Luxurious Skyscraper Wedding with Sweeping Views

WeddingsDes Moines

Aug 7

Jessica and Josh’s story began at Centro in downtown Des Moines, where they had their very first date. Years later, Josh brought it full circle and proposed in the Pappajohn Sculpture Garden after another dinner at Centro, with both families secretly watching nearby. On the wedding day, that same thoughtfulness showed up again—Josh took charge of the planning and told every vendor to go through him so Jessica could relax. We love to see it. Their planner, Anthony Marinaro of Out of Box Productions, was incredible to work with and helped pull together a team that fit them perfectly. I always recommend hiring a planner if you want to actually enjoy the process and be fully present with the people you love.

The whole wedding was centered in downtown, which kept everything simple and walkable. Jessica got ready in a suite at the Des Lux Hotel with vintage furniture that made the perfect backdrop for portraits. Hair and makeup were at Salon W, and the guys went to Loyal Sons Barbershop with Jay Wendt. Jessica wore a Lazaro gown, with bridesmaids in all-white MoriLee dresses from Bridal Elegance and suits from The Backroom Clothing. The white dresses balanced out the black in their palette so nothing felt too heavy, and it looked incredible. Jessica and Josh had their first look in the skywalk above the busy streets, then we headed to the Barnum Factory for wedding party photos. It was our rainy-day backup and ended up being one of the best spots—tall windows, concrete columns, and raw industrial character everywhere.

The ceremony and reception were held at the Embassy Club downtown, high on the 34th floor of the Ruan Center. Floor-to-ceiling windows surround the space with views in every direction—the river, the Capitol, and miles past the city. On a foggy afternoon it felt like they were getting married in the clouds, and as the evening went on the skyline lit up below them. During the ceremony, Jessica and Josh chose a unity glass ritual, mixing black and white glass beads that will be turned into a vase for their home. Every anniversary they plan to fill it with the same flowers from their wedding to take them back so they can relive all their favorite memories.

Florals came from Brooke Bunce at Johnston Hy-Vee, and they couldn’t have been better. Jessica carried a bouquet overflowing with ranunculus, anemones, roses, peonies, and greenery—big, lush, and exactly right for the day. The reception tables were covered in all-white arrangements that kept everything feeling clean and classic without being fussy. Their cake, made by Crème, was unforgettable: a four-tier black cake with soft white marbling and a spiral of white roses climbing all the way around it. Guests sat down to dinner, moved through the photo booth, and hit the dance floor hard while the city lights stretched endlessly in every direction. It was one of those nights where the view kept changing, and every time you looked out the windows, it felt like a brand new backdrop.