Des Moines Art Center
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Des Moines Art Center Photos
About This Vendor
Architecturally stunning and unique event setting
Imagine hosting your event surrounded by world-class works of art at the Des Moines Art Center. The Art Center will make planning your event effortless. We take care of all the details. One of our premier preferred caterers will provide an exceptional culinary experience, whether passed hors d’oeuvres or a multiple course dinner. We will ensure that your event is exactly how you envision it.
Amenities & Details
Handicap Accessible, Indoor Event Space, Outdoor Event Space, Reception Area, Wireless Internet
Guest CapacityUp to 200
Ceremony TypesCivil Union, Commitment Ceremony, Elopement, Interfaith Ceremony, Non-Religious Ceremony, Religious Ceremony, Second Wedding, Vow Renewal Ceremony
Venue Service OfferingsBar & Drinks, Food & Catering, Planning, Rentals & Equipment, Service Staff
SettingsHistoric Venue, Museum, Park, Restaurant
Business AttributesPricing for Des Moines Art Center
| Option | Value |
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| Starting Cost | Affordable |
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Browse Des Moines Art Center pricing PDF below for sample services and estimates.
View PricesDes Moines Art Center Reviews
Denis G (groom) 2 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 01-05-2021
I took a friend to the art center as I thought she may enjoy it, as she did. Unfortunately the staff and there were many seemed a bit cold and impersonal. I was accused of touching a piece and quickly reprimanded twice, even though I did not touch it nor would want to. It’s art maybe not the best and I was told repeatedly to pull my mask up in fact it was up and one of the workers followed me and spoke in a rather loud voice to remind me again.So if you wish to go, don’t take your children and by all means make sure your mask stays up. I was going to donate twenty bucks but not after the nonsense and rude people. I love visiting museums and do so whenever possible, but this one forget it, not much to see
Reviewed on 02-04-2021
Wedding Date 01-05-2021
I took a friend to the art center as I thought she may enjoy it, as she did. Unfortunately the staff and there were many seemed a bit cold and impersonal. I was accused of touching a piece and quickly reprimanded twice, even though I did not touch it nor would want to. It’s art maybe not the best and I was told repeatedly to pull my mask up in fact it was up and one of the workers followed me and spoke in a rather loud voice to remind me again.So if you wish to go, don’t take your children and by all means make sure your mask stays up. I was going to donate twenty bucks but not after the nonsense and rude people. I love visiting museums and do so whenever possible, but this one forget it, not much to see
Reviewed on 02-04-2021
Heather Dunfee (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 02-06-2018
The venue is a beautiful, intimate setting. Guests were able to take a docent lead tour during the reception before and after dinner. Marti was courteous and professional. She offered great advice and managed the other vendors, so I was able to enjoy the reception.
Reviewed on 20-07-2018
Wedding Date 02-06-2018
The venue is a beautiful, intimate setting. Guests were able to take a docent lead tour during the reception before and after dinner. Marti was courteous and professional. She offered great advice and managed the other vendors, so I was able to enjoy the reception.
Reviewed on 20-07-2018
Shelly Ruggiero (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 24-12-2017
The Des Monies Art Center is a beautiful place to have your wedding reception! I would highly recommend it. Cathy is wonderful to work with. She exceeded all our expectations. She made the reception go so smoothly! She decorated so beautifully, I received many compliments. I really appreciated the kind, helpful, experienced manner in which we were treated! Thanks so much to Cathy and the Des Moines Art Center! They made my wedding reception a dream come true and I would STRONGLY recommend everyone consider this facility!
Reviewed on 24-10-2016
Wedding Date 24-12-2017
The Des Monies Art Center is a beautiful place to have your wedding reception! I would highly recommend it. Cathy is wonderful to work with. She exceeded all our expectations. She made the reception go so smoothly! She decorated so beautifully, I received many compliments. I really appreciated the kind, helpful, experienced manner in which we were treated! Thanks so much to Cathy and the Des Moines Art Center! They made my wedding reception a dream come true and I would STRONGLY recommend everyone consider this facility!
Reviewed on 24-10-2016
Jamie Vastine (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
I chose the Des Moines Art Center for our wedding reception based on the beautiful building and courtyard, however didn't realize I was getting WAY MORE than just a gorgeous facility. The coordinator Cathy Williams, more than once, went out of her way to not only meet with us, but also with our decorator, caterer, and DJ. The morning of our wedding on September 9, 2016 we had an unfavorable weather forecast and Cathy worked extra to come up with a solution to fit all of our needs; which couldn't have been an easy task!!! Even though the entire evening was held inside, it was still beautiful and spacious enough for dinner, dancing, and libations. The Art Center security and employees who opened and closed the doors were not only professional, but very genuine and polite to our guests. I would HIGHLY recommend the Docent Guided Tour as we are still hearing stories about how entertaining and educational of an experience it was. I truly feel like the success of our night can be contributed to the DSM Art Center and I would recommend this to anyone looking for a venue for their special day!
Reviewed on 03-10-2016
I chose the Des Moines Art Center for our wedding reception based on the beautiful building and courtyard, however didn't realize I was getting WAY MORE than just a gorgeous facility. The coordinator Cathy Williams, more than once, went out of her way to not only meet with us, but also with our decorator, caterer, and DJ. The morning of our wedding on September 9, 2016 we had an unfavorable weather forecast and Cathy worked extra to come up with a solution to fit all of our needs; which couldn't have been an easy task!!! Even though the entire evening was held inside, it was still beautiful and spacious enough for dinner, dancing, and libations. The Art Center security and employees who opened and closed the doors were not only professional, but very genuine and polite to our guests. I would HIGHLY recommend the Docent Guided Tour as we are still hearing stories about how entertaining and educational of an experience it was. I truly feel like the success of our night can be contributed to the DSM Art Center and I would recommend this to anyone looking for a venue for their special day!
Reviewed on 03-10-2016
Erin Hogan (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 02-11-2017
My husband and I got married in December 2015 but held our wedding celebration at the Des Moines Art Center in August 2016. It was a wonderful evening! Cathy Williams was very helpful when planning the event. We had cocktails in the courtyard, a sit down dinner in the restaurant space (max 50 people, for larger groups you can rent the lobby), and dancing after dinner in the courtyard. During cocktail hour we arranged for docents to give guided tours of the Art Center. Everyone had a great time! The Art Center staff did a great job! We will have fond memories of this event for the rest of our lives. I highly recommend the Des Moines Art Center. It was fabulous!
Reviewed on 02-09-2016
Wedding Date 02-11-2017
My husband and I got married in December 2015 but held our wedding celebration at the Des Moines Art Center in August 2016. It was a wonderful evening! Cathy Williams was very helpful when planning the event. We had cocktails in the courtyard, a sit down dinner in the restaurant space (max 50 people, for larger groups you can rent the lobby), and dancing after dinner in the courtyard. During cocktail hour we arranged for docents to give guided tours of the Art Center. Everyone had a great time! The Art Center staff did a great job! We will have fond memories of this event for the rest of our lives. I highly recommend the Des Moines Art Center. It was fabulous!
Reviewed on 02-09-2016
David Donnelly (wedding party) 5 out of 5 Rating
We had the rehearsal dinner at the Art Center and selected Gateway to cater the event. It was a wonderful evening! The cocktail hour was by the reflection pool and dinner was served in the restaurant. We had 50 guests and easily had space and comfortable (August heat) in the restaurant. After dinner we went outside where the trees were lit around the pool which made a beautiful atmosphere for socializing. Cathy Williams was great to work with! Very knowledgeable and was there during the event. I would highly recommend this venue!
Reviewed on 02-09-2016
We had the rehearsal dinner at the Art Center and selected Gateway to cater the event. It was a wonderful evening! The cocktail hour was by the reflection pool and dinner was served in the restaurant. We had 50 guests and easily had space and comfortable (August heat) in the restaurant. After dinner we went outside where the trees were lit around the pool which made a beautiful atmosphere for socializing. Cathy Williams was great to work with! Very knowledgeable and was there during the event. I would highly recommend this venue!
Reviewed on 02-09-2016
Anonymous (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 10-08-2016
I really don't know what we would have done without the help of Cathy and the Des Moines Art Center Staff while planning our wedding. Cathy had suggestions for everything from florists and linens to lighting around the reflecting pool. It was a gorgeous event...I'm incredibly grateful.
Reviewed on 08-02-2016
Wedding Date 10-08-2016
I really don't know what we would have done without the help of Cathy and the Des Moines Art Center Staff while planning our wedding. Cathy had suggestions for everything from florists and linens to lighting around the reflecting pool. It was a gorgeous event...I'm incredibly grateful.
Reviewed on 08-02-2016
Jeana Studer (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 29-08-2015
We held our wedding reception and dinner for 120 guests at the Des Moines Art Center in August 2015. The ceremony was held just before at the Clare & Miles Mills Rose Garden (a separate reservation through DSM Parks & Rec).\r\rCathy made time to get to know us and took initiative to help whenever she could. In our case, we relied on her expertise to make decisions related to equipment rental, weather planning, and layout. We had confidence in Cathy throughout the process and knew she would treat our other vendors with the same respect and punctuality that she had showed us. It was such a pleasure working with Cathy and having her coordinate with vendors, DMAC staff, and direct guests on the wedding day. I will highly recommend Cathy for years to come!\r\rIn August 2015, Baru at the Art Center was the sole catering option at the Art Center. We originally considered this a plus when evaluating reception venues. We worked with them to serve two passed hors d'oeuvres and a family-style dinner. When responsive, communication was easy. Unfortunately, I had to initiate all contact and be the one to follow up after conversations to ensure things were moving along as discussed. While the initial quotes seemed overpriced, they were happy to work with us on a menu within our price range. To our dismay, only some of the menu items were prepared as agreed. We had very high expectations for the quality of each dish, most of which were not met (ex. cold dishes were not cold, meat was overcooked, ingredient discussions seemed disregarded, etc.). Overall, the food lacked the quality and care that you would expect for the price and reputation of this caterer. Cathy was extremely supportive through this process and the Des Moines Art Center has since expanded their catering options. Though our personal experience was a bit tarnished by the catering, the DMAC has made it clear that they take feedback to heart and have supported the voice of their clients.\r\rIn summary, we absolutely recommend the Des Moines Art Center! The space was exceptionally beautiful, the docents and DMAC staff were superb, and planning was a breeze thanks to Cathy.
Reviewed on 24-01-2016
Wedding Date 29-08-2015
We held our wedding reception and dinner for 120 guests at the Des Moines Art Center in August 2015. The ceremony was held just before at the Clare & Miles Mills Rose Garden (a separate reservation through DSM Parks & Rec).\r\rCathy made time to get to know us and took initiative to help whenever she could. In our case, we relied on her expertise to make decisions related to equipment rental, weather planning, and layout. We had confidence in Cathy throughout the process and knew she would treat our other vendors with the same respect and punctuality that she had showed us. It was such a pleasure working with Cathy and having her coordinate with vendors, DMAC staff, and direct guests on the wedding day. I will highly recommend Cathy for years to come!\r\rIn August 2015, Baru at the Art Center was the sole catering option at the Art Center. We originally considered this a plus when evaluating reception venues. We worked with them to serve two passed hors d'oeuvres and a family-style dinner. When responsive, communication was easy. Unfortunately, I had to initiate all contact and be the one to follow up after conversations to ensure things were moving along as discussed. While the initial quotes seemed overpriced, they were happy to work with us on a menu within our price range. To our dismay, only some of the menu items were prepared as agreed. We had very high expectations for the quality of each dish, most of which were not met (ex. cold dishes were not cold, meat was overcooked, ingredient discussions seemed disregarded, etc.). Overall, the food lacked the quality and care that you would expect for the price and reputation of this caterer. Cathy was extremely supportive through this process and the Des Moines Art Center has since expanded their catering options. Though our personal experience was a bit tarnished by the catering, the DMAC has made it clear that they take feedback to heart and have supported the voice of their clients.\r\rIn summary, we absolutely recommend the Des Moines Art Center! The space was exceptionally beautiful, the docents and DMAC staff were superb, and planning was a breeze thanks to Cathy.
Reviewed on 24-01-2016
JOHN R CAMPBELL (groom) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 17-10-2015
We had a small reception at the Des Moines Art Center in October 2015. The ambiance was wonderful, and the staff was helpful and very friendly. The location was quite and very intimate, which allowed people to have a wonderful opportunity to visit and have a good time. We requested a lot of food from Baru; DMAC was extremely accommodating, and the food was delicious. Half of our menu was vegan and Baru was able to get all the local Des Moines beers that we requested without any problem. We live in Denver, Colorado, but it was incredibly simply to work with Cathy Williams and her staff to plan the event remotely. We would highly recommend this location to future couples. If we had to do it again, we would pick this place in a heart beat.
Reviewed on 23-01-2016
Wedding Date 17-10-2015
We had a small reception at the Des Moines Art Center in October 2015. The ambiance was wonderful, and the staff was helpful and very friendly. The location was quite and very intimate, which allowed people to have a wonderful opportunity to visit and have a good time. We requested a lot of food from Baru; DMAC was extremely accommodating, and the food was delicious. Half of our menu was vegan and Baru was able to get all the local Des Moines beers that we requested without any problem. We live in Denver, Colorado, but it was incredibly simply to work with Cathy Williams and her staff to plan the event remotely. We would highly recommend this location to future couples. If we had to do it again, we would pick this place in a heart beat.
Reviewed on 23-01-2016
Mickey Koch (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 22-08-2015
The Des Moines Art Center is a beautiful venue for a wedding, and the staff is FABULOUS to work with.\r\rWe were looking for a casual yet elegant setting for both our wedding and reception. We were married in the Greenwood Park Rose Garden, and went straight into the museum for the reception.\r\rWe planned to have much of our reception in the outdoor courtyard, but mother nature had other plans. The day before the wedding, the DMAC's Event Coordinator Cathy called to say she was watching the weather and would plan accordingly. She transformed our outdoor reception into an indoor affair seamlessly.\r\rBaru was responsible for the food and it was absolutely delicious. The owners met with me several times to ensure that we had everything we wanted. \r\rWe also had two guided tours of the world-class art collections that were a hit with our crowd, many of whom were out-of-towners and had never visited the Des Moines Art Center before. I would highly recommend this. \r\rIf you are looking for a classy venue,surrounded by world-class art, and you want to work with a smart and organized team, you should definitely consider the Des Moines Art Center.\r
Reviewed on 22-10-2015
Wedding Date 22-08-2015
The Des Moines Art Center is a beautiful venue for a wedding, and the staff is FABULOUS to work with.\r\rWe were looking for a casual yet elegant setting for both our wedding and reception. We were married in the Greenwood Park Rose Garden, and went straight into the museum for the reception.\r\rWe planned to have much of our reception in the outdoor courtyard, but mother nature had other plans. The day before the wedding, the DMAC's Event Coordinator Cathy called to say she was watching the weather and would plan accordingly. She transformed our outdoor reception into an indoor affair seamlessly.\r\rBaru was responsible for the food and it was absolutely delicious. The owners met with me several times to ensure that we had everything we wanted. \r\rWe also had two guided tours of the world-class art collections that were a hit with our crowd, many of whom were out-of-towners and had never visited the Des Moines Art Center before. I would highly recommend this. \r\rIf you are looking for a classy venue,surrounded by world-class art, and you want to work with a smart and organized team, you should definitely consider the Des Moines Art Center.\r
Reviewed on 22-10-2015
Anonymous (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 30-05-2015
I had my wedding reception at the Des Moint Art Center on May 30, 2015 and it was perfect. The coordinator, Cathy Williams, was incredibly organized, helpful, and so nice to work with. She made sure everything for the tables and decorations were set up perfectly. Sara Hill with Baru catering was also phenomenal. The food was fabulous and the food staff was excellent.\rI would definitely recommend this reception venue to future brides!
Reviewed on 21-07-2015
Wedding Date 30-05-2015
I had my wedding reception at the Des Moint Art Center on May 30, 2015 and it was perfect. The coordinator, Cathy Williams, was incredibly organized, helpful, and so nice to work with. She made sure everything for the tables and decorations were set up perfectly. Sara Hill with Baru catering was also phenomenal. The food was fabulous and the food staff was excellent.\rI would definitely recommend this reception venue to future brides!
Reviewed on 21-07-2015
Anonymous (parent) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 20-09-2016
Our dtr. was married in the Rose Garden on June 20th. She and her new husband are both artists so the Art Center was a perfect venue. Keep in mind that the Rose Garden is Des Moines Parks and Rec. and separate from the Art Center.\r\rCathy W. with the Art Center was very helpful and very accommodating. She was a calming presence the evening of the wedding. Sara H. did a lovely job helping use with the menu and order of the evening. \r\rKeep in mind with it being a museum you can't hang a lot of things and need to keep things simple and elegant.\r\rWe had a wonderful reception. Food as excellent. I can't say enough about how helpful and grateful we are for staff's help. They are a class act.\rHighly recommend.
Reviewed on 20-07-2015
12 Reviews, with a Rating of 4.75 out of 5.0Wedding Date 20-09-2016
Our dtr. was married in the Rose Garden on June 20th. She and her new husband are both artists so the Art Center was a perfect venue. Keep in mind that the Rose Garden is Des Moines Parks and Rec. and separate from the Art Center.\r\rCathy W. with the Art Center was very helpful and very accommodating. She was a calming presence the evening of the wedding. Sara H. did a lovely job helping use with the menu and order of the evening. \r\rKeep in mind with it being a museum you can't hang a lot of things and need to keep things simple and elegant.\r\rWe had a wonderful reception. Food as excellent. I can't say enough about how helpful and grateful we are for staff's help. They are a class act.\rHighly recommend.
Reviewed on 20-07-2015
Contact Info for Des Moines Art Center
| Contact | Value |
|---|---|
| https://www.facebook.com/desmoinesartcenter | |
| X (Twitter) | dmartcenter |
| dmartcenter | |
| desmoinesartcenter | |
| Website | www.desmoinesartcenter.org |
| Phone | (515) 271-0301 |
| Address | 4700 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA, 50312 |
| mwilliams@desmoinesartcenter.org |
Des Moines Art Center on the map
Meet the Des Moines Art Center Team
Grace Braga (Events Director) Grace Braga, the Venue Events Manger at the Des Moines Art Center, is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to hosting a seamless wedding event. Right down to every last detail, she will bring your visions to life while assisting to create fantastic memories along the way.
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