A Photographers Guide to Iowa City Wedding Venues
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For all you recently engaged couples out there, here is a list of our favorite Iowa City wedding venues! Choosing a venue is usually the first step in the wedding planning process and it can be overwhelming! And as wedding photographers, we have been to A LOT of wedding venues! There are so many things to consider: budget, guest list, if you want to be indoor or outdoors, style and location just to name a few. Hopefully this curated list helps jump start your search on finding the perfect wedding venue in Iowa City for you to say ‘I do!’
In no particular order, here are a few of our favorites:
Walker Homestead
For the Upscale Countryside Couple
One of the newest venues in the area, Walker Homestead is unlike any Iowa wedding venue we’ve been to. Sitting on 85 acres of beautiful Iowa farmland, Walker Homestead grows all their own produce to cook delicious meals for all their events. With a full kitchen featuring a brick oven to make homemade pizza, their onsite chef will create the perfect menu for your event. The venue itself is a beautiful, white barn with seating for up to 240 guests. It features getting ready space in the upstairs loft, wooden farm tables, and large garage doors that completely open up to transport you outdoors. Have your ceremony outside with the rollings hills of Iowa and vineyards as your backdrop. Then, enjoy cocktail hour and outdoor games on the lawn and patio space surrounding the building. Last, and certainly not least, you and your guests can acquaint yourselves with all the farm animals that call Walker Homestead home! Who doesn’t want a few turkeys, fainting goats or cows to photobomb their wedding pictures?! We sure enjoy it!
Little Lights on the Lane
For the Chic Boho Couple
All we have to say about Little Lights on the Lane in West Branch, Iowa is…WOW. This place is truly a photographer’s dream! Every corner of this place has been thoughtfully designed for both beauty and function. From the abundance of natural light, to the spacious getting getting ready suites, there is no shortage of locations to take pictures. Have your ceremony underneath the large tree outside, or if it’s raining, utilize the covered patio or reception hall. Did we mention this place is HUGE? It’s perfect for those larger sized weddings without feeling crowded. We can’t say enough good things about this place!
The Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel
For the classy traditional couple
The Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel is a great wedding venue for a lot of reasons! First of all, if you have a larger guest list, the Marriott has the capacity to host lots of guests without feeling crowded. If you prefer to be outdoors, they have a large outdoor patio that can be used for ceremonies and receptions. Not only do they have several large ballrooms to choose from, but they have plenty of rooms for all your traveling guests to stay in. Located in the Iowa River Landing, it’s walking distance from several restaurants and bars (30Hop, Backpocket Brewing, and Marquee Pizzeria to name a few) and has a beautiful outdoor area for walking around and taking portraits.
The Celebration Farm
For the Rustic Couple
The Celebration Farm has been a long time favorite Iowa City wedding venue of ours! There are two barns on the site, The Timber Frame and The Double Round Barn, in addition to a stunning amphitheater for your outdoor ceremony! The Timber Frame is warm and rustic with a lofted area for additional seating. The Double Round Barn is spacious with an extraordinary domed ceiling. You have the option of renting one or both barns for your wedding day!
Bella Sala Event Center
For the nature loving couple
By far the best feature at Bella Sala Event Center in Tiffin, Iowa is their stunning waterfall! It makes for the perfect, calming backdrop for your ceremony and sunset portraits. The grounds are covered in beautiful trees and landscaping, making every outdoor space a great photo opportunity. If that’s not enough nature for you, head on down the street to F.W. Kent Park for more photo ops! With a recently renovated getting ready suite and a reception hall that can fit up to 650 guests, you can’t go wrong with Bella Sala!
Palmer House Stables
For the Rustic Small Town Couple
Palmer House Stables wedding venue is surely one of a kind! It’s a small, limestone building located on Main Street in Solon, Iowa. With it’s cozy atmosphere and historic charm, you won’t need to do a lot of decorating indoors. Their outside terrace is great for ceremonies and receptions and feature Edison bulb lights and fire pits if you’d like to roast s’mores with your guests! They even have a loft on the top floor that can be used for getting ready or as a honeymoon suite for the bride and groom! Even better, it’s located just minutes away from Lake MacBride if you’d like to sneak away for some portraits at sunset by the water.