9 Best Wedding Venues in Des Moines and Central Iowa (2026 Guide)

Des Moines has the most wedding venues in Iowa and the most that publish their prices. In the city there are gardens, a historic manor and a Masonic temple with rooms for hundreds; in the countryside around it are barns that publish full rate cards.

The median published starting price for Des Moines and Central Iowa is $3,750 (n=26), the largest sample in the state.

We cataloged 84 wedding venues across Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, Ames, Urbandale, Indianola and Winterset. Below are the 9 we would point a couple to first, each checked against the venue's own site.

Every venue below is in our Des Moines wedding venue directory, where you can filter the full list and see published pricing side by side.

For the statewide cost picture, see how much an Iowa wedding costs, and for timing, the best months to get married in Iowa.

1. Salisbury House & Gardens

A manor built in the 1920s by cosmetics maker Carl Weeks and his wife Edith, modeled on Salisbury, England, with 16th-century English oak woodwork and gardens. It hosts weddings through its rentals program. Pricing on its rentals page.

2. Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden

A garden on the river downtown with ceremonies under an arbor in the tropical conservatory dome, rain or shine, or outdoors with the skyline behind. Indoor weddings start at $3,750, outdoor at $3,000 and ceremonies alone at $1,000, with coordination, staff, tables, chairs, white linens and setup included.

3. Scottish Rite Consistory

A Masonic temple downtown with three published room rates: the Dahl Grand Banquet Room with marble columns, $5,250 for up to 250; the Tapestry Room with a fireplace and walnut woodwork, $2,800 for 300; and the Langdon Auditorium with a pipe organ, $2,000 for 750, or $1,200 with a reception. Tables, chairs, a supervisor and security are included.

4. The Chateau at White Oak

A 6,700-square-foot hall with a stone fireplace on 21 acres of vineyard and gardens in Cambridge, near Ankeny, for 250. $8,000 on a Friday or Saturday, $6,500 Sunday, and $10,000 for a weekend with Friday decorating and a rehearsal dinner for 50. It includes Chiavari chairs, china, crystal, bartenders and coordination. A micro wedding for 50 is $5,000.

5. Country Lane Lodge

A lodge near Des Moines with a reception space for 360, a fireplace for indoor ceremonies and a wildflower field for photos. For 2026: Saturday $8,500, Friday $7,000, Sunday and weekdays $5,500. Day-of coordination, two bartenders and a shuttle from a West Des Moines hotel are included; bar packages run $6 to $7 a guest per hour.

6. Red Acre Barn

A barn in Prole, south of Des Moines, available 8am to midnight with decor, bartenders, security and cleaning included. From April to November: Saturday $5,900, Friday $4,900, Sunday to Thursday $4,500, or $8,900 for the weekend. December to March is $1,000 cheaper on a Saturday.

7. White Knot Barn

A climate-controlled barn in Prole for 300, with a six-foot crystal chandelier, a pond-side ceremony site and a bridal suite with its own shower. For 2027: Friday $7,000, Saturday $8,000, Sunday $6,000.

8. Sherwood Forest Event Center

An indoor event center in Windsor Heights, in the metro, seating 250, with bartenders, a stage, a projector, centerpieces and a decor package included. Saturday $5,250, other days $4,500, or $7,000 for Friday evening through Saturday. A micro wedding for 60 is $4,000. Open catering.

9. Reiman Gardens

Iowa State University's gardens in Ames, 30 minutes north, with rooms by the hour: the Garden Room for 104 to 250 is $200 an hour, and the Hunziker House and Speer Room for 48 to 80 are $125. Garden admission is waived for guests.

Others worth a look

PepperHarrow Farm is a flower farm in Madison County that hosts outdoor weddings for up to 400. Rollins Mansion is a historic house in Des Moines. And Tamory Hall in Newton sells complete wedding packages.

How to shop Des Moines venues

Compare the city and the barns. The Botanical Garden starts at $3,000 with staff and setup, and the Scottish Rite rents a ballroom for 250 at $5,250. The barns cost more but include the whole day.

Watch State Fair season. The Iowa State Fair fills Des Moines hotels in August.

Use the winter rates. Red Acre Barn drops $1,000 from December to March. Our venue tour questions cover the rest.

Our venue checklist covers the rest of the shopping list, and what a wedding venue costs explains how venue pricing is structured.

Browse every Des Moines venue

These 9 are a starting point. There are 84 wedding venues in our Des Moines directory, with published pricing where vendors share it.

• Des Moines wedding venues
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• All Iowa wedding venues

Or tell us what you are planning and we will match you against Des Moines venues whose published pricing fits your budget.