Top Iowa Premiere Venues

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  Iowa State University Memorial Union

  2229 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50014, USA

  • Spaces for 40-500 Guests
  • 3 Ballrooms
  • 8 Museums
  • 8 Total Spaces

  The Memorial Union has served as the heart of Iowa State University's campus in Ames, Iowa since its founding as a living memorial to Iowa State students who gave their lives in military service. Today it draws approximately 1.3 million visitors annually and functions as the central gathering place for students, faculty, and the broader community — from student organization meetings to weddings, conferences, lectures, concerts, and art events. The building's historic architecture, including Gold Star Hall, stained glass windows, zodiac imagery, and a grand fountain courtyard, gives the venue a sense of permanence and character that few campus spaces can match. ISU Catering holds an exclusive catering contract within the Memorial Union, ensuring coordinated food service for every event. A dedicated event management team handles logistics for student organizations, university departments, and public clients alike. The MU offers more than a dozen customizable and fixed-setup rooms across multiple floors, ranging from intimate boardrooms to the 4,860-square-foot Durham Great Hall, which seats up to 500 in theater configuration. Outdoor terraces on the building's south side provide additional space for open-air gatherings. A/V equipment is available in all major spaces, and the venue's experienced wedding team — reachable at weddings@iastate.edu — coordinates receptions and ceremonies throughout the facility.

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  The District Venue

  1350 SW Vintage Pkwy, Ankeny, IA 50023, USA

  • Spaces for 220-350 Guests
  • 2 Event Spaces

  The District Venue is a full-service event space in Ankeny, Iowa, set within the Prairie Trail development in the Des Moines metro area. The two-story, 5,000-square-foot facility was designed for weddings and private events of all sizes, accommodating up to 350 guests for receptions and up to 220 for ceremonies in the loft level above. The venue's industrial-modern aesthetic pairs clean lines and warm lighting with all-inclusive service — in-house catering offered in buffet, plated, or family-style formats, a full-service bar, Chiavari chairs, linens, tableware, and an AV system with projectors and cordless microphones, all included in the rental fee. A dedicated on-site event coordinator is provided with every booking, and a newly remodeled bridal suite is available for wedding parties getting ready on-site. With an open vendor policy for everything outside food and beverage, 16-hour event access, elevator accessibility, and complimentary parking, The District Venue is built to accommodate a wide range of celebrations without the need to coordinate multiple venues or outside catering.

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  Events Center West

  1701 25th St, West Des Moines, IA 50266, USA

  • Spaces for 350 Guests
  • 1 Ballroom
  • 1 Event Space

  Events Center West is an affordable event venue in West Des Moines, Iowa, positioned as the area's tucked-away alternative for weddings, receptions, corporate gatherings, and holiday parties. The main event space spans approximately 7,000 square feet and seats up to 350 guests across four tiered levels, each designed to give every attendee an unobstructed view of the stage and dance floor. The room includes a permanent dance floor, a private bar, an in-house sound system, and a state-of-the-art digital projector. Outside caterers are welcome, and complimentary parking is available on site.

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  Whitetail Country Estates

  1843 Yellowpine Ave, Lockridge, IA 52635, USA

  • Spaces for 80-250 Guests
  • 1 Outdoor
  • 1 Barn
  • 3 Total Spaces

  Whitetail Country Estates is a rural event property in Lockridge, Iowa, designed around weddings and private celebrations that call for overnight stays and a sense of place. The estate brings together an outdoor ceremony site, a historic barn reception hall, and on-site lodging — all within one property, so guests can arrive, celebrate, and stay without leaving the grounds. Ceremonies take place at the Pergola by the Pond, an outdoor setting on the banks of a pond with an illuminated fountain, a rustic arbor entry, and premium white chairs for up to 200 guests. Receptions move to the Vintage Horse Barn, a rustic venue with crystal chandeliers, two bars, a raised bridal party platform, and a south terrace with globe string lights — also set up for 200 guests. A Rehearsal Hall accommodates 80 for pre-wedding dinners and intimate gatherings, complete with kitchen access. Lodging on the property includes the Bridal Cottage, which sleeps 12 and includes an on-site salon and full kitchen, and the Whitetail Lodge, which accommodates 15 with living and game rooms, a full kitchen, and catch-and-release fishing access. Six camping sites with water and electric hookups round out the options for larger guest groups.

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  Founder's Banquet Hall

  110 1st St SE, Bondurant, IA 50035, USA

  • Spaces for 200 Guests
  • 1 Bar
  • 1 Ballroom
  • 1 Historic Space

  Founders Banquet Hall is a remodeled event space in Bondurant, Iowa, housed in a building dating to the 1880s. Neutral walls, hardwood floors, and a row of arched natural-light windows give the hall a character well-suited to weddings, anniversary parties, corporate functions, birthdays, and holiday gatherings. The space accommodates up to 200 guests and comes with a full bar and catering menu. Servers and bartenders are included at no additional charge, and events can run as late as 2 a.m. Tours are available during business hours on a self-guided basis or by appointment.

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  The Brenton Arboretum

  25141 260th St, Dallas Center, IA 50063, USA

  • Spaces for 75-100 Guests
  • 1 Outdoor
  • 1 Meeting Space
  • 2 Total Spaces

  The Brenton Arboretum is a nonprofit arboretum and public garden set on a scenic Iowa landscape in Dallas Center, about 25 miles northwest of Des Moines. Dedicated to trees and shrubs, the grounds feature more than 2,200 specimens representing 486 species, arranged across informal plantings, water features, and walking trails. The arboretum holds Level 2 accreditation from the Morton Register of Arboreta and is recognized for its collections of Kentucky coffeetree, elm, crabapple, and conifers. For private events, the arboretum offers two distinct indoor rental spaces alongside a set of outdoor locations — accommodating gatherings from intimate elopements to celebrations of up to 300 guests. The Pavilion, an open-air timber structure atop a breezy hill, provides panoramic views of the landscape and a limestone fireplace. The Vista Room and Terrace, situated adjacent to the arboretum offices, is a climate-controlled, ADA-accessible space with sweeping views of the grounds, audiovisual equipment, and WiFi. Both spaces can be rented individually or combined. The arboretum hosts weddings, rehearsal dinners, corporate meetings, family reunions, and other private celebrations, with a dedicated rental coordinator available to guide event planning.

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  Hall of Laureates

  100 Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA

  • Spaces for 30-400 Guests
  • 1 Ballroom
  • 6 Museums
  • 6 Total Spaces

  The World Food Prize Hall of Laureates occupies a magnificently restored Beaux Arts building in downtown Des Moines — the city's original public library, transformed through a $29.8 million capital project into the headquarters of the World Food Prize Foundation. The renovation honored Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr. Norman Borlaug, whose legacy in fighting global hunger the building now celebrates through museum exhibits, commissioned artwork, and a stained glass globe tracing the origins of world agriculture. As an event venue, the Hall of Laureates operates on an exclusive booking model: only one event at a time, so every gathering has the building entirely to itself. The venue encompasses multiple distinct spaces — including the Borlaug Ballroom, the Ruan Laureates Room, the Rotunda with its original stained glass skylight, and the Des Moines Mural Room featuring restored WPA murals — that can be combined or configured to suit dinners, receptions, conferences, and weddings of varying scale. The building is LEED Platinum certified and staffed by a professional events team that works behind the scenes throughout each event.

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  Lutheran Lakeside Camp

  2491 170th St, Spirit Lake, IA 51360, USA

  • Spaces for 200-300 Guests
  • 1 Event Space
  • 1 Waterfront

  Lutheran Lakeside Camp is an ELCA outdoor and retreat ministry established in 1959 on the shores of East Okoboji Lake in Spirit Lake, Iowa. The property spans a quarter-mile of waterfront, surrounded by mature trees and open meadows, and is available for events year-round. The Lakeside Event Center seats 200 guests on its upper level, where floor-to-ceiling windows look out over the lake and a wraparound deck extends the gathering space outdoors. The lower level includes two additional multipurpose rooms with lake views and direct access to the great lawn — well suited for ceremonies, cocktail hours, or breakout gatherings. The facility accommodates weddings with exclusive use of the whole property from Friday afternoon through Sunday morning, as well as single-day events including graduations, anniversaries, and family reunions. The Event Center comes equipped with WiFi, A/V equipment, a walk-in cooler and freezer, ice maker, tables, and a fireplace with firewood. Groups may bring their own catering, hire an outside caterer, or arrange for on-site cooking services.

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  Fox Ridge Golf Course

  355 Country Club Ln, Dike, IA 50624, USA

  • Spaces for 300 Guests

  Fox Ridge Public Golf Course is an 18-hole championship course set in Dike, Iowa, about 10 minutes west of Cedar Falls. The front nine opened in 1998 alongside an 11,000-square-foot clubhouse; the back nine followed in 2001. Playing over 6,800 yards with a 72.6 course rating and 124 slope from the longest tees, the course offers four sets of tees to accommodate golfers of varying experience. The clubhouse anchors the venue's event offerings, with full services available for weddings and corporate outings. The Greenside Grille is open daily from 7 A.M., and a new lounge concept — The Bunker — is under development. A golf simulator is available on-site for instruction and entertainment year-round.

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  Stone Cliff Winery

  600 Star Brewery Drive, Dubuque, IA 52001, USA

  • Spaces for 200-600 Guests
  • 1 Outdoor
  • 1 Winery
  • 2 Total Spaces

  Stone Cliff Winery occupies the historic Star Brewery building at the Port of Dubuque, overlooking the Mississippi River. Founded by Nan and Bob Smith, who planted their first vines in the mid-1990s and produced their debut vintage in 2001, the winery relocated to this landmark riverfront address in 2007 — bringing its award-winning wines and, more recently, the restored Dubuque Star craft beer brand under one roof. The venue's event center draws on the building's industrial-historic character — exposed brick, wine barrel displays, and river-adjacent atmosphere — to host wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners, corporate events, private parties, and milestone celebrations. The banquet and barrel room accommodates up to 200 guests indoors, and events can expand to up to 500 guests when the adjacent Alliant Energy Amphitheater is incorporated. In-house food and beverage service and audio-visual equipment are available to support a range of event formats.

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  Living History Farms

  11121 Hickman Rd, Urbandale, IA 50322, USA

  • Spaces for 55-335 Guests
  • 7 Museums
  • 4 Outdoor Spaces
  • 7 Total Spaces

  Living History Farms is a 500-acre open-air history museum in Urbandale, Iowa, that chronicles 300 years of Midwestern rural heritage — and one of the most distinctive private event settings in the Des Moines area. The property encompasses a recreated 1876 frontier town, two National Historic Register structures, and a range of indoor and outdoor spaces available for weddings, receptions, corporate gatherings, and celebrations of all kinds. Eight distinct rental venues are spread across the grounds. The Flynn Barn, built in 1871, offers exposed timber beams and an oak floor for receptions of up to 280 guests. The Church of the Land, a nondenominational chapel in the historic Walnut Hill town, seats 130 for weddings and memorials. The Learning Center provides a barn-inspired Great Hall with skylights and exposed beams for up to 330 guests, while the Murray Conference Center features a high domed ceiling and pond views for smaller meetings and gatherings. Outdoor options include the Gazebo, the porch and front lawn of the 1870 Flynn Mansion, the MidAmerican Energy Foundation Pavilion, and a sprawling front lawn suited for festivals and large-scale events. Events are staffed by a dedicated on-site team, and preferred caterers are available. The events team can be reached at rentals@lhf.org or by calling (515) 278-5286.

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  Pilgrim Heights Retreat Center

  3005 E Ave, Montour, IA 50173, USA

  • Spaces for 200 Guests
  • 1 Outdoor
  • 2 Event Spaces
  • 2 Total Spaces

  Pilgrim Heights Camp & Retreat Center is a Christian-based nonprofit set on more than 100 wooded acres in Montour, Iowa, with access to an 80-acre private lake. The property hosts weddings, business retreats, corporate conferences, and group getaways in a natural setting far removed from convention-hall venues. The centerpiece for indoor events is the three-story Four Seasons Conference Center, which accommodates up to 200 guests across two large event floors, an upper chapel, and a main-floor commercial kitchen. Every level offers lake and woodland views. For outdoor ceremonies, Vesper Point provides a handcrafted wooden-pew setting overlooking the lake, with a cross as its focal point and natural shade for guests — also seating up to 200. On-site lodging in the 12-room Oak Lodge and 10 private lakeside cabins allows wedding parties and retreat groups to stay the full weekend. Linen, bedding, and tablecloths are included with rentals, and seasonal lake access — kayaks, canoes, and life jackets — is available from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

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  Za Ga Zig Shrine

  1100 Shriners Pkwy, Altoona, IA 50009, USA

  • Spaces for 40-325 Guests
  • 1 Ballroom
  • 2 Event Spaces
  • 1 Meeting Space

  Za-Ga-Zig Shrine is a Masonic fraternal organization and event venue located in Altoona, Iowa, just off I-80 near Adventureland Drive. The temple grounds sit within a mile of Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino, Adventureland Amusement Park, and numerous hotels, making it a convenient gathering point for guests traveling from across the region. The facility centers on the Pyramid Room, a spacious hall that accommodates up to 300 guests and is well suited to weddings, banquets, private dinners, corporate functions, school events, and organization gatherings — with room for a dance floor and ample space for dining. A smaller West Room handles more intimate groups of up to 40, and several boardrooms are available for meetings. Za-Ga-Zig Shrine offers flexibility for outside caterers, a fully stocked lounge, and a large adjacent parking lot that makes loading in and out straightforward for planners and vendors alike.

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  Janesville Riviera Roose

  307 Maple St, Janesville, IA 50647, USA

  • Spaces for 40-370 Guests
  • 1 Event Space
  • 1 Historic Space
  • 1 Meeting Space

  The Riviera Roose Events Center is a wedding and special events venue in Janesville, Iowa, occupying the former site of the legendary Riviera Ballroom — a hall inducted into the Iowa Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame in 2015. The venue serves the broader Cedar Valley region and is available for weddings, receptions, memorial services, business meetings, and private celebrations. The main hall spans 4,308 square feet and accommodates up to 370 guests, with 320 recommended for seated receptions. An adjoining 660-square-foot side room seats up to 40 for meetings and smaller gatherings. All-inclusive weekend packages cover tables and chairs, a staffed bar, a 24-foot stage with lit backdrop, a licensed kitchen, fenced patio, gazebo, portable sound system, bridal suite area, and post-event cleaning — making the Riviera Roose a self-contained setting for events of many sizes.

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  Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center

  1405 US-71, Okoboji, IA 51355, USA

  • Spaces for 550 Guests

  Lake Okoboji Resort & Conference Center is a full-service resort and conference facility situated in the heart of Iowa's Great Lakes region, adjacent to Brooks National Golf Club's 27-hole course and within walking distance of West Okoboji Lake. The property combines 100 hotel rooms with extensive event infrastructure, making it a natural destination for groups that need lodging and gathering space under one roof. The conference center spans 30,000 square feet across 11 dedicated meeting rooms — from smaller breakout spaces to the expansive Wimbledon Event Space, which hosts receptions and banquets for the venue's largest gatherings. Named spaces including St. Andrews, Bayhill, Pebble Beach, Sandhill, and the Sundeck give planners a range of settings for weddings, corporate conferences, and group retreats. In-house catering and dedicated event coordination are available, with packages that include linens, glassware, china, setup, and teardown services.

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  Prairie Links Golf & Event Center

  19 Eagle Ridge Dr, Waverly, IA 50677, USA

  • Spaces for 75-600 Guests
  • 1 Ballroom
  • 2 Country Clubs
  • 1 Meeting Space

  Prairie Links Golf & Event Center sits on an 18-hole golf course in Waverly, Iowa, offering a range of indoor and outdoor spaces for weddings, corporate gatherings, graduations, and private celebrations. The Legends Ballroom anchors the facility, accommodating up to 320 guests with a full-service bar and accordion doors that open to a lighted patio terrace. A smaller conference room — the Patio Room — seats up to 75 guests and features a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace and vaulted ceiling, making it well suited for rehearsal dinners, showers, or intimate receptions. For outdoor events, the on-site pool deck spans more than 9,000 square feet and includes a colored lighting system that can be matched to event colors. Full-service catering — ranging from taco bars to plated dinners — is available in-house alongside bar service. Day-of coordination and décor support are included with event rentals.

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  Blank Park Zoo

  7401 SW 9th St, Des Moines, IA 50315, USA

  • Spaces for 40-600 Guests
  • 2 Outdoor Spaces
  • 1 Event Space
  • 4 Total Spaces

  Blank Park Zoo is Des Moines's accredited zoological park, home to over 2,500 animals and dedicated to conservation, education, and recreation. The zoo's private event rental program opens the entire grounds — and its most distinctive indoor and outdoor spaces — to corporate gatherings, weddings, galas, and celebrations of all sizes. The Holmes Foster Event Center, the zoo's largest indoor venue, accommodates up to 450 guests at banquet rounds or 600 for a cocktail-style reception, and comes with tables, chairs, audio/visual equipment, and setup and teardown service included. The Discovery Center seats up to 200 in a theater configuration or 120 at banquet rounds, with views overlooking the bird aviary and botanical gardens and access to year-round indoor animal exhibits. Outdoor options include the Large Pavilion, which handles 150 to 300 guests near the zoo's entrance alongside the Bald Eagle exhibit, and the African Pavilion, an intimate covered space for up to 60 guests with sweeping views of the giraffe and addax exhibits. Two exclusive on-site caterers handle food and beverage service, complimentary parking is available for all guests, and an on-site event supervisor is included with every rental. Animal viewing is available April through October, giving events an element that no ballroom can replicate.

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  The Fountains Ballroom

  Fountains Ballroom, 51496 230th St, Glenwood, IA 51534, USA

  • Spaces for 450 Guests
  • 1 Ballroom
  • 1 Outdoor
  • 2 Total Spaces

  The Fountains Ballroom is a wedding and event venue set in the rolling Loess Hills of western Iowa, approximately 20 minutes from downtown Omaha. Situated on countryside property at 51496 230th Street in Glenwood, the venue pairs a sweeping indoor ballroom with a pergola ceremony site, outdoor patios, fire pits, and a vineyard — offering couples a range of settings within a single property. The main reception space accommodates up to 450 guests and features dimmable crystal chandeliers, ceiling and backdrop drapery, twinkle lights, and a built-in DJ booth, projector, and screen. A ceremonial pergola with a 15-foot waterfall serves as a ceremony backdrop, and the surrounding grounds include multiple outdoor spaces with views of the hills, ponds, and meadows. Rentals include 14 hours of building access, two private dressing suites, a day-of coordinator, and two bartenders. The venue also offers in-house floral design, décor, and DJ services for couples seeking a more inclusive planning experience.

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  Hilton Garden Inn Cedar Falls

  7213 Nordic Dr, Cedar Falls, IA 50613, USA

  • Spaces for 64-1,000 Guests
  • 3 Ballrooms
  • 2 Meeting Spaces
  • 5 Convention Centers

  The Cedar Falls Convention and Event Center, connected to the Hilton Garden Inn Cedar Falls, brings together more than 15,000 square feet of customizable event space under one roof with 113 hotel rooms steps away. The facility serves as northern Iowa's destination for weddings, corporate meetings, conventions, and milestone celebrations, combining flexible venue configurations with full-service catering, audio/visual support, and dedicated event coordination. The Grand Ballroom can seat up to 650 guests for banquet-style events or accommodate up to 1,000 for receptions, and can be divided into two sections — Grand Ballroom West and Grand Ballroom East — for smaller gatherings. Additional breakout rooms and meeting spaces round out the facility, giving planners the flexibility to run concurrent functions or scale from an intimate gathering to a large-scale event. Complimentary linens, place settings, and table-and-chair setup are included with event bookings, along with a dedicated on-site coordinator who supports planning from first inquiry through event day.

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  Best Western Plus Dubuque Hotel & Conference Center

  3100 Dodge St, Dubuque, IA 52003, USA

  • Spaces for 103-450 Guests
  • 2 Hotels
  • 1 Ballroom
  • 1 Theater

  Best Western Plus Dubuque Hotel & Conference Center is a full-service hotel and event venue situated near the Mississippi River and Port of Dubuque, Iowa. The property combines comfortable accommodations with more than 10,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space, making it a practical choice for planners coordinating everything from intimate business gatherings to large celebrations. The conference center's signature space is the Mississippi Ballroom, which spans over 4,100 square feet and accommodates up to 450 guests for conferences, receptions, or speaker series. The ballroom subdivides into three sections — Mississippi A, B, and C — allowing the space to flex for smaller groups. A 103-seat tiered Symposium Theater, a private Executive Boardroom, the Eagle Point Conference room, and the Great River Suite round out the meeting and event offering. For weddings, the property positions itself as an all-inclusive destination. The venue's staff handles coordination details and the hotel provides tablecloths, linens, and skirting at no additional charge for all banquets. In-house catering covers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with customization available for dietary needs. On-site guest rooms accommodate out-of-town attendees, and the 7 Hills Tap House offers on-site dining. The hotel has earned TripAdvisor's Certificate of Excellence five years running, placing it in the platform's Hall of Fame.

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