Des Moines' newest wedding venue, the Surety Hotel
Combining historical elegance and contemporary design, Surety Hotel is the perfect backdrop for your celebration. Be among the first to host your event at the newest hotel in downtown Des Moines. Start your story at Surety
For any event, the experience is high on the list for your event, from the cuisine to the ballroom ambiance, crafted cocktails and event service, every touch for your event should be an elevated experience for you and your guests. With that in mind, we personalize everything from the event minimum to the event menu and package and work with you one-on-one to ensure its truly YOUR wedding....not one that fits every bride...... but catered to YOU.
The Surety event experience includes event minimums to suit your budget, event rentals only for those spaces that don’t include dinner and bar menus that can include signature cocktails, hosted, beer, wine and liquor or all cash options as well.
For initial thoughts, many Surety packages start at $70.00 per person and that includes hors'd oevures during the cocktail hour, dinner service from Mulberry Street Tavern and one hour of hosted cocktails for your guests. Some packages are lower based on date preference and some are higher based on additional hours of beverages, elevated dinner options including beef and late-night snack options. No matter the budget, we are familiar in working with all couples at the Surety Hotel.
Surety Hotel is founded in the city’s old Hippee Building. Also known as the Southern Surety Building, it was purchased by an insurance company in 1924. It was the first skyscraper to grace the skyline of Des Moines, cementing its iconic status in the story of the city. It was built in the Beaux-Arts style of architecture for an elaborate and instantly recognizable look. The Polk County Courthouse is nearby, alongside many other city highlights. Although the building has its foundations in the world of insurance, it has seamlessly transitioned to hospitality. They hope that their services today can provide the same sense of security and reassurance, that your most important moments are in trustworthy hands.
Surety Hotel offers 3 unique spaces in the Surety Ballroom, Solarium and Midland space. In all of our spaces, you can customize everything from the menu to the event design. We welcome up to 150 guests for dinner and the dedicated staff is on hand to help you organize your dream day and support you at every turn. The Mulberry Street Tavern, meanwhile, offers a cozy bar setting for a more laidback event. Throughout the hotel, neutral colors, warm woods, and rich tones abound for a luxurious feel. Distinctive artworks and light fixtures add a unique focal point for the common areas of the hotel. If you and your loved ones want to continue the experience, this property features 133 guest rooms.
Plan your tour today or stop by to see what all the fuss is about at Des Moines' newest venue, the Surety Hotel Des Moines. See you soon and congratulations.
Adrienne Burgus(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 24-02-2023 We got married at the Surety a few weeks ago and it is an absolutely beautiful and a stunning venue. The service from Sergio and his team was wonderful. Everyone was so friendly and helpful and really made sure our day ran very smoothly. The servers even brought some of the appetizers out to us while we were having our photos taken during the cocktail hour which was just so sweet of them. The hotel housekeeping is extremely helpful and accommodating and the hotel beds are super comfy and if I could steal one, I would. :) We did have a small billing issue after the wedding was over, but the team at the Surety worked with me and it was resolved in a timely manner. They went above and beyond every step and we are so happy we had our wedding there. Reviewed on 10-03-2023
Adrienne Burgus(bride)3 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 24-02-2023 Atmosphere 5/5 Transparency from Staff 2/5We got married at the Surety a few weeks ago and while it is absolutely beautiful and a stunning venue. I was definitely left with a bad taste after my event. There is no doubt that the Surety is a beautiful venue and our wedding was gorgeous but just a heads up to other engaged couples to be extra cautious and vigilant on pricing. I had asked during a tour if we could bring in little shots for our wedding favors and was told that it would be no problem by the person I was working with. However, after the wedding they turned around and charged us a corkage fee for each favor we handed out to guests. No one mentioned anything to us the day of the wedding, they were placed on the table plenty of time ahead. Not a single staff member thought to bring up that it was an issue that was going to cost us after the fact, they chose to just say nothing and put the additional charge on the bill. Again, this was approved ahead of time when I had asked, and then we were charged for something we were told we could do. The whole situation was very deceitful, but they made an extra chunk of money off us. Their pricing in general is not very up front, we had asked to see a catering menu before signing our contract so we could get an idea what our F&B minimum would get us, but we were never given one. When it came to our tasting and making our food selections, I had to go back and forth and ask about the prices of each individual item and continuously ask what options there were. For as many times as we asked for a list of options and their pricing so that we could figure out how we wanted to structure our money between Appetizers, Meal, and Snacks, we were never given one. It was a giant headache.The transparency when it comes to money was just not there and it was unfortunate and really spoiled my view of the venue. When you're spending $10K somewhere, it shouldn't have to be so difficult. That said, our wedding was lovely and the space is beautiful. The food was good and the servers were awesome! They made sure to bring us some appetizers while we took pictures during cocktail hour which was just so sweet of them. All in all, the venue was very nice and the wedding ran really smoothly. Just wish we wouldn't have been charged unknowingly for something we were told we could do. That kinda sucked. Reviewed on 08-03-2023
Kim coleman(other)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 02-10-2021 We held our daughters wedding at the Surety where the bridal party got ready in the Marchande Suite, groomsmen in the Hippee Board Room, ceremony was in the solarium, cocktail hour in the courtyard, dinner/dance in the ballroom, and bon voyage brunch in the solarium, and absolutely everything was perfect. Honestly, there was not one thing I would have changed about the weekend. Because of our experience planning and working with the team prior to the wedding, we knew the Surety would do a fantastic job and we knew the team at the Surety would be phenomenal in such a personal, friendly, comfortable way, and they exceeded all of our expectations! I say comfortable because ever since we stepped foot in the Surety, even back when we had to wear hard hats to visit, this hotel has felt like a home away from home. It’s a beautiful, breathtaking place that could easily feel intimidating, stuffy, and uncomfortable, but it’s the opposite, it’s beauty is matched by the team behind the scenes who made us feel so special and so welcome in every interaction we had with them, but most importantly during the wedding weekend. We plan to continue to visit often and the Surety will always hold a special spot in our hearts. Weirdly we feel part of it’s start and are so proud of how successful the Surety team has made it. We especially thank Tara for everything she did for us throughout the wedding planning and all the personal touches. It truly meant the world to us. Reviewed on 08-10-2021
Shelby Meyerink(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 18-09-2021 The Surety Hotel was a dream come true for us! The staff at the Surety's professionalism sold us on the venue before construction was even finished. Chef Marque at the Mulberry Street Tavern and his excellent menu ideas were what sold us on our very foodie wedding. We loved having so much variety and quality in the food we offered for our guests. Taylor and Tara worked with us for each step of our event, which included the ceremony in the solarium, a cocktail hour in the courtyard, and the reception in the ballroom. One of my favorite details was them helping us to customize the open bar with batches of our favorite cocktails and letting me choose some of my favorite, local craft beers. Throughout the process, the Surety Hotel was transparent and fair in its pricing. The hotel itself is absolutely beautiful, so beautiful that we took all of our wedding photos there. The suites/rooms are gorgeous and it was wonderful to have guests be able to retire upstairs whenever they were ready. We had multiple guests express how much they loved the hotel. The event staff, led by Sergio, were efficient and kind. Every step of the way, there was someone from the Surety Hotel to support us. We are so grateful for the Surety Hotel! We highly recommend them for any event. Reviewed on 26-09-2021
Joelle Vandersee(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 05-09-2021 Our wedding reception at Surety Hotel was absolutely perfect! The venue is chic and beautiful - an ideal setting for celebrating with friends and family. Each space at the hotel played an important role in our big day. The Suite Marchande was the perfect space for getting ready, the solarium was a beautiful backdrop for our first look and cocktail hour, the hotel lobby was a wonderful gathering space throughout the entire weekend, the courtyard and patio were enjoyed by guests all night long, and the ballroom completely blew away our expectations. Beyond these stunning spaces, the service at Surety is what made our experience truly exceptional. From the time we first toured the space until the wedding night, Tara was there each step of the way. She made us feel incredibly special and worked with us and our vendors to create the day of our dreams! Tara's willingness to go above and beyond is unmatched. I will ALWAYS recommend Surety as one of the best venues in Des Moines! Reviewed on 17-09-2021
Alivia Hamaker(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 29-05-2021 Our original venue canceled on us 2 months before our wedding. (The surety had not opened yet when we booked our first location). Tara at the surety hotel went above and beyond to make our day perfect. The day was seem-less and I knew everything was being taken care of. I can not say enough good about the surety hotel. I would recommend every bride to take a look at the surety- you are sure to fall in love the second you walk in the door. Reviewed on 16-06-2021
Amy Hayes(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 23-01-2021 Look no further! The Surety Hotel is absolutely breathtaking! We stayed here on our wedding night and were completely blown away. We had an unbeatable view of the courthouse building that made our stay that much more special. Pre-COVID we had blocked a bunch of rooms off, and they were so flexible and helpful when we had to cancel that due to reducing our wedding guest list. Their venue space is so beautiful, especially if you want a ceremony in their Atrium. It is STUNNING and you won't find anything like it in the area. Tara was amazing to work with, and so was every other staff member we encountered. Highly recommend you contact the Surety for all things wedding! Reviewed on 26-01-2021
Jason C(groom)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 06-02-2021 As a wedding photographer myself, I've seen hundreds of wedding venues throughout the country and I can't shout the praises of Surety Hotel's space enough! The solarium is an absolute show stopper, so beautiful! Surety's suites and rehearsal dinner spaces are also unreal. I think it's pretty easy to walk into Surety in downtown Des Moines and realize there's no venue with such a great vibe in the area. What is a little harder to tell when searching for the perfect venue online, is customer service side of things. Surety's staff has been AMAZING from start to finish. Tara has worked tirelessly with us to make sure that our day is perfect. Chef Marque and JC have made unique to us cocktails and menu items that speak to specific things we love. Everyone knows us by name, goes out of their way to greet us whenever we stop in for dinner at Mulberry Street Tavern and genuinely makes us feel like a part of their family. Having the right vibe from your wedding vendors is crucial to the day, and this is absolutely Surety's biggest strength. Give Tara a call and schedule a walk through, you'll see what I mean! Reviewed on 08-01-2021
Hello and congratulations. Finding a venue for your wedding, reception and guests can be overwhelming. I have been planning and working with weddings for the last few years, including my own wedding. Weddings have very much changed since Covid, but what is constant are the ear to ear smiles on newly engaged couples and the anticipation in their eyes about their big day. Joining the Surety and Aparium team is a dream come true. The Surety combines unmatched service, incredible design, a superior level of hospitality and a one-of-a-kind Iowa experience for travelers and locals.