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.

If you’re styling your own wedding day looks, explore my bridal style Pinterest board for gowns, suits, accessories, and alternative outfits — over 1,000 ideas for every gender, style, and body type!

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Sibyl Sophia Floral Design is a Des Moines studio led by Sophie Ballmer. She creates florals for weddings, events, workshops, and installations, with designs that are modern, creative, and rooted in a strong sense of color and style.

Jonny Dexter is a Des Moines tattooer specializing in bold American Traditional work. I’ve known Jonny for over 15 years and have many tattoos by him, and his work is solid, classic, and timeless.

Lovan Salon is a full-service rental salon in Des Moines with independent stylists offering cuts, color, extensions, and brows. I’ve worked with owner Courtney Lovan and can vouch for her artistry — she specializes in brunettes, lived-in color, and extensions, and the salon is a safe and welcoming space for all.

Ivy Boyd Makeup is one of the best choices in Des Moines for wedding makeup. Ivy’s approach is natural and inclusive — skin looks like skin, and every client feels like themselves in front of the camera. With more than a decade of experience and hundreds of weddings behind her, she creates a calm, professional presence and consistently beautiful results.

Ephemera is a paper and design shop in downtown Des Moines specializing in wedding invitations by appointment, custom printing, and curated paper goods. Their traditional process and careful approach make them a trusted choice for couples who want timeless stationery.

Meanz (pronounced “Mints”) Chan is a Des Moines tattoo artist and owner of Jade Rabbit Studio. Their work is colorful, whimsical, and deeply personal, often drawing on themes of nostalgia and healing. Meanz has been a friend of mine for over a decade, and I love recommending her!

Quartet 515 is a Des Moines–based string quartet offering live music that feels timeless and elegant. Their performances bring a classic, refined atmosphere to weddings, elevating the ceremony and reception with the beauty of chamber music.

Vowed Vintage is all about romantic, vintage-inspired rentals, design, and planning. Sarah’s pieces bring warmth and charm to weddings and even luxury picnics, with a focus on celebrating all love.

Laura Erickson is a classically trained harpist based in Des Moines who specializes in weddings and events. She works closely with each couple to choose meaningful, personalized music, and her performances add a refined, elegant atmosphere to ceremonies and receptions.

Theresa Sonnleitner is a classically trained solo violinist based in Iowa. Performing as Sonnleit Violin, Theresa plays both acoustic and electric violin, and performs at weddings across the state and beyond. Her repertoire moves easily from classical pieces to modern songs, and her performances always add a romantic and elegant atmosphere to a wedding day.

The Good Co. is one of my favorite rental companies in Des Moines, and they’ve styled multiple weddings I’ve photographed. Their collection leans modern and cool, with pieces that give events a fresh, stylish edge.