Maya and her team are my top recommendation in Des Moines. They handle everything from consultation to full coordination, and their florals are the best I’ve seen in Iowa — from a single bouquet to full design and large-scale installations. You can book them for planning, florals, or both, and every wedding I’ve worked with them has been seamless, beautiful, and stress-free for the couple.

Heather’s Secret Garden is a Des Moines floral studio led by Heather Worthington. She creates natural, garden-style florals for weddings and elopeements, with designs that are colorful, whimsical, and romantic.

Sibyl Sophia Floral Design is a Des Moines studio led by Sophie Ballmer. She creates florals for weddings, events, workshops, and installations, with designs that are modern, creative, and rooted in a strong sense of color and style.

Flower Disco is my all-time favorite florist — Steph is cool, edgy, and wildly creative. I’ve photographed so many of her installations, and every single one has been unforgettable. She treats florals as art, flowering weddings and events worldwide with bold, sculptural designs and full-scale event styling. Based in Colorado, Flower Disco is a luxury floral and event design studio that can take on weddings of any size and make them feel completely original.

Honey & Joy Events is a luxury wedding planning and floral design company based in Des Moines, Iowa. Led by Karla Lewenczuk, their team is known for romantic and playful designs. I actually haven’t had a chance to work with this planner/event designer yet, but I’ve admired their work for years. They offer full-service wedding planning, decor and rentals, and custom floral design, to couples in Des Moines and beyond.

Riviera Creative is a detail-forward design house based in Colorado and working worldwide. I’ve photographed their work several times, and Keely is an excellent planner with a true gift for curating artful, intentional events. Riviera handles everything from full-service planning to elopement design, always creating celebrations that feel one-of-a-kind.

Mae&Co Creative is a world-class planning and design team led by Manda Worthington. They specialize in immersive, multi-day wedding experiences around the globe, creating events where no detail is spared. I haven’t worked with them yet, but it would be a dream — their events are comprehensive, artful, and unforgettable.

The Good Co. is one of my favorite rental companies in Des Moines, and they’ve styled multiple weddings I’ve photographed. Their collection leans modern and cool, with pieces that give events a fresh, stylish edge.

One of my favorite spots in Des Moines, The Outside Scoop makes small-batch ice cream that’s truly unmatched. I love their roasted cherry goat cheese and watermelon sorbet, and their pink truck is the cutest addition to a wedding. They even serve waffle cone chips, which are my personal favorite.

Whitney, the artist behind Cake Baby out of West Des Moines, makes absolutely gorgeous custom cakes and desserts for weddings. She offers traditional, vegan, and gluten-free options, and every cake I’ve seen from her has been artfully made and a joy for her couples.

Crème is an award-winning Asian-inspired wedding cake bakery and local dessert shop in Des Moines, and they are one of my all time favorites for wedding cake and cupcakes – their buttercream is unreal. They offer a wide variety of classic, gluten-free and vegan desserts with globally-inspired flavor options. as well as milk bread loaves, buns and rolls. Highly recommend!!!

Cake It Away, Baby! is a cottage bakery in Des Moines known for playful lambeth cakes, cookies, and bespoke desserts. I worked with her on a T4T styled shoot, and the cake she created was as fun and thoughtful as it was delicious — a perfect fit for couples who want something creative and personal on their wedding day.

A queer-owned vegan and gluten-free bakery in downtown Des Moines, Thistle’s Summit cakes and baked goods are a favorite among vegan couples, and their focus on inclusivity and community makes them a standout choice. Marti also officiates weddings, and I’ve loved working with her in that role. She brings the same sense of care, creativity, and inclusivity to ceremonies as she does to her desserts.

Carrie England is my favorite officiant to work with, and luckily for me, we have done many weddings together. Carrie specializes in secular ceremonies while honoring all faiths and traditions. She’s warm, thoughtful, and creates ceremonies that feel personal and unique every time.

Somos Paper by Maggie Goldhammer is an offshoot of her incredible branding design business Somos Studios. Maggie is incredibly detail-focused and creates absolutely stunning, thoughtful designs and high-quality paper goods for weddings and more.

Ephemera is a paper and design shop in downtown Des Moines specializing in wedding invitations by appointment, custom printing, and curated paper goods. Their traditional process and careful approach make them a trusted choice for couples who want timeless stationery.

Gates Paper Co. creates some of the coolest, most artful invitation suites I’ve ever seen. Their work feels bold, modern, and completely unique to each couple — nothing cookie-cutter or cut-and-paste. I haven’t worked with them yet, but their luxurious designs are stunning and I would love to photograph their work at a wedding.

If you’re styling your own wedding day looks, explore my bridal style Pinterest board for gowns, suits, accessories, and alternative outfits — over 1,000 ideas for every gender, style, and body type!

Bridal Style Guide on Pinterest →

I also have a session outfit style guide for your engagement session! Tons of ideas for every body type and gender, sorted by season for you!

Session Outfit Style Guide on Pinterest →

Natalie Gray is a wardrobe stylist and editorial photographer based in Colorado, working with couples and creatives worldwide. Her styling blends vintage influence with effortless, modern details, and she has a real gift for sourcing unique pieces that make each session feel elevated and personal.

Palomita is a holistic salon in Beaverdale that offers intuitive, trend-forward hair styling with a focus on individuality and community. They use ethically made products and create a welcoming space for all, making them one of my favorite places to recommend for wedding hair.