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Teeny Tiny Wedding Venue Needed

MarryingAmonkeyMarryingAmonkey
First Comment
in Iowa-Des Moines
Hi! I'm new here and I need help. We decided YESTERDAY that our wedding will be 05/01/12! It's ok, calm down. We're having the smallest wedding ever. I know exactly what I want, I just need to know the where. I need a cheap, pretty place for a Tuesday afternoon, 3pm-ish. A park would be fine, but I looked at the list of Des Moines parks and have no idea where to start. All of the local venues I've seen online are for huge weddings. We don't belong to a church. And we don't want to pay hundreds of dollars for an hour of time and our 12 guests. I also don't know anyone with a pretty little yard. I'm open for any suggestions. Thank you in adance! 
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Re: Teeny Tiny Wedding Venue Needed

  • soon2bmrsrlhsoon2bmrsrlh
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Welcome to the board!

    I looked into have a wedding on the capitol grounds in front of the Shattering Sound monument which overlooks the Des Moines skyline. It's free to use the grounds. Here is the link with details: http://das.iowa.gov/gse/events/faq/weddings.pdf and here's a link to a picture of the location http://das.iowa.gov/gse/monuments/index_43.html. 

    Other than that you can look into the Des Moines Water Works park or like you said Des Monies parks. 

    Although outside locations are the easiest option you will want to keep in mind that May weather is unpredictable...it could be cold and/or rainy. Sorry, not much help on indoor locations. 
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  • medusia00medusia00 member
    First Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Welcome to the board, and Congrats on your engagement!

    Are you planning on having lunch with your guests as well?!
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  • MarryingAmonkeyMarryingAmonkey
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Thank you! And thanks for your responses and suggestions. I'm going to check out several parks. It's very hard to imagine what they'll be like in the spring. I already have a plan B for rain. Our apartment complex has a nice room that is free to tenants. It will do as a last resort and they'll gladly reserve it for me. Hopefully, if it's rainy, we'll be able to at least get some cute rain pictures after the formal ones. Think positive right?

    As for a lunch, we're going to have a small dinner. I'm thinking the Latin King, or Biaggis. A place with a small private room so we can "cut" our cupcakes and have some toasts. We're going for small, whimsical, and very special for everyone involved. We have an amazing love story and I'll be disappointed if everyone isn't reduced to tears several times during our day heehee.

    Sooo... Dinner suggestions are welcome too! Thanks again for the help!
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  • McsweetsMcsweets member
    First Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I have a few ideas for you:

    1 - The Wedding Chapel in Clive --- there are 4 people at my work, and 1 of my friends who have used them to be married  ( only 1 actually AT the chapel because it holds appx 30 people) and were all very happy :)  I haven't heard anything bad!

    2 - Walnut Woods Park in West Des Moines - I think its $200 to rent?

    3 - In Indianola they have Buxton Park which is sooooo pretty!!!  I wish we would have gotten our pictures taken there!!!
    http://www.indianolaiowa.gov/Departments/ParksandRecreation/ParksFacilities/BuxtonPark.aspx
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  • MarryingAmonkeyMarryingAmonkey
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Thank you Mcsweets, it looks like Buxton Park is perfect! We're going to look at it tomorrow. It's only $45 to rent the Gazebo and you get $20 back. I'm SO excited. 
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  • McsweetsMcsweets member
    First Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011
    awesome! Good luck!
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  • MarryingAmonkeyMarryingAmonkey
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Buxton Park is absolutely perfect. Since they don't allow chairs on the grass, we're going to reverse the ceremony and have everyone sit on the benches inside the Gazebo. A few people will stand, but it's going to be short and sweet. 

    We also reserved a private room at Tursi's Latin King. They seemed pretty pleased with a party of 20 on a Tuesday afternoon. 

    ALSO! I bought my dress! So, even though I started planning late, everything is moving along. Our tiny fairytale wedding is going to be so amazing.

    Thanks again for the help!
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  • 7river7wed77river7wed7
    First Comment First Anniversary
    edited December 2011
    Awesome that you found something you loved so quickly! Can we see pics of the dress??
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  • ceceibsonceceibson member
    5 Love Its First Anniversary First Comment
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_iowa-des-moines_teeny-tiny-wedding-venue-needed?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:80Discussion:6d35955a-9e69-4db3-aee6-b9550ab91599Post:7b959b98-72f0-4474-8ad0-89f5f218a92a">Re: Teeny Tiny Wedding Venue Needed</a>:
    [QUOTE]Welcome to the board! I looked into have a wedding on the capitol grounds in front of the Shattering Sound monument which overlooks the Des Moines skyline. It's free to use the grounds. Here is the link with details:  <a href="http://das.iowa.gov/gse/events/faq/weddings.pdf" rel='nofollow'>http://das.iowa.gov/gse/events/faq/weddings.pdf</a>  and here's a link to a picture of the location  <a href="http://das.iowa.gov/gse/monuments/index_43.html" rel='nofollow'>http://das.iowa.gov/gse/monuments/index_43.html</a> .  Other than that you can look into the Des Moines Water Works park or like you said Des Monies parks.  Although outside locations are the easiest option you will want to keep in mind that May weather is unpredictable...it could be cold and/or rainy. Sorry, not much help on indoor locations. 
    Posted by soon2bmrsrlh[/QUOTE]<div>
    </div><div>I love that piece.  The artist is a friend of my FI's and FI installed the ball in the middle.</div><div>
    </div><div>I might worry about weather in May here [says the woman who's getting married outside in August when it will be hotter than ____].</div><div>
    </div><div>How about the Church of the Land at Living History Farms?  I went to a very small wedding there years ago and it was beautiful!

    </div>
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