Venues for a wedding/reception in the DM-Ames area

[KLoISU02]

I've been to a wedding and reception at Summerset Winery in Indianola, and that was very nice. A bit of a drive to lodging, if you are worried about guests drinking and driving, though.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Places you've been to, partied at, danced at, been to weddings at, cool unique places. Help me out here with some ideas.
I would like to stick to the DM and Ames area. Any suggestions help.
250-300 people probably.

Holy starting out your new life together in a big hole Batman. Elope and use the savings to buy a Ferrari.

 

[Cyclonepride]

And you could hide the garter in the ballpit...

There's a dirty joke in there somewhere.

 

[usedcarguy]

Bear with me here. This place has a free house band. Serves beer. Has great door prizes. And you could hide the garter in the ballpit...

Reminds me of a joke I played on my buddy for his 40th b-day. I told him where we were going was a secret. He wanted hints. I told them they had cold beer and a live band, and that was all he needed to know. He was stoked - until we pulled into the parking lot. We actually got out of the car and acted like we were going in. Then we went across the street to Hooters. Not the best place in the world but after sitting in the ChuckECheese parking lot it didn't matter!

 

[usedcarguy]

Many nice places listed here. The Embassy suites is nice if you want to go more upscale, so is the Gateway. One nice thing about Hickory's Hall is that you can close down Old Chicago before stumbling to your hotel room.

Also went to a wedding at the Holiday Inn next to Mercy. It was a good Catholic wedding and everyone was ****faced. The rotating part in the middle was cool for those who've led a sheltered life. I ripped the seat out of my pants learning the electric slide. Ah, the good ole days.

I can't remember if you can get to 300 there, but I know you can do 200 for sure.

 

[pyrocyz]

I got married in the court yard of LagoMarcino Hall...then the reception at Scheman. Great time.

I have also heard the the Alumni Center is great for receptions, but they might only be able to seat 200.

 

[heyguy85]

What about the Star Lite Village Conference Center at the Quality Inn and Suites in Ames on 13th St.? Looking for ideas and that's been our favorite to this point. What opinions do you have?

 

[ISUFan22]

Jester Park Lodge is really nice. It's right on the lake and has a really nice deck overlooking the lake. Only problem is being so far away from DSM if you're not wanting drunk drivers!!

The Scottish Rite Masonic Temple was quite nice but as mentioned quite expensive...

Photographing at both, highly recommend both as well.

 

[TexaClone]

My neice got married a couple of years ago and had her reception at the old Towers - she easily had 300 people - Knapp-Storms catering: ISU Catering : Dining

The reception was great - plenty of room and great facilities for a bar - they covered everything in white draperies - you couldn't tell it was a college food hall at all - very well done.

Reiman Gardens for the wedding might be cool, just down the road:

Reiman Gardens, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, Buck Roses, Butterfly House - Wedding Packages

BTW - I wish you WOULD do the reception at Knapp-Storms - both my niece and her husband are such HUGE Hawk fans, the entry into the reception song was the Hawkeye Fight song - truly, sacrilege.. You would correct a lot of karma by playing the Cyclone fight song or at the very least, posting some Cyclone banners by the head table - like national championship banners with your names coming together. LOL

 

[cyclonewoes]

We had our reception at Stoney Creek in Johnston, we had many out of town guests so they could just stay there. The food was great. I have heard otter creek does a nice job as well.

 

[waynemorgan]

We had ours at assembly hall in pleasant hill. Had 350 people with plenty of room and Jonie at Great Caterers of Iowa (who owns the building) cooked an amazing/classy buffet style meal. Very, very price competitive as well... Kegs were nearly half the cost of most other places too

 

[azn4cy]

If you have Hawkeye friends, make sure 2forISU isn't next door for a wedding.

 

[Chitownclone2]

Some great suggestions already, but here are a couple more. White Oak Vineyards in Cambridge is a very nice option. White Oak Vineyards- Winery near Des Moines/Ames, IA Wedding Venue, banquet rental, music events

I've also been to a wedding & reception at Sticks gallery in DSM. http://www.sticks.com/events-at-sticks.html

 

[cyhiphopp]

I recomend the Rose Garden behind the Des Moines Art center.

My wife and I had it booked for our wedding before we decided to save money and go to Vegas. It is a beautiful outdoor venue and I don't think it was too expensive. Lots of scenery and room for everything. There's even areas for big tents for a reception out there. Very classy.

 

[Frak]

If I were doing it again, I'd do the wedding either at Reiman Gardens or on Central Campus and the reception at the new Alumni Building or Great Hall MU. Or just do the whole thing at the Alumni Building.

Iowa State University Alumni Center - Ames Iowa 50010 - Plan Your Wedding

Reiman Gardens, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, Buck Roses, Butterfly House - Wedding Packages

 

[nickp50010]

If you consider Boone to be in the "Ames Area", we rented City View Reception Hall. Think we had 260 people in the building. IIRC, fire code said 300 was the max. They do not allow you to bring in your own alcohol, they provide the alochol (kegs are roughly $160, mixed drinks were $3-$5.

Went to a weeding reception that was at Gates Hall in Nevada, Iowa (no clue how many it can hold).

Gateway Hotel in Ames has a reception area, no clue how many it can hold. We looked at it for our wedding, cost per plate was going to anywhere from $25-$40.

If you are looking for catering, I recommend Liderdale Country Store. They will travel ANYWHERE (the owner told me they have provided services in Minnesota, Missouri and Nebraska).

We had 2 different meats (entree meal - chicken and beef), 2 different potato, 2 different hot vegetable, 7 different salads (potato salad, lettuce salad, pea salad etc), dinner roll, coffee, punch, plates, silverware, cups, napkins... Came out to $9 a plate wich included travel fee.

Lidderdale Country Store | Lidderdale, IA | Catering | Caterer | Carroll, Iowa

 

[Sparkplug]

The FFA Enrichment Center on DMACC campus is now available

FFA Enrichment Center - Lobby/Exhibit Hall

 

[getcloned]

Went to a reception at Sticks on SW 61st street a few years back... really cool.

Events at Sticks | Sticks, Inc.

 

[mswain1]

We are having ours at the Sheraton in West Des Moines off of University by Barnes and Noble. They have been pretty awsome to work with, and have a whole lot of room to work with. From our experience if you book the same year you want to have the wedding people work with you a lot more on the price.

We were going to have it at Copper Creek, and it is awsome plus they let you take pictures on the golf course, I can't remeber why we changed now.

Jester Park Lodge is also awsome but it was cold that day so we were stuck inside the whole time, I'd check that place out.

 

[Hawk4Life25]

Had our wedding at the Temple for Performing Arts in Des Moines about a month ago. The set-up was ideal because we were able to have all of our guests just walk across the hall from the ceremony to the reception in the Grand Hall.

Ran around downtown Des Moines before the wedding taking pictures so we didn't keep our guests waiting.