One of my favorite spots in Des Moines, The Outside Scoop makes small-batch ice cream that’s truly unmatched. I love their roasted cherry goat cheese and watermelon sorbet, and their pink truck is the cutest addition to a wedding. They even serve waffle cone chips, which are my personal favorite.

Whitney, the artist behind Cake Baby out of West Des Moines, makes absolutely gorgeous custom cakes and desserts for weddings. She offers traditional, vegan, and gluten-free options, and every cake I’ve seen from her has been artfully made and a joy for her couples.

My friend Addy is the chef behind Beyond the Vine, based in Des Moines. She creates custom menus for intimate weddings and elopements, designing each one around the event while bringing in her love of bold, rich, and hearty flavors. Addy is intentional about the shared table experience, curating meals that bring people together in joy and connection. I’ve eaten her cooking more times than I can count, and every dish has been pure joy.

Tangerine is one of my favorite caterers in Des Moines, with a real talent for pairing flavors and building complex, beautiful dishes. Every wedding I’ve photographed with them has had food that looks stunning and tastes just as good.

Cake It Away, Baby! is a cottage bakery in Des Moines known for playful lambeth cakes, cookies, and bespoke desserts. I worked with her on a T4T styled shoot, and the cake she created was as fun and thoughtful as it was delicious — a perfect fit for couples who want something creative and personal on their wedding day.

A queer-owned vegan and gluten-free bakery in downtown Des Moines, Thistle’s Summit cakes and baked goods are a favorite among vegan couples, and their focus on inclusivity and community makes them a standout choice. Marti also officiates weddings, and I’ve loved working with her in that role. She brings the same sense of care, creativity, and inclusivity to ceremonies as she does to her desserts.

With more than 100 active trucks around the metro, food trucks are a fun and flexible catering option for weddings. A few of my favorites include Magoo’s Pizza, Black Cat Ice Cream, Lachele’s Fine Foods Battle Bus, Hey Schweetie, Taqueria Los Pinos, Veggie Thumper, and The Outside Scoop.

Known for elevated menus and beautiful presentation, Catering DSM by St. Kilda caters both at their Valley Junction event space and at venues across the Des Moines metro. Every wedding I’ve photographed with their food has felt refined and memorable, and St. Kilda is one of my all time favorite restaurants in Des Moines, it’s one of our breakfast go-tos!

A Des Moines favorite I’ve worked with often, Taste! To Go is always serving flavorful food and taking good care of wedding guests.