Matt and Mattie had a stunning wedding day that Mattie declared was, “Perfect in every way.” Admittedly, the day did not start out perfectly, but these guys brushed off the unfortunate early morning stress with such grace that it made their parents proud. It was a beautiful thing to see and experience. Matt and Mattie are a stand-up couple, and behind these two are stand-up parents that love their kids deeply. It has been such a privilege getting to know these families and their hearts. It truly made the day a privilege for us to be a part of. We photographed Mattie’s sister’s wedding last April, so it was a nice reunion of sorts. The day started off at Salon W and then the girls finished getting ready at the seriously swanky Des Lux Hotel in downtown Des Moines. The hotel was only a few blocks from St Ambrose Cathedral, where the wedding ceremony was.
We have shot a lot of weddings in our 11 years, and this wedding party broke a previously long-standing record for size—14 bridesmaids; 13 total guys; (and 2 dogs of honor). The wedding party wasn’t the only record-breaker of the day, as Mattie’s bouquet was a colossal beauty that was also among the largest that we have seen. We visited the Waterworks Park (or more specifically, the Arie den Boer Arboretum) so that we would have enough space to accommodate all 231 people in the wedding party. It was a windy day, but the sun was glowing. Not bad, considering there was a lot of rain in the forecast, and only a couple hours north saw snow on the same day!
As we wrapped up photos, we traveled to the reception, which was hosted at Bash, also near downtown Des Moines. Before making their entrance, we spent a few more minutes taking some photos with Matt and Mattie, for a different vibe. The event space itself was beautifully decorated and complimented the overall style and theme of their day really well. The toasts are always one of my favorite parts of wedding days, and Matt and Mattie’s families did not disappoint! There were tears from laughter and tears from emotional sentiment. As the dancing got started, that big wedding party got to work. It was a full dance floor all night, and I know good times were had by all. As Mattie said, “It was the best day. Perfect in every way.” I think the dancing was a big part of that. 🙂
Matt and Mattie, thank you again for choosing to have us as part of your wedding day! You are so wonderfully kind and gracious and it was a pleasure to partner with you guys. We hope that you dig this sneak peek and that the photos will provide you memories to cherish for many, many years to come!
Hair – Salon Spa W
Flowers – Shelly Sarver Designs
Catering & Cake – Bash
DJ – Scott Tudor – STE Event Group
Dress – Bridal Boutique (Des Moines)
Coordinator – Courtney Lown
Photographers – Carter Photography
