Retro Mid-Century Cocktail Party Reception in Downtown Des Moines
Britt and Joey had been together for almost seven years when they decided to elope at the courthouse in downtown Des Moines in 2021. Just the two of them, a simple and private ceremony, exactly how they wanted it. Then they turned the whole day into a greatest hits tour of the city. They grabbed dinner at Clyde’s Fine Diner (which, side note, is also mine and Nick’s go-to date night spot—the CFD burger and fries are actually the best in DSM). After that, they made their way to Bellhop and Lua for drinks before ending the night at Carl’s, where they had their first dance. (Literally iconic).
A year later in the same city and on the same date, they invited all their favorite people to a cocktail party wedding reception at Hello, Marjorie, a bar known for serving up creative cocktails in a chill space decorated like your grandma’s '70s-era living room. I’ve shot here plenty of times, and I love when couples rent out the entire space to really make it their own. Between all the crushed velvet, teak wood, and retro lighting, this place already has a killer vibe, but with holiday tinsel strung up on fake palm trees, and a crowd of friends celebrating Britt + Joey, it was a retro wedding DREAM.
Britt wore a pearlescent sequined dress, which was exactly the right move for a cocktail lounge reception in late December. No sit-down dinner, no first dances, no structured timeline—just good drinks, good conversation, and a full night of celebrating. If an intimate cocktail bar wedding reception sounds more like your speed than a big ballroom wedding, we should talk. And if you love Hello, Marjorie, check out their sister bars, Secret Admirer and Good News, Darling—both equally great for an event, a session, or just a night out. I’ll always be happy to shoot at Hello, Marjorie again. You next?