Entertaining I-Do's — Carla + Joshua

March 1, 2020 Alesha Burgraff

Carla + Joshua’s talented wedding professionals:

PREMIER HEARTLAND WEDDING IDEAS VENDORS:
Ceremony Venue: Scottish Rite Consistory
Reception Venue: The Meadows Events & Conference Center

See all the vendors we LUST for, that can help you with your big day!

Finding the one, online.

Start your dating search online to find your match.

Carla was a single mom of two boys, putting herself through college at Iowa State when the thought of dating started to cross her mind. Even with all the busy days and schedules, Carla decided she wanted to find another role model for her boys, and that’s when she joined Match.com. It was her first date (and only date), where she met Joshua, another time-crunched person, working on running his business. She knew that night, she had met the one for both her and her kids.

And when the moment came to propose, her boys were right there with her. Carla and Joshua decided they wanted family photos. During the shoot, the photographer asked Carla if she could turn around for one shot. When she turned back, Joshua was on one knee, and the boys even had a wedding band each to give her. It was a fantastic surprise, and she said, “YES!”

Planning a wedding, Vegas style!

Bringing all the glitz and glamor to Iowa.

When the couple started planning, they knew they wanted their personalities, interests, and styles represented. A lot of Carla’s inspiration came from her hometown of Las Vegas. She wanted to create a very theatrical event that heightened the senses and left a lasting impression on their guest. This was not going to be your typical wedding.

It was important for Carla to see her vision through, to stay organized since she plans other couple's weddings too! A great tip that we see, and she used as well, is to create an email address JUST for wedding-related conversations. That way, it keeps it all together, and (hopefully) you don’t miss a thing!

For the ceremony, Beauty and the Beast was her vision. Under 60-lit candles, Joshua and Carla said “I do” in the Consistory Auditorium of the Scottish Rite, with pianist and violinist performing. It was like a fairytale. The space is like none other in Des Moines, with high ceilings and columns that set a dramatic mood.

The reception was constant stimuli and entertainment for their guests, just like the Vegas strip. They couldn’t have picked a more perfect setting at Prairie Meadows, where they could enjoy the casino floor as well as design the giant ballroom to their every desire. The night was full of energy.

Create a party your guests won’t forget.

It’s not every day you see aerial acrobatics at a wedding.

The Dick Danger Band played from cocktail hour on and merged with DJ, House of Leopold, to create a spectacular evening with a live performance from Cirque Wonderland! The troop performed in the air, high above the guests. It was simply magical, like the entire wedding had been transported to Las Vegas.

Carla’s biggest piece of advice: hire a wedding planner! And not just because she is one. At the very least, designate an individual for communication and being the point person. You want your day to be YOUR DAY! Then you can relax and enjoy it all.