Megan + Eric’s Wedding Day Pros
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Ceremony Maffitt Lake Reservoir | Venues Paws & Pints, Varsity Cinema, Bartender’s Handshake, Lua Brewing | Photography Grace T. Photography | Floral Wildflower DSM | Custom dress Dame & Maiden | Suit Todd Snyder | Hair hairbyBrianne | Makeup Ivy Boyd | Wedding Bands Handmade by LOLiDE | Hotel Surety Hotel | Officiant Pete Holmgren
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A wedding is your special day — so why not do it your way? Megan and Eric created a one-of-a-kind elopement that included visits to their most beloved places in Des Moines.
The couple’s wedding day was perfectly curated for their love story, which began when they were introduced by mutual friends while working at Des Moines Beer Week. As their relationship grew, so did their four-legged family and love for exploring the city’s restaurants, parks, and entertainment scene.
When dreaming up the perfect proposal for Megan, Eric wanted their dog Bodhi to “pawpose” alongside him. After a few months of training to learn the new trick, Eric decided it was time, and the couple took their dogs for a relaxing walk on family land in Baxter. When it came time to get down on one knee, Bodhi did not cooperate — but Eric still popped the big question. Bodhi showed off his trick the next day when there was less pressure, and as you can imagine, it was extremely cute!
Megan and Eric knew they didn’t want a big wedding, and maybe not even a wedding at all. They initially planned to elope but couldn’t quite settle on when or where — so when they came up with the idea of an in-town elopement at all their favorite places in Des Moines, they knew it was the exact right fit. Their day began with a small ceremony and private vows along the shoreline at Maffitt Reservoir
Megan looked stunning in her custom dress made by Dame & Maiden. She says the owner Sarah went above and beyond to combine two designs and find just the right lace to create a dream dress. Megan’s natural beauty was highlighted with simple curls by hairbyBrianne and makeup by Ivy Boyd Makeup.
After the ceremony, the couple created “unity cocktails” that represented their relationship — an Americano with equal parts Campari and vermouth — served in glasses with pheasants on them, a nod to Eric’s love of hunting upland birds with their dog Utah. Megan carried a gorgeous bouquet designed by Wildflower DSM that was wrapped in a necklace with her grandparents’ wedding bands. It had beautiful natural elements with unique textures and even included pheasant tail feathers from the first bird Eric and Utah got together.
Their first stop after Maffitt Reservoir was Paws & Pints to see their best pups, then they made their way to the Varsity Cinema (complete with popcorn and a custom marquee!). They continued the celebration at Bartender’s Handshake and Lua Brewing, then enjoyed dinner at their favorite restaurant Harbinger and ended the day at Surety Hotel.
“Each venue went above and beyond in helping us coordinate these stops and allow us the space and time to get the photos,” Megan explains. “We wanted to time the day around ensuring we got to these places before they got busy for the day, and everyone we worked with was very gracious and supportive and wanted to make sure the day felt special.”
The entire experience was captured flawlessly by Grace T. Photography. Megan says Grace took the time to get to know the couple and their vision for the day, while also making them both comfortable in front of the camera.
Reflecting on their day, Megan shares a reminder that a wedding day should be all about you and your partner.
“Do whatever you and your partner want to do and make it personal and special to YOU, not what anyone else wants. It is your day, and you both deserve to enjoy it more than anyone else,” Megan says.
Cheers to Megan and Eric and their journey ahead!
