WDM/Downtown DSM Reception Locations

Re: WDM/Downtown DSM Reception Locations

• klovesd

  

  January 2010 edited December 2011

  I'm really not sure on the details of alot of places but some suggestions are The Capitol Room, Forte, Fort Des Moines Hotel, Foxboro Conference Center

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• ScarletGem

  

  January 2010 edited December 2011

  We used the Baratta's terrace on the State Historical Building, and even though there's no event planner there to do the decoration for you, it really doesn't need much.  We used the lights provided by the venue (for a fee of something like $300) and the florist put the centerpieces on the tables, so we and our friends were all off the hook on decorating.  And the rental fee for the location ($750) was pretty nominal, and the food pricing was very reasonable. 
  
  There are pictures of my reception in my bio, under (appropriately) "Reception"
  

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• alacton member

  

  January 2010 edited December 2011

  If you are not looking to decorate much I would go with a hotel. My reception is going to be at the Des Moines Golf and Country Club and while there is no rental fee I have to hire someone to decorate it. The WDM Marriott is really nice and was my number one choice. They have a higher minimum but you can add a lot of stuff into the minimum. I heard the HIlton Garden Inn is nice as well. I also heard the Savory hotel was nice too.

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• mrs. wolf member

  

  January 2010 edited December 2011

  I just got married in Des Moines a couple weeks ago and had our reception at The Temple for Performing Arts in their large ballroom on the 4th floor.  It was amazingly beautiful and we hardly had to decorate!  For the most part they were amazing to work with as well!!  There is a sales person you work with and then a day of coordinator that helps you keep things on schedule when you are actually at the reception (cake cutting, dances, entrances, etc)  Ours was amazing to work with!
  
  Some other unique places in WDM/Downtown would be the Hotel Fort Des Moines (they just re-did their ballrooms and I think a lot of their actual hotel rooms as well).  I had a girlfriend get married at Glen Oaks and they loved it, however the only odd thing was for your reception, depending on how many guests you have, they are split up into two different rooms-so guests might not be able to see the important stuff like the 1st dance, cake cutting, etc.  I am not sure with these two if they have coordinators or not.
  
  Side tangent- most venues don't have per say wedding planners.  They will have someone that will help coordinate the important details-arrival of vendors for set up times, helping you do your intros, those types of things, but they won't go to your florist appointments with you, dj appointments, those types of things.  If you want to for sure have someone with you and help plan, I suggest getting a wedding planner.  There are people you can hire just the month before the wedding or just the day of! 
  
  Hope this helps!  Let me know if you have any questions!
  

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• aba7923 member

  

  February 2010 edited December 2011

  I would highly recommend the WDM Marriott. Janelle is fabuloulous to work with.  We also looked at the Stoneycreek Inn, Sheritan, and the Holiday Inn in Johnston and West Des Moines. 

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