There is way more to the Midwest than cornfields and football. In fact, it is a spectacular place to get married! The golden sunlight, rich landscapes, vintage architecture, beautiful locations, and great people make an entertaining weekend of nearby fun!
I’ve shot over one hundred weddings in the Midwest and not one looks the same. And all are amazingly gorgeous! The delighted look on every single face in my photographs proves the Midwest is a great place for your destination wedding.
Plan a day trip getaway for your guests or a celebration just up the road. Either way you just can’t lose with a Midwest wedding. I have witnessed the most amazing, stylish, simple, classy, romantic events in our great part of the country. And I’m always surprised when a newly engaged couple doesn’t realize all of the options available to them, so I decided to compile a list. That’s what Midwesterners do. They help each other.
Here are a dozen awesome Midwest locations for your wedding. (Some I’ve been to and others I can’t wait for you to tell me we’re going.)
1. Laurel Ridge Barn
I recently shot here and LOVED it! Everything is so white, clean, and modern. The natural light is amazing and the scenery is so incredible. Laurel Ridge Barn is a southern style gambrel barn with a 45-foot ceiling. The open design offers elegance and private bride and groom rooms, an amazing prep kitchen, and a beautiful window wall you gotta see. Close to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in the rolling hills with a peaceful flowing creek.
2. Lauritzen Gardens
Greenhouse dreams! Surround everyone with the life of plants and beautiful natural light. Indoor and outdoor options with ceremony only options too. Who knows a gorgeous setting better than a horticultural center and living museum with year-round seasonal displays?
3. The Barn At Okoboji
A century old barn on a hill in Okoboji, Iowa, is the setting for this romantic and rustic locale. Celebrate days gone by with modern technology for a state-of-the-art entertainment experience. Breathtaking views of the entire farm, shiplap flooring, barn board tables coupled by natural warm lighting makes for amazing photographs and an unforgettable day. And, hop on the roller coaster nearby!
4. Big Cedar Lodge
Magnificent venues (pick from 20) and relaxing lodging to yummy cuisine and a complete range of specialized services and amenities. Spa services, world-class recreation, full catering services, and even fireworks. Say “I do” with spectacular sweeping views of the Ozark Mountains and Table Rock Lake. For extra memories add on unique outings or customized activities planned by their on-site staff.
5. Club Hillbrook
Class and character without being stuffing. It oozes with romance and enchanting feels. This special destination in Ohio offers impeccable service, colorful gardens, vast woods, and beautiful views for picturesque backdrops for your special day. A hidden treasure.
6. Southwind Hills
Winner of The Knot’s Best Of Weddings” several years in a row. This one is worth looking into for that industrial, modern barn feel. Brides describe it as magical. The 3-story building overlooking the rolling acreage combines rustic and elegance enhanced by barn wood walls, beams, draped linens, and chandeliers throughout. Wrap-around patio offers guests the opportunity to sit by crackling fire pits or listen to the rock waterfall.
7. Garvan Woodland Gardens
This breathtaking chapel amazes with a 57-foot high vaulted wood and glass ceiling surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows that reveals the woodland canopy and sky with views of Arkansas’s Lake Hamilton and the surrounding forest. Pledge your love under sunlight and shadows on native flagstone floors or at night be bathed in a golden glow of the dramatic wall sconces. Intimate, outdoor garden weddings are a beautiful option as well.
8. The Wilds Venue
This venue says, “You are wildly original. Your wedding should be no less.” I agree. The Wilds serves up high-end farmhouse design with high-touch service just outside of Indianapolis. This venue run by wedding industry veterans, who make you feel like family, offers the best of an indoor and outdoor venue. Come for your celebration and wish you could stay forever.
This is just a start (spoiler: stay tuned for another list of more midwest wedding venue selections). Looking at the websites as a couple or touring a couple of these gives you the opportunity to discuss what type of venue you both want for you and your guests on your special day.
When you start thinking about venues with a great view or a cozy feel, you may realize you have more options than you thought because any vineyard or greenhouse or rolling pasture could be the perfect spot for your celebration.
Now take a deep breath and remember being together makes every location special. Just know that any spot where you pledge your love to your favorite person as loved ones look on is going to be great!