Greater Des Moines Botanical Gardens
909 Robert D. Ray Drive, Des Moines IA 50309
✦ Iconic geodesic dome with tropical plants and warm light year-round
✦ Water Garden and boardwalk with skyline and river views
✦ Endless photo locations across the gardens, terraces, and reflection pools
The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden is one of my favorite places in the city to photograph. I’ve shot intimate weddings, elopements, and portrait sessions here across every season, and it never looks the same twice. Between the tropical dome, the manicured gardens, and the reflective water features, it’s a dream for couples who want something romantic and artful with a connection to nature.
The geodesic dome is its own little world—warm, lush, and filled with color even on the coldest days. The light filters through the glass and plants in a way that makes every frame glow. Outside, the Water Garden is the true showstopper: a half-acre pond surrounded by boardwalks, terraces, and floating islands of lilies and tropical blooms. It’s one of the most cinematic spaces in Des Moines, with open views of the skyline and the river beyond. The nearby Koehn Garden, Ruan Reflection Garden, and Belvedere all add to the range, giving couples endless backdrops for portraits, ceremonies, or cocktail hours.
Every shoot I’ve done here has felt different—a winter elopement under the dome, a summer wedding surrounded by flowers, portraits on the boardwalk at sunset. It’s a venue that’s always alive, constantly changing, and endlessly inspiring. I’d love to photograph more elopements and weddings here—it’s one of the most beautiful and versatile places in Des Moines.