Salisbury House and Gardens
4025 Tonawanda Drive, Des Moines, IA 50312
✦ Historic 1920s estate modeled after Tudor England, filled with original antiques and art
✦ Formal gardens, terraces, and six acres of private woodland for ceremonies and photos
✦ Multiple indoor and outdoor spaces that make every wedding unique
Salisbury House & Gardens is one of my all-time favorite wedding venues, and I photograph here multiple times a year. Built in the 1920s by Carl and Edith Weeks, the estate was inspired by English manors and is filled with historic details that make it feel like stepping into another time. Every part of the property has something to offer—whether you’re drawn to the grandeur of the house itself, the formal gardens, or the woodland that surrounds it, Salisbury is a venue that truly has it all.
The house is an architectural treasure, with authentic 16th-century English woodwork, stonework, and antique elements brought over from England. Inside, it’s filled with the Weeks family’s original collection of art, tapestries, and furniture, so the spaces feel both historic and deeply personal. The Great Hall, with its carved ceiling and massive stone fireplace, is unforgettable for ceremonies or receptions. Smaller rooms like the library or dining hall make intimate gatherings feel warm and elegant, while every hallway and staircase gives endless opportunities for portraits.
The gardens are just as impressive. Designed with a mix of English and French influences, they include more than 9,000 square feet of flower beds, sprawling lawns, terraces, and original statuary. In the warmer months, the gardens are one of the most beautiful outdoor ceremony spaces in Iowa, with room for cocktail hours and receptions that feel both formal and relaxed. Beyond the formal plantings, the estate includes six acres of woodland—the largest private woodland in Des Moines—so it’s not unusual to see deer or foxes during a wedding day. That connection to nature makes it feel like a true escape, even though it’s right in the middle of the city.
Every wedding I’ve photographed at Salisbury has felt completely unique because the venue offers so many ways to use the space. Couples can plan an intimate ceremony indoors, a large outdoor celebration in the gardens, or a full evening that moves between the house, the terraces, and the lawn. There are even micro-wedding packages for smaller groups who want a meaningful, historic alternative to the courthouse. With its mix of old-world architecture, art, gardens, and natural beauty, Salisbury House is one of the most versatile and inspiring venues in Iowa—and one I’ll always look forward to returning to.