Iris Aisle is a nature-filled, micro-wedding sanctuary near Des Moines
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A wedding at Iris Aisle and the conservatory. Photos: Courtesy of Iris Aisle
Hidden away in Winterset, there's an intimate venue where you can get married, buy cannabis products and even get a tattoo.
Why it matters: Iris Aisle has a glass conservatory that hosts "micro weddings" — a maximum of 75 people.
- It stands out in an era of show-stopper weddings with big budgets and even longer guest lists.
How it started: After shooting weddings for years, Earl and Raelyn Ramey felt frustrated one day by the lack of connection and aesthetics at a venue.
- They dreamed of creating their own wedding space that would also double as a greenhouse for Raelyn's "plant obsession."
- The couple sold their Waterbury home, moved into an RV and worked on redeveloping a dilapidated home and land in Winterset in 2018.
Now, it's a venue where couples can surround themselves with native wildflowers and wooded areas, as well as rent a cabin or camp on the property.
Plus: The Rameys also grows cannabis at Iris Aisle and sell their own tincture on site and in Des Moines.
- Earl, who used to own tattoo shops including Sacred Diamond and Sacred Skin, continues to work with his private clients at the venue.
The bottom line: The Rameys had 200 people at their own wedding, but Raelyn now says "I can't even tell you half the people that were there."
- "We really want people to recognize what is actually important," she says.
