Karlee and John’s Salisbury House and Gardens wedding in Des Moines, Iowa was the definition of a perfect summer wedding! The bright color scheme and garden design just added to the overall aesthetic and really stood out to guests, creating a beautifully stunning Bridgerton themed wedding!

Karlee and John’s wedding was easily one to remember, if not for the stunning design, then definitely my setup the moring of the wedding… Let me start by saying, I LOVE outdoor weddings, but you have to remember that there will ALWAYS be wind. Even if it’s just a slight breeze, it’s still there. Well for Karlee and John, it wasn’t just a slight breeze, there were huge guests of wind the entire morning of the wedding! Hours of setup destroyed by wind blowing entire table scapes over, so not only did we have to coordinate the couple and bridal party the morning of the wedding, but we were constantly having to re-setup tables that had linens, decor, silverware, everything knocked over by wind! However, by the time the ceremony rolled around, the wind seemed to die down (thank goodness) and all was right for the couple and their guests.

The Design of Salisbury house

My favorite thing about Salisbury House and Gardens is your ability to host your entire wedding day outside, surrounded by the beauty of nature. The venue has a terrace on the East side of the mansion, which is where most couples choose to host their reception. Whether it’s under a tent, or out in the open, it’s always a beautiful setup, and makes the evening feel that much more intimate.
Karlee and John opted to have their reception outside on the lawn without and tents blocking weather, which meant we had to get a little creative to ensure wind wouldn’t pick up and knock all the table decor over!
Regardless of the wind, their reception was beautiful! Karlee bought mini led lamps to place on tables along with vintage gold taper candles and bud vases. I then went around to each table placing charger plates, napkins, and name cards while the caterers placed the silverware and water goblets.
The tablescapes were very garden and Bridgerton chic, and paired nicely with the wooded backdrop of Salisbury.

The Bridal Party

A big trend going on now is to have your bridal party wear different wedding colors anlong with different designs and styles of dresses. Not only am I a huge fan of this trend, but I love mixing all the colors into something cohesive!

Salisbury House and Gardens Wedding Ceremony

If you’ve been to Salisbury, then you know the wooded area surrounding the house is stunning, it makes you feel like you’re in your own little world. You don’t need much to dress up the space, which is why Karlee and John decided adding a few colorful florals would pair nicely with the area, while not drawing too much attention away from the already beautiful backdrop.
The ceremony space itself is in the front of the mansion, followed by a stone path way that makes for a long yet beautiful aisle! Most couples who get married at the venue choose to have their ceremony outside in the gardens, and it’s convinient for guests to go straight into cocktail hour after the ceremony when you set it up this way.
A nice feature when it comes to the setup at The Salisbury House and Gardens, is that their staff will set up all the ceremony chairs, and tear them down afterwards. One less thing the couple has to worry about, and one less thing you have to rent!

Salisbury house and 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 headed to the cobblestone courtyard for cocktail hour, where the bride and groom were bartenders! The couple hopped behind the bar and helped hand out drinks to their guests so they could have the chance to talk to everyone as they came up for drinks! A great way to greet your guests without having to do a recieving line or go table to table during the dinner hour.
After cocktail hour the couple and their guests went back to their tables on the East Terrace for speeches and toasts, dancing, and their cake cutting. After dinner, guests moved to the South Terrace Lawn and danced under the edison bulbs.

The Desserts

The desserts need to be highlighted, because it was one of the prettiest dessert displays I’ve ever seen! The florist had extra bud vases we littered the table with in between desserts, and the large floral arrangements from the ceremony were moved to flank the ends of the table with really elevated the entire appearence of the dessert table.

Overall the wedding of Karlee and John at Salisbury House and Gardens in Des Moines Iowa was stunning, and so much fun to plan! Thank you to all the amazing vendors below who helped with Karlee and John’s big day.