Who says Iowa can't be a destination wedding location?
Granted, Kate and Robert bring their own personal cool-kid energy to the table, which was obvious when we first talked a week before their ceremony. They had flown into Des Moines from New York to get married at the courthouse--a plan that had unfurled when family health concerns came into the picture. Even with the change of plans and condensed timeline, they were cool as cucumbers knowing that there were plenty of opportunities to still embrace the retro aesthetic they had dreamed of while in the Midwest.
We met at the courthouse, Kate and Robert looking like they were plucked right off the set of Marvelous Mrs. Mazel. As we waited for our appointment, Kate and I chatted about her outfit. I'm not necessarily one for fashion--I look kind of like a grandma about to wandering into the garden at any moment--but it's hard not to stop and give a small round of applause for a redhead in a silk, green dress on her wedding day. Of course most everything they were wearing was found in Brooklyn, but our favorite touch was Kate's purse, which had been sitting on the nightstand of their AirBnb upon their arrive. It matched her earrings perfectly, which we all took as a sign that it was meant to make its way to the courthouse with her on this little field trip.
After some portraits on our way out of the courthouse, we headed to Midcentury mecca posing as an unassuming Airbnb on the Southside of Des Moines. Pulling into the driveway I thought to myself, "Okay, yeah, this is nice" Five seconds later my jaw was on the floor and I was salivating over the jewel-toned kitchen, wood built-ins, and retro features for days. My only sadness is that we didn't have more time to run around and utilize the whole space--every room was a little slice of retro heaven. (Don't even get me started on the master bedroom. Two words: round bed.) We snapped portraits of the couple and got the family involved, ending with some silly group shots in front of the epic living room fireplace.
Robert and Kate are the perfect example that a courthouse wedding can still be special and personalized. And without half of the effort or fuss that goes into a full wedding day. Utilizing attire, accessories, small details, and even lodging made a big impact on their overall aesthetic, staying true to their vision while making life easy for family.
