For this weeks real wedding, I found it more than appropriate to post Megan and Mike’s beautiful Des Moines nuptials. An Irish couple through and through, their day featured lots of little details; family heirlooms, hand made projects, and a St. Patty’s day appropriate color scheme. So without further delay, here’s Megan and Mike.
Who, What, Where~~Des Moines, Iowa. Megan and Mike tried to utilize local small businesses, and “friendors” in their area. Ceremony: St.Theresa of the Child Jesus. Reception: Fort Des Moines Museum. Photography: Red Ribbon Studio. Flowers: Flowers by Beck. Catering: Taste to Go. Dress:Weddings by Design.
Megan and Mike dated for two and a half years prior to their engagement. Before proposing to Megan, Mike worked with a local jeweler to design a ring that utilized a marquis cut stone from Megan’s mother’s engagement ring. Megan’s parents are now divorced and as an only child from their union, her mother wanted to share the diamond with her. Mike proposed the day he got the ring back. After popping the question they called Megan’s family, and then decided to drive to Omaha and surprise Mike’s family with the exciting news in person.
Megan had lots of heirloom pieces that she carried on her wedding day. Both of her grandmothers have already passed away, so she wanted to honor them in some way. She wore the pearls of her maternal grandmother, and carried a blue handkerchief, and wore repurposed wedding hat of her paternal grandmother as her veil. The prayer book had been carried by both her husband mother, and his grandmother during their weddings.
Megan worked hand in hand with her photographer Maribeth, and created all the paper products for the wedding using the M+M monogram, circles, and color scheme throughout. This included the invites, programs, seating posters, and menu cards.
Megan says they initially chose their color scheme of green, white, and orange as a subtle homage to their Irish ancestry, and also a nod to the bright tropical colors of the Caribbean, where both her parents live (and Megan did for one year as well).
All the bridesmaids chose their own attire. Megan wanted their dresses to compliment all their different shapes and sizes, and gave them the target color of “clover”. As each girl found a dress they loved the color palette expanded to different shades of green, and gave the bridal party an eclectic, but still cohesive feel.
Megan and Mike wanted their wedding photos to reflect some of the urban, and cosmopolitan aspects of Des Moines. Plus Megan wanted to showcase Maribeth’s amazing photography skills that really pop in unique settings. The sculpture park is a fairly new addition to Des Moines, and made the perfect spot for lots of their shots.
At the outdoor reception centerpieces with fresh oranges, and limes in the base continued the color scheme, along with colored lanterns, and pom poms hand made by the bride, her mother, and a friend added some whimsy.
They served two signature cocktails, rum and coke, and mojitos, both made with Dominican rum Brugal, as a nod to Megan’s families connection to the Dominican Republic. Tiny monogram stir sticks were an additional personal touch.
The multi-talented Maribeth also made their adorably detailed cake topper, modeled after the couples actual attire for their wedding day. So cute!
Thanks so much to Megan and Mike for sharing all the details of their day, and also to Maribeth of Red Ribbon Studio for submitting all the loveliness!
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Have a real wedding you’d like to share? We take submissions from vendors as well as couples, so e-mail us at middleofthemapweddings@gmail.com for more details about how to be featured on Middle of the Map Weddings. Who knows, the next real wedding we share could be yours!
