Tented Summertime Wedding at the Jordan House
Janelle and Kyle had a very special wedding at the Jordan House, the home of Kyle’s great, great, great (several greats) grandpa, who used the home to shelter people seeking freedom on the Underground Railroad. It’s such a unique experience to be in a place with that kind of history, especially when it’s so deeply connected to the couple’s own family. The West Des Moines Historical Society was so wonderful to work with, and if you haven’t toured the Jordan House, you should. It’s a fascinating tour, and it was so lovely and inspiring to see Kyle’s family’s history stretching back so many generations.
Janelle got ready in an upstairs bedroom at the Jordan House, surrounded by historic furniture and decor. She wore her late mom’s wedding dress—an elegant gown with long sleeves and delicate embroidered details. It was one of the most emotional moments of the day, made even more special by sharing it with her sisters, Dana and Sara. These three have such a close, beautiful bond, and you could feel how much this moment meant to all of them. For her first look with Kyle, Janelle chose the staircase, where the old gilded wallpaper—covered in ears of corn, wheat, and birds—made the perfect backdrop. Afterward, we took portraits throughout the house, moving through the sitting rooms filled with historic furniture, taking in all the details that make this place so special.
Their afternoon ceremony took place on the front lawn under a big white tent, open on the sides so the light poured in. Rows of blonde wooden chairs faced the lush floral altar—anemones, sweet peas, garden roses, carnations, dahlias, ranunculus, Queen Anne’s lace, and chamomile sprays in soft pinks, peaches, crisp whites, and greens—designed by Hera Floral. Janelle and Kyle’s friends Amanda Gibbons and Ryan Stier sang and played piano and guitar, Janelle’s dad read from a children’s storybook, and Kyle’s grandpa shared memories of growing up in this very house. There was not a dry eye in that tent, including me.
They exchanged vows, rings, and a kiss, and as they walked back down the aisle, guests threw natural confetti. After a few just-married portraits on the balcony, Janelle and Kyle made their exit in a blue SS Camaro convertible—white leather interior, blue and white fuzzy dice on the mirror, and two strands of empty Modelo cans tied to the back bumper. Everyone stood behind them, waving as they peeled out of the driveway. Truly an iconic getaway.
Janelle changed into a knee-length reception dress with a big satin tie in the back before heading to Decades. Before joining the party, we grabbed some golden hour portraits by one of my favorite little spots on the property—an old wall made of hollow circular bricks, with funky oblong topiary trees growing in front of it. A little textural oasis that I love to incorporate at this venue. Inside, the ceremony flowers had been moved to the base of the sweetheart table, a little island of flowers under the string lights. The long banquet tables were lined with thrifted glass bud vases Janelle had collected herself, each held a couple of flowers.
The space was full of vintage decor, old artwork, and all kinds of weird little treasures covering the walls. Dinner was a buffet with Cactus Bob’s barbecue and vegan options from Veggie Thumper, followed by wedding cake and a spread of rice crispy bars. First dances were emotional but fun—Kyle danced with his mom, and Janelle and her dad had to do their dance twice after the DJ played the wrong song the first time. They just laughed, started over, and then all their friends jumped in to join them on the dance floor.
I loved every piece of Janelle and Kyle’s day—the heirloom dress, the Jordan House, the getaway car, the vintage reception decor. This day was just filled to the brim with heart, and I was so honored to be part of it. It’s very obvious how loved these sweeties are. ✦
Vendors:
Photography: Alyssa Leicht
Ceremony Venue: The Jordan House
Flowers: Hera Floral
Rings: Red Tail Jewelry
Dress: Janelle wore her mom’s vintage wedding dress!
Live Ceremony Music: Amanda Gibbons and Ryan Stier
Reception Venue: Decades
Catering: Cactus Bob’s and Veggie Thumper
“I cannot recommend Alyssa enough! She made us feel so comfortable, casual, beautiful and joyful on our special day. She has an incredible documentarian eye that I’m so grateful for as it helps us relive that day down to the details. Her energy, professionalism, and talent is such a cherry on top of any event! My partner and I are also huge fans of film photography so that was a beautiful bonus that Alyssa was able to take film in addition to digital.”
