Planning a wedding in Ames or the greater Des Moines area? Looking for a wedding and/or reception venue that goes beyond the traditional church, courthouse, reception hall or even the seemingly all-too-common Memorial Union/Campanile area of campus? Consider these local venues and spaces for your upcoming nuptials and celebration:

• Coffee Shop: Java Joe’s, an east Des Moines coffee shop, doubles as a performance space and often hosts live music and theatre performances. The coffee shop is rentable for private weddings, making it a perfect venue for caffeine addicts.
• Country Club: The Glen Oaks Country Club features gorgeous and expansive outdoor spaces as well as intimate and intricate smaller spaces. Whether your wedding calls for five guests or 500, this club can accomodate your event in style.
• Gardens: Beautiful flowers and greenery make a lovely backdrop for ceremonies and receptions. Reiman Gardens, located just south of Jack Trice Stadium, offers a variety of wedding packages. The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden offers indoor garden venues for rental which are beautiful all year long. The Botanical Garden is currently closed for construction, but is scheduled to reopen in September.
• Temple for the Performing Arts: This Des Moines venue is in a category all by itself. Renovated in 2002 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Temple offers not one, not two, but three different rentable spaces, which range from gorgeous two-story columns to a black theatre/performance space.
• Winery: Central Iowa is ripe with beautiful wineries available for wedding ceremonies and receptions. Prairie Moon Winery, located in Ames, offers indoor and outdoor facilities for up to 500 people. Snus Hill Winery, found in Madrid, offers proximity to rural and scenic Iowa countryside. Summerset Winery, south of Des Moines in Indianola, offers romantic strolls through the vineyard and two beautiful banquet halls.