The Best Intimate Wedding and Elopement Venues
Salisbury House and Gardens
✦ Historic 1920s estate modeled after Tudor England, filled with original antiques and art
✦ Formal gardens, terraces, and six acres of private woodland for ceremonies and photos
✦ Multiple indoor and outdoor spaces that make every wedding unique
Clare and Miles Mills Rose Garden
✦ Historic rose garden in Greenwood Park dating back to the 1930s
✦ Over 2,000 rose bushes and 100 varieties across 4.5 acres
✦ Limestone architecture, flagstone paths, and endless ways to lay out a ceremony
Sylvan Amphitheater
✦ Historic amphitheater built in 1931, restored in 2004
✦ Shaded setting surrounded by tall oak trees in Greenwood Park
✦ Bench seating for about 200 guests, perfect for intimate ceremonies
The Jordan House Museum
✦ Historic Victorian home built in the 1850s, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
✦ Former Underground Railroad stop and landmark of Iowa history
✦ Ideal for intimate weddings, elopements, and small gatherings
Rollins Mansion
✦ Historic 1920s mansion with original European and Wright-inspired details
✦ Expansive gardens, terraces, and skyline views of downtown Des Moines
✦ Multiple indoor and outdoor spaces for flexible, elegant celebrations
World Food Prize Hall of Laureates
✦ Beaux-Arts architecture with marble staircases and stained glass details
✦ Formal European-style gardens with fountains and sculpted hedges
✦ Prime downtown location along the Des Moines River and Riverwalk
Des Moines Embassy Club
✦ 34th-floor wedding venue with floor-to-ceiling windows
✦ Unobstructed views in every direction across the city and beyond
✦ Elegant interiors with chandeliers, bar, and dance floor
Candle Lit Way Wedding Chapel
✦ Historic 1880s chapel with stained-glass windows and antique details
✦ Ceremony capacity of 150, with garden and reception space for smaller gatherings
✦ Romantic outdoor gardens perfect for portraits, ceremonies, or proposals
Des Moines Wedding Photographer
Alyssa Leicht is a Des Moines-based wedding, elopement, and portrait photographer with nearly fifteen years of experience documenting couples across the U.S. Her work has been featured in NME, Hinterland Music Festival, and several other publications. Known for her bold use of flash and color, Alyssa creates wedding imagery that balances an artful yet honest documentary style.
Alyssa Leicht
Alyssa Leicht is an internationally published wedding, elopement, couples photographer with over 14 years of experience. Her work has been featured in NME, Love Inc. Magazine, The Des Moines Register, Little Village Magazine, Iowa Public Radio, Heartland Wedding Ideas and many, many more.
Based in Des Moines or wherever your love takes us…
LGBTQIA+ couples are always welcome in front of my camera. 🏳️🌈