Beyond the Ballroom: Why a Loess Hills Microwedding is Unforgettable & Uniquely Iowa

Guest blog by Emily Jensen
 
When you think about wedding planning, a few things likely come to mind. First, the stress and effort associated with orchestrating a major event – perhaps the largest event you’ll ever host. Next may come the overwhelming task of creating and sticking to a budget, prioritizing how to spend your money strategically while also creating a beautiful day to remember. Not to mention creating (and narrowing down) a guest list, selecting vendors, travel… the list can seem endless.
 
It’s for these reasons a growing number of couples are opting for smaller, more intimate weddings days. More couples than before in recent history are choosing to trim guest lists, book cozier venues, and plan simpler wedding days. This can go by different names – smaller weddings, microweddings, or elopements – but the focus on simple and meaningful is the same.
 
This was the position my now-husband, John, and I were in when we began to plan our wedding. As we talked about what we wanted our day to look like, we aimed for a quiet, intimate event that focused on things that mattered to us. Deciding we wanted a microwedding was easy… the harder part was selecting where to get married!

Katie Decker Photography

John and I spent lots of time early in our relationship driving around to various sites in Iowa. Both our families’ farms are just a few miles off the Western Skies Scenic Byway, so scenic drives in Iowa hold an extra special place in our hearts. We’re both western Iowa natives and love history and the outdoors, so the Loess Hills area is one of our favorite destinations in Iowa. As we considered destinations near and far for our wedding, we kept coming back to the Loess Hills as the canvas for our special day.
 
Our wedding eve was marked with ice cream from Dairy Sweet in Dunlap and a scenic drive around the Preparation Canyon scenic loop (one of our favorites!). For my family, at least, Dairy Sweet has long been a staple. Though we didn’t have time to grab an award-winning tenderloin, we did get some ice cream for the road before taking in the sights of Preparation Canyon.
 
We made a reservation at County Road Cabins near Moorhead to stay in the night before our wedding. The accommodations were wonderful and serene, and it made the perfect setting for relaxing the night before the event. John and I enjoyed sitting on the deck and listening to the turkeys in the area chatter. The morning of our wedding, it also made for a great spot for a few photos. We enjoyed our stay and hope to return for a hunting trip in the future.

Katie Decker Photography

Katie Decker Photography

The weather on our wedding day was amazing. After getting ready and checking out of the cabin, we headed off to start our day. Since we planned a mid-morning ceremony, we took some early morning photos at the Loess Hills Scenic Overlook and near the campsites at Preparation Canyon State Park. We’ve both hiked these areas, so it felt a little out of character to stomp around the trails all dressed up! Thankfully, both areas are well-maintained, so it was the perfect location for some scenic photos.

Katie Decker Photography

Katie Decker Photography

Katie Decker Photography

Katie Decker Photography

Even for a small wedding, having nice floral arrangements can make the biggest difference in photos, and having beautiful florals that matched the “vibe” of the day was important to me. Exira Flower Supply created my bouquet and other arrangements for the day and everything looked amazing!

Katie Decker Photography

We chose to have our ceremony at the Ingemann Danish Lutheran Church near Moorhead. John and I both have Danish heritage in our family lineage (our families originate from the Danish Villages near Elk Horn and Kimballton) so having our wedding at the Danish church felt fitting. We were the first couple to be married in the church in around 10 years, but the church grounds are open daily for people to visit and explore. The church was built in 1884 and features beautiful hand-built pews, artwork, and amazing history.

Katie Decker Photography

Katie Decker Photography

After the ceremony, we further channeled our heritage with a Dane-inspired luncheon. We enjoyed smørrebrød (Danish open-faced sandwiches) with Havarti cheese and Rullepølse (cold cut made from rolled pork belly) on Danish rye bread, all from the Atlantic Locker. We also had Kransekage (traditional Danish wedding cake), aquavit (a spiced Nordic spirit, courtesy of a collaboration by the Museum of Danish America), and of course Danish beer!

Katie Decker Photography

Katie Decker Photography

We capped off our day by heading into Onawa for ice cream and coffee at Downtown Coffee & Cream. I love this place and was excited to include it as part of my wedding day. They had so many fun ice cream flavors and, of course, coffee. The ice cream they “import” from Wisconsin is well worth a trip, and they offer so many fun flavors and toppings. It was the perfect space to relax and hang out that afternoon!

Katie Decker Photography

John and I set out to plan a wedding day that was equally as meaningful as it was unique. This task was easily accomplished by choosing the communities adjacent to the Loess Hills as the setting for our best day ever. Whether for a work trip, a weekend, or a wedding, the beauty and character of the loess hills are sure to please!
 
Writer’s note: John and I again want to thank our wonderful vendors, especially those in the loess hills region as mentioned in this blog post. We also want to give a special shoutout to our photo vendor, Katie Decker Photography, who provided us with the beautiful images you see here.   
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