella and Andrei’s Two Wedding Days
I love couples who write their own rules and who want to ditch tradition and opt in for a unique celebration which is why I wanted to feature Ella and Andrei in this blog post to also show you what’s possible for you as you start to think about what you want for your own wedding day/elopement.
Ella and Andrei are a really special couple because they actually had two wedding days.
Their first wedding was in their parent’s backyard in Waverly in June of 2023 so that Ella’s grandparents could attend their wedding (they weren’t going to make it to June of 2024) and they were so happy we pivoted and did a “wedding ceremony” instead of following a typical pre-wedding timeline when we were supposed to actually do engagement photos that day. Their second wedding was at Iris Aisles.
Their first wedding timeline looked a lot different than their second wedding timeline.
Here’s what their first wedding entailed –
Wedding Timeline:
June 21, 2023
5:00 pm Arrive for pre-ceremony details
5:15 pm Family + friend Photos
6:00 pm Ceremony
6:30 pm Additional Family Photos + candids
6:45 pm Sunset photos of Ella + Andrei (Sunset ~8:50 pm)
7:10 pm Leave for Montage
7:30 pm Flashy Fun Candids outside montage
This wedding was meant to be simpler and a day to celebrate with Ella’s grandparents, but it also goes to show you can make your wedding (or weddings) however you want.
Do you want two weddings? You can do it!
Do you want to elope – heck ya it’s absolutely possible!
Do you want to have a big party to celebrate your first year of marriage with friends and family? Sounds like an amazing idea!
Ella and Andrei wanted a second wedding to have a party to celebrate their first year of marriage with friends and family since the year prior they had just eloped with family.
Their second wedding allowed them to feel fully immersed with both their family and friends and get everyone together to celebrate. They also wanted the chance to document a lot of love which was the main focus of the second wedding.
Remember, your wedding day gets to be whatever feels the most like you!
Final Thoughts: Intimate Wedding Venue Iris Aisle
I hope you’ve enjoyed this post about wedding venues near Des Moines as well as learning more about Iris Aisles and what your wedding there could look like but also finding inspiration in seeing how you too can plan a wedding that is customized to be exactly what you want.
If there are any additional questions you have that you didn’t see answered in this blog post you can always send me a message below!
And…
If you are still in search of a photographer to team up with for your wedding, I’d be so honored to learn more about you and your partner’s love story.
You deserve a photographer who captures your day in a one-of-a-kind way and truly takes the time to understand your quirks and unique dynamics. You can click here to contact me!
