True, some people are that way. That said, we had 250 people at our wedding. If people want to be there, they'll be there.
Planning Ames Wedding
- Thread starter cloneteach
- Start date
True, some people are that way. That said, we had 250 people at our wedding. If people want to be there, they'll be there.
Got married at my wife's home church in Roland and had our reception at Hickory Hall. The place was awesome!! Relatively inexpensive and my wife had some great ideas to decorate to make the place look a little better. It was a blast and they even turned on the electric palm tree for us towards the end of the night.
There are lots of things to think about, but the one thing to me that can make or break the reception is the the DJ. I have this horrendous memory of when a friend of mine got married. They hired a family friend to be the DJ because they wanted to save money. The guy had a banquet table set up with a speaker on each end a receiver/CD player in the middle. Every time a bass note hit, the vibrations caused the CD player to jump. The couple couldn't even finish their first dance because the CD player was skipping the whole time. My wife made most of the decisions for our wedding, but the DJ was my call.
There are lots of things to think about, but the one thing to me that can make or break the reception is the the DJ. I have this horrendous memory of when a friend of mine got married. They hired a family friend to be the DJ because they wanted to save money. The guy had a banquet table set up with a speaker on each end a receiver/CD player in the middle. Every time a bass note hit, the vibrations caused the CD player to jump. The couple couldn't even finish their first dance because the CD player was skipping the whole time. My wife made most of the decisions for our wedding, but the DJ was my call.
I've been to a rehearsal dinner at Prairie Moon. It is beautiful. It was set up for a wedding the next day.
Also have been to two church weddings with receptions on campus. One was at the new alumni building over at the ISU Center. It was a beautiful venue. The other was at the Knapp-Storms dining (what is left of Knapp-Storms that wasn't blown up, lol).
Been to one that Hickory Park catered and I don't think that was too expensive.
I highly recommend pictures around campus. Would be a beautiful and meaningful setting.
Also have been to two church weddings with receptions on campus. One was at the new alumni building over at the ISU Center. It was a beautiful venue. The other was at the Knapp-Storms dining (what is left of Knapp-Storms that wasn't blown up, lol).
Been to one that Hickory Park catered and I don't think that was too expensive.
I highly recommend pictures around campus. Would be a beautiful and meaningful setting.
We had our reception (almost 9 years ago. Gah!) at Hickory Hall. We still get comments from people who attended saying it was one of the best receptions they'd been too (though the 5-6 kegs probably helped with that). It is a bit more on the casual side as opposed to the Gateway or MU, but it worked well for us. We had around 300 people there. The cake was done by a local Ames lady, but I don't think she does them anymore.
We also went to a reception last year at Prairie Moon. It was a gorgeous location, even in January, but definitely limited in size.
We also went to a reception last year at Prairie Moon. It was a gorgeous location, even in January, but definitely limited in size.
We got married at St. Cecilia's and had the reception at Scheman. I was not in favor of Scheman for a couple of reasons, especially since Mrs. Velo was looking at having it in the Scheman lobbies. I have to say I was wrong.
The Scheman lobby worked great. Here's why...
The Scheman lobby worked great. Here's why...
- We had as our backdrop behind the head table windows with a view of the Iowa State Center; Hilton and Stephens flanking Jack Trice Stadium in all of its glory. In addition to having the Cyclone family as part of your day, there is nothing better than having the Hawk fans in your family have to come to hallowed ground for your reception.
- We had a block of time between when we could have the wedding and when we wanted to have a dinner/dance reception. We were able to have drinks on the middle floor lobby for our guests during this lag. Then everyone was invited to the upstairs lobby where dinner was all ready to go. Nothing was interrupted or disturbed by the staff bringing out dinner. There were bars set up on this level as well.
- We had zero interruptions of our event despite it being in the lobbies. Other events were done before our's started. You can talk to the staff about what else they have going on to make sure scheduling does not conflict.
- When dinner was over, nothing had to be moved for the dance. Everyone went back down to the middle lobby for the dance. With the opening right over the dance floor, some of our guests chose to stay upstairs for a little while and watch from above and talk without the music being too loud for conversation. Eventually everyone made it down.
- None of our smoker guests had to go very far to go out and get a nic fix. The walkway balcony was very handy during the dance.
- Many of our guests said it was the best party ever.
The party store you mentioned I believe is called Celebrations. And they have moved to near the depot downtown.
My wife and I were frequent visitors of Celebrations and Hobby Lobby when we got married.
Yes, it was Celebrations, thanks! I didn't know they moved! Then again, I haven't had a reason to throw a gigantic party... :smile:
Got married a couple of years ago here in Ames and I can HIGHLY recommend Hickory Hall. We had both the ceremony and the reception there and it was so well run. The staff that runs Hickory Hall has everything down to a science. They knew exactly when to do things and had things done for us even before we knew to ask about it. Our guests still comment on what a great event it was.
I would also recommend having Cy at the reception. It was true highlight of the party and everyone was wanting to get photos with the Bird.
You can get Cy by the hour (about $200) and ours was great with all the guests. He even shed a few "tears" during the first dance.
We also had a small reception the night before at Reiman Gardens for our families. We rented the small cottage and had ISU catering do the food. It was Iowa Games weekend, so we even got fireworks when the opening ceremony was finished that night!
I would also recommend having Cy at the reception. It was true highlight of the party and everyone was wanting to get photos with the Bird.
You can get Cy by the hour (about $200) and ours was great with all the guests. He even shed a few "tears" during the first dance.We also had a small reception the night before at Reiman Gardens for our families. We rented the small cottage and had ISU catering do the food. It was Iowa Games weekend, so we even got fireworks when the opening ceremony was finished that night!
Last edited:
I'm getting married in Ames in 5 months and we are using Hickory Hall for the reception. It's one of the cheapest rates in town and a pretty sweet place. I highly recommend it.
We were married about 9 year ago. Had the rehersal dinner at our hotel (location was free since we were booking a majority of the rooms). It was catered by someone who did some catering for the athletic dept, at least back then. Awesome food but a little spendy. I can try to get you their name if you want it.
Wedding was at The Landmark banquet hall and catered buffet style by Hickory Park. Pretty sure both were the cheapest routes to accomidate and feed 250+ people back then. I don't think Hickory Hall was open at the time of our wedding.
Wedding was at The Landmark banquet hall and catered buffet style by Hickory Park. Pretty sure both were the cheapest routes to accomidate and feed 250+ people back then. I don't think Hickory Hall was open at the time of our wedding.
I'm looking into Hickory's Hall. Would you be p***ed or excited if your friend scheduled is wedding/reception for the Friday night before Iowa/ISU in Ames and had a tailgate the next day?
Personally I'd avoid scheduling any wedding the weekend of a home football game, but that's just me. My fiance is in a wedding this fall the same days as the home opener and they had trouble blocking off rooms for their guests and the hotels are ripping them off. The rooms are about $100 more than what we blocked ours off for at the same hotels.
My wife and I got married at Reiman Gardens back in '08, we were the first wedding after they renovated the main building, moving the gift shop to create a a banquet room. We got married in the rose garden, with the reception in the new banquet room. Couldn't have it at Gateway because my wife and I used to work there and we're tired of the place. Though Gateway is nice I would recommend the garden room for the reception. Either place will likely need to be booked a year in advance.
We were married in spring with the tulips in full bloom. We set up a bar outside and near the dance floor. The food was not to bad despite the gardens chaning there catering service a month before our wedding.
Our families both agreed that it was nicer than any other wedding they had been to, they all loved the outdoor setting, and compact schedule. The reception immidiatly followed the wedding so not a lot of waiting around for guests. We had an open bar for an hour while we did I the receiving line. I believe the total cost was just over 20 grand, for everything, including flowers, dress, cake, etc.
We got our cake from Dutch Oven bakery and it was amazing.
We reserved a block of rooms at Gateway for a discounted price I think we needed to use twenty rooms to get the discount. If you want to get the Atanasoff Suite booked as soon as you set the date.
We were married in spring with the tulips in full bloom. We set up a bar outside and near the dance floor. The food was not to bad despite the gardens chaning there catering service a month before our wedding.
Our families both agreed that it was nicer than any other wedding they had been to, they all loved the outdoor setting, and compact schedule. The reception immidiatly followed the wedding so not a lot of waiting around for guests. We had an open bar for an hour while we did I the receiving line. I believe the total cost was just over 20 grand, for everything, including flowers, dress, cake, etc.
We got our cake from Dutch Oven bakery and it was amazing.
We reserved a block of rooms at Gateway for a discounted price I think we needed to use twenty rooms to get the discount. If you want to get the Atanasoff Suite booked as soon as you set the date.
It's been almost 17 years ago but we were married at Bethesda Lutheran and had our reception at Scheman. I was a member at Bethesda, otherwise if you've not been attending a church, sometimes they can get a little grumpy about having a wedding there. We booked the church at the beginning of November and got the last available Saturday for the whole following summer. We went for a relaxed rehearsal dinner and had a grill out in Brookside Park. On Sunday morning we had a brunch for family in the Campanile Room of the MU, with the Campanile in the background - great stetting.
Scheman was a great reception facility for us. And, I was working for ISU post-undergrad so I got an employee discount. I'm not sure if they still have that, or if you work for ISU. Actually, I really wanted the MU ballroom, but it was booked.
My advice would be to book everything, including hotel blocks ASAP. Why put it off and then later find out the place is booked up because of another event going on at the same time?
If I did it all over again, I'd take a serious look at the new alumni center as the one time I was in it I was impressed. And, I'd pay to have Cy make an appearance. The pictures we had taken in from of the Campanile and MU are my favorites of the whole day. We met at ISU and to this day ISU plays an important role in our lives. I think having the university setting play a big role in one of the most memorable days of our lives made it even more special.
Scheman was a great reception facility for us. And, I was working for ISU post-undergrad so I got an employee discount. I'm not sure if they still have that, or if you work for ISU. Actually, I really wanted the MU ballroom, but it was booked.
My advice would be to book everything, including hotel blocks ASAP. Why put it off and then later find out the place is booked up because of another event going on at the same time?
If I did it all over again, I'd take a serious look at the new alumni center as the one time I was in it I was impressed. And, I'd pay to have Cy make an appearance. The pictures we had taken in from of the Campanile and MU are my favorites of the whole day. We met at ISU and to this day ISU plays an important role in our lives. I think having the university setting play a big role in one of the most memorable days of our lives made it even more special.
It's seriously not tough to spend 20k. Food can approach $30/plate, and kegs can be $250-300/ea in the Des Moines area. Add gratuity/tax, cake, and its' easy to spend $10k just on food and drink.
And I don't care if you chime in about your $8 buffet with free coffee in podunk Iowa. The OP said Ames, and Des Moines is even pricier.
Hickory hall was great for us. Reception only cost approx $2500 - 3000 including the DJ. Hickory Hall waives the building rent if you go over so much in food and drink so I had no problem ordering extra food (for me to eat later) in order to get for rent waived.