Kelsey and Matt’s wedding at Salisbury House & Gardens in Des Moines, Iowa was the perfect blend of romantic garden elegance, historic charm, and rich fall color. Surrounded by the lush grounds of one of the most iconic Des Moines wedding venues, the couple celebrated their marriage with a day filled with beautiful florals, meaningful moments, and so much personality. Their color palette featured romantic shades of blush, dusty rose, mauve, and deep burgundy, complemented by abundant greenery that felt right at home among the gardens and historic architecture of Salisbury House.

From their outdoor ceremony surrounded by towering trees and overflowing floral installations to portraits throughout the gorgeous grounds, every part of Kelsey and Matt’s Salisbury House wedding felt effortlessly romantic. Kelsey carried a stunning, garden-inspired bouquet filled with blush and ivory blooms, rich burgundy accents, and cascading greenery, while her bridesmaids wore a mix of coordinating pink, mauve, and wine-colored dresses. Matt’s burgundy suit was the perfect complement, bringing another layer of rich color to their elegant garden wedding design.

Following the ceremony, guests gathered beneath a tent for a reception that continued the soft, colorful aesthetic of the day. Dusty rose linens, white chairs, delicate floral centerpieces, and the surrounding greenery created a bright and inviting atmosphere that allowed the beauty of the property to remain part of the celebration. The result was an elegant outdoor wedding in Des Moines that felt sophisticated without losing the warmth and intimacy of a garden party.

As Des Moines wedding planners, Elizabeth Bliss Events loves weddings that embrace the character of their venue while still feeling completely personal to the couple. Kelsey and Matt’s wedding at Salisbury House & Gardens did exactly that, pairing the historic beauty of this beloved Iowa venue with romantic florals, autumn-inspired colors, and joyful details. If you’re searching for Salisbury House wedding inspiration or dreaming of a romantic garden wedding in Des Moines, Iowa, Kelsey and Matt’s celebration is one you’ll definitely want to see.

bride and groom under the veil photo — Phot By: Nicole Laing

As Des Moines wedding planners, Salisbury House & Gardens is one of those venues we are always excited to return to. There’s truly nothing else quite like it in Iowa. The historic architecture, beautiful gardens, mature trees, stone pathways, and old-world character give couples an incredible backdrop for a wedding that feels romantic, elegant, and completely timeless. Every corner of the property offers another gorgeous setting for photos, allowing couples to have everything from dreamy garden portraits to images that highlight the historic architecture of the estate. For couples searching for a unique wedding venue in Des Moines, Salisbury House & Gardens offers the feeling of a European estate without ever leaving Iowa.

We also love how much flexibility Salisbury House gives couples when designing their wedding day. The gardens create a stunning setting for an outdoor wedding ceremony in Des Moines, while the grounds offer plenty of opportunities to create a reception that feels entirely different from the ceremony. Tented receptions are especially beautiful here because guests can enjoy the comfort of a covered celebration while still feeling surrounded by the greenery and natural beauty of the estate. Whether your vision is a romantic garden party, timeless black-tie celebration, colorful summer wedding, or moody fall affair, the property can complement so many different wedding styles.

From a planning and design perspective, we especially love that Salisbury House already has so much personality. You don’t have to completely transform the space to make an impact—the architecture and landscaping provide a beautiful foundation, allowing florals, linens, rentals, and other intentional details to enhance what is already there. Kelsey and Matt’s romantic florals and rich blush, mauve, and burgundy palette are a perfect example of how beautifully a couple’s personal style can work alongside the existing character of the venue.

For Elizabeth Bliss Events, working at Salisbury House & Gardens in Des Moines is always an opportunity to create a wedding experience that feels like more than just a single-day event. There’s a sense of history and romance throughout the property that makes celebrations here feel incredibly special. If you’re searching for historic wedding venues in Des Moines, outdoor wedding venues in Iowa, or a romantic garden wedding venue in Des Moines, Salisbury House & Gardens is absolutely one to have on your list—and one we love helping our Elizabeth Bliss Events couples bring to life.

Getting Ready at Salisbury House & Gardens

Kelsey’s wedding morning at Salisbury House & Gardens in Des Moines was every bit as elegant and romantic as the rest of the day. Getting ready inside the historic estate meant she and her bridesmaids were surrounded by beautiful architecture from the very beginning, creating a setting that felt special before the ceremony even started. The bridal party spent the morning together in coordinating pink floral robes, enjoying those final quiet moments before getting dressed and heading outside for the celebration. For couples searching for a Des Moines wedding venue with onsite getting-ready spaces, Salisbury House offers the added experience of spending even more of your wedding day surrounded by the history and character of the estate.
Once Kelsey stepped into her wedding gown, the interiors of Salisbury House created an absolutely gorgeous backdrop for her bridal portraits. Her timeless strapless gown and full, layered skirt looked stunning against the ornate details, soft neutral tones, dramatic windows, and historic finishes throughout the house. Natural light pouring through the windows gave her portraits a soft, romantic feel, while the architecture added an old-world elegance that you simply can’t recreate in a traditional hotel room. It’s one of the reasons we love getting ready at Salisbury House & Gardens—your getting-ready photos become another opportunity to showcase the beauty of this iconic Des Moines wedding venue.

A Romantic Bridal Party at Salisbury House & Gardens

Kelsey and Matt’s bridal party brought the most beautiful mix of color, personality, and energy to their Salisbury House & Gardens wedding in Des Moines. Rather than choosing one identical bridesmaid dress, Kelsey’s bridesmaids wore a gorgeous mix of dusty rose, blush, mauve, and deep burgundy. The varying shades created so much dimension while still feeling completely cohesive, especially alongside the lush bouquets filled with blush, ivory, burgundy, and peach blooms. Against the historic stone architecture and greenery of Salisbury House, the entire palette felt romantic, elevated, and perfectly suited for a fall wedding in Des Moines, Iowa.
Matt’s side of the wedding party complemented the bridesmaids beautifully in classic gray suits with coordinating pink and burgundy details, while his deep burgundy suit allowed him to stand out as the groom. We love when couples coordinate their wedding party without making every element perfectly match. The combination of gray, burgundy, and multiple shades of pink gave Kelsey and Matt’s wedding party a collected, intentional look that photographed beautifully while still allowing each person to have their own style.
And these photos are the perfect reminder that wedding party portraits don’t have to feel overly posed or formal! Kelsey and Matt’s friends brought so much personality to their photos, creating a mix of timeless portraits and candid, playful moments that captured what the group was actually like together.

A Romantic Garden Ceremony at Salisbury House & Gardens

If you’ve ever visited Salisbury House & Gardens in Des Moines, you know how magical the wooded area surrounding the historic mansion feels. Tucked among mature trees and lush greenery, the outdoor ceremony space makes you feel like you’ve stepped into your own private garden—even though you’re right in the heart of Des Moines. It’s one of the many reasons we love outdoor weddings at Salisbury House & Gardens. The natural setting is already so beautiful that couples don’t need to add much décor to create an unforgettable ceremony backdrop.
For Kelsey and Matt’s ceremony, we wanted the design to enhance the gardens rather than compete with them. Colorful floral arrangements filled with blush, ivory, mauve, burgundy, and plenty of greenery framed the couple as they exchanged their vows. The floral stands Shelly created were absolutely stunning and added just the right amount of color against the surrounding trees. With nature providing most of the backdrop, there was no need for an elaborate traditional wedding arbor. The florals created a beautiful focal point while still allowing Kelsey, Matt, and the natural beauty of their Salisbury House wedding ceremony to take center stage.
Another detail we love about this ceremony location is the beautiful stone pathway leading toward the ceremony space. It creates a longer aisle, giving everyone plenty of time to take in that exciting walk toward the altar. There’s something especially romantic about watching a bride make her way through the historic grounds of Salisbury House before reaching a ceremony tucked among the trees. For couples dreaming of a garden wedding in Des Moines, Iowa, it’s hard to imagine a more picturesque setting.

photo guestbook for wedding at salisbury house and gardens in des moines — An Outdoor Cocktail Hour in the Salisbury House Courtyard

Following Kelsey and Matt’s romantic garden ceremony, guests continued the celebration with an outdoor cocktail hour at Salisbury House & Gardens. The courtyard is such a beautiful setting for this part of the wedding day because it allows guests to mingle, grab a drink, and explore more of the historic property while the newlyweds finish portraits. Surrounded by the character of Salisbury House and the beauty of the gardens, their cocktail hour felt relaxed and intimate while still fitting perfectly with the elegant garden-party atmosphere of their Des Moines wedding.
One of our favorite details was Kelsey and Matt’s Polaroid wedding guest book. Instead of simply signing their names in a traditional book, guests could snap a Polaroid photo, add it to the pages, and leave a personal message for the newlyweds. By the end of the night, Kelsey and Matt had a guest book filled with candid photos of the people who celebrated alongside them—giving them a keepsake that captured not only the messages from their guests but also what everyone looked like and the fun they were having in the moment.
They also found an adorable way to include their pup, Penelope, in the celebration with custom cocktail napkins featuring her portrait and the phrase “Drinks On Me!” Details like this are such a fun way to incorporate a beloved pet into your wedding day, especially if they can’t physically be there for every part of the celebration. Paired with their signature drinks, it was another small but personal touch that made Kelsey and Matt’s cocktail hour feel unmistakably theirs.

The Décor at Salisbury House & Gardens

My favorite thing about Salisbury House & Gardens is the ability to host nearly your entire wedding day outside, surrounded by the beauty of the property. The venue has a terrace on the east side of the mansion, which is where many couples choose to host their reception. Whether you celebrate under a tent or completely out in the open, the setting creates such an intimate atmosphere for a Salisbury House & Gardens wedding reception.
Kelsey and Matt opted to have their reception under a tent since their wedding was in October, and with Iowa weather, you truly never know what you’re going to get! Thankfully, they ended up with a gorgeous, surprisingly warm fall day. The tent was still the perfect choice, providing shade from the sun throughout the afternoon and creating a more comfortable, protected space for dinner later in the evening. It also gave us the perfect blank canvas for their romantic fall wedding décor.
Inside the tent, Kelsey and Matt embraced a warm, colorful palette that complemented the gardens beautifully. Dusty rose table linens covered the round guest tables, instantly bringing warmth and softness into the space. White folding chairs and white napkins kept everything feeling light and classic, while the surrounding greenery was visible through the clear tent walls. Instead of competing with the natural beauty of Salisbury House, the design felt like an extension of the gardens themselves.
The florals were really what brought the entire reception design together. Each table featured lush arrangements filled with shades of blush, peach, mauve, burgundy and soft ivory mixed with plenty of greenery. The deeper burgundy tones gave the arrangements that unmistakable fall feeling, while the lighter pink and peach flowers kept the overall design romantic rather than leaning too heavily into traditional autumn colors.

white wedding cake with pink floral frosting — A Wedding Cake Too Pretty to Eat

I don’t normally dedicate an entire section of a wedding blog to the cake, but how could I not when it looked like this?! Kelsey and Matt’s wedding cake was truly a piece of art and fit their romantic fall wedding at Salisbury House & Gardens in Des Moines perfectly.
Rather than using a traditional cake table, we displayed the cake on top of a vintage white vanity, which added so much character to the setup. Our florist, Shelly, then worked her magic by adding lush greenery and florals around the vanity, creating a beautiful garden-inspired display that felt right at home among the grounds of Salisbury House.
The cake itself, created by Crème, was absolutely stunning. The three-tier design featured delicate floral details in shades of blush, dusty rose, burgundy and warm autumn tones, tying beautifully into the colors used throughout Kelsey and Matt’s wedding. Even the smallest details coordinated with their bouquets, reception centerpieces and overall romantic fall wedding décor.
One of our favorite parts of designing weddings is finding ways to make every detail feel intentional, and this cake display is the perfect example. Instead of simply being dessert, it became another focal point of their reception design. Between the vintage furniture, overflowing greenery, colorful florals and gorgeous cake, the entire setup looked like it belonged in the gardens of an English estate—which couldn't have been more fitting for a Salisbury House & Gardens wedding.

bride and groom's floral sweetheart table in tent at salisbury house — Salisbury House & Gardens Wedding Reception

The Salisbury House and Gardens has a few options when it comes to cocktail hour and reception locations. One of those options, is the South Terrace Lawn which sits directly infront of the house’s entrance. It’s a nice cobblestone covered patio that sits under hanging edison bulbs, and gives you direct access to both the house, East Terrace, and the ceremony area. This location is ideal for a cocktail hour because it’s easily seen from the ceremony area, and has a covered cutout from the house that couples use as a bar, which we know gets the most use during cocktail hour!
Another option is the Cobblestone Courtyard, which is located in the back of the house. Guests can walk directly through the mansion to get there, or they can take a scenic route by going through the East terrace. Either way, It’s a bit larger than the South Terrace Lawn, so it’s more ideal for couples with a larger guestcount. The entire courtyard is covered in cobblestone, but keep in mind this terrain is a bit uneven, and can be difficult for grandparents to walk on. The courtyard also has garage doors leading into the house that you can open, so guests can mingle inside, and we can keep your appetizers and bar indoors to keep things cool.
After the ceremony guests went to the cobblestone courtyard to enjoy drinks and appetizers, but were moved to the East terrace under the tent shortly after for the grand introduction. Kelsey and Matt then had their cake cutting, along with speeches and toasts before dinner was served.

Kelsey and Matt’s wedding was such a beautiful example of everything we love about a Salisbury House & Gardens wedding. From getting ready inside the historic mansion to their romantic outdoor ceremony, courtyard cocktail hour, and tented reception surrounded by the gardens, every part of their day took advantage of what makes this Des Moines wedding venue so special.

Their entire wedding design felt perfectly suited for an October celebration. The mix of blush, mauve, burgundy and soft pink tones brought warmth and color to the day, while the lush florals and greenery complemented the natural beauty of Salisbury House. We especially loved how personal details—like their Polaroid guestbook and signature drinks featuring their pup—were incorporated alongside all of the elegant details.

More than anything, Kelsey and Matt’s wedding felt like them. It was romantic and colorful without feeling overly formal, and every detail worked together beautifully. From those incredible ceremony florals to their gorgeous wedding cake displayed on a vintage vanity, there were so many little moments throughout the day that made this celebration unforgettable.

If you’re searching for a Des Moines wedding venue that combines historic architecture, beautiful gardens and plenty of opportunities for an outdoor celebration, Salisbury House & Gardens is one we absolutely love. And if you’re planning your own Salisbury House wedding, Des Moines wedding, or Iowa fall wedding, the Elizabeth Bliss Events team would love to help you bring every detail together and create a wedding day that feels completely your own.

Kelsey and Matthew’s Testimonial

“I can't say enough good things about Lauren as our day of coordinator. From the moment she stepped into our rehearsal, I knew she was the perfect planner for us and for our bridal party. She kept everyone on track, she made our dream reception area so perfect, she let our family help, but took over when needed. She solved problems that didn't need mine or my partners input and even when she did have to ask us something, she already had plans of how to best deal with it or solve the problem. We were supposed to get late night pizza delivered and when it wasn't there on time, she called the establishment. Come to find, they had our order but no one to deliver it. Lauren jumped in her car and went to grab it for us to make sure we got the late night snack everyone needed. She stayed until the very end of the evening and helped clean up to make sure we didn't leave anything behind or anything out of order. I'm so grateful for Lauren, our wedding was the talk of our family and I know so much of that is due to Lauren's incredible planning.”

Kelsey and Matthew, October 7th, 2023