Timeless, sophisticated, and just a little extravagant—our Million Dollar Man styled shoot at The Tea Room in Des Moines was created for couples who love the look of classic luxury with a modern, editorial edge. Inspired by old-money glamour and the effortless elegance of a million-dollar lifestyle, every detail of this shoot was intentionally designed to feel polished, romantic, and undeniably luxurious.
Located in the heart of downtown Des Moines, The Tea Room provided the perfect setting for this vision. Its soaring windows, elegant architectural details, and sophisticated neutral interior gave us a beautiful blank canvas to transform with layers of ivory, black, gold, lush florals, candlelight, and vintage-inspired details. From dramatic crystal chandeliers suspended above the tables to gold candelabras, ornate table numbers, and carefully styled place settings, every element came together to create a wedding design that felt both timeless and elevated.
The fashion brought another level of drama to the shoot. A sleek satin bridal gown paired with delicate lace, a white tuxedo jacket and black bow tie, and editorial-inspired portraits gave the day the feeling of a high-fashion wedding campaign. Even the smallest details—from the towering white wedding cake to the black-and-gold reception accents—were chosen to tell the story of a couple whose wedding day feels effortlessly expensive without sacrificing romance.
For couples searching for luxury wedding inspiration in Des Moines, Iowa, Million Dollar Man is proof that a neutral wedding palette can be anything but simple. Keep scrolling to see how we transformed The Tea Room in Des Moines into an elegant celebration filled with modern romance, vintage glamour, and million-dollar details.
Photo by: Sarah Rolling
Set in the historic Tea Room in downtown Des Moines, A Million Dollar Man was my very first styled shoot. I had dreamed about this day for nearly a year: every candelabra, every velvet ribbon, every mood board drenched in quiet luxury. And when it finally came to life, it felt like stepping into a love story that had been passed down for generations.
From the moment guests would step off the elevator, we wanted the space to feel like a wedding environment rooted in elegance. A thoughtfully styled welcome area featuring silk-draped pillars by Invited DSM set the tone, beautifully complementing the Tea Room’s checkered floors, soaring ceilings, stately columns, and intricate wall and ceiling detailing. Inside, two lavish long tables—one soft and romantic, one rich and elegant—offered layered inspiration for couples dreaming of opulence. A sweetheart table framed in florals, candlelight, and soft draping created a cozy focal point, while a towering nine-tiered cake by Parinda Cupcakes stood as a true showstopper of timeless beauty.
What made the day even more unforgettable was our spontaneous stop at Hotel Des Lux. With its vintage mirrors, chandeliers, and editorial-ready spaces, it became the perfect backdrop for our after-party moments—pizza in the bathtub, champagne toasts, and the kind of carefree joy that brought balance to all the traditions.
This wasn’t just a shoot. It was a vision come to life—one rooted in romance, styled with intention, and brought to life by a dream team of creatives who made every detail feel cinematic. It was, in every way, Vogue-worthy. And it will forever hold such a special place in my heart.
The Inspiration for Million Dollar Man: An Old Money Styled Shoot
The mood? Regal, refined, and draped in old-money elegance.
Inspired by masculine tailoring, quiet luxury, and the romance of the Gilded Age, we envisioned A Million Dollar Man as a modern interpretation of timeless sophistication. At the center of our luxury wedding styled shoot in Des Moines, Iowa was a groom with quiet confidence, magnetic presence, and an appreciation for impeccably tailored style. His bride embodied that same sophistication through graceful silhouettes, subtle luxury, and thoughtful details—the kind that never need to demand attention to be remembered.
Together, they represented a love rooted in legacy but brought to life with a distinctly modern edge: intentional, powerful, romantic, and endlessly stylish. Rather than designing around fleeting wedding trends, we wanted every element of this shoot to feel as though it could belong to another era while still feeling completely at home in a modern Des Moines wedding.
The Tea Room in downtown Des Moines was the perfect backdrop for bringing that vision to life. With its striking checkered floors, soaring ceilings, grand windows, and intricate architectural details, the historic space already carries a sense of timeless elegance. Clean white walls and beautiful natural light gave us a refined canvas for layering rich textures, gold accents, dramatic candlelight, lush florals, and vintage-inspired details. The goal wasn't simply to create something trendy—it was to create a timeless luxury wedding design that could feel just as captivating decades from now.
Timeless Wedding Details & Elegant Stationery
No luxury wedding design is complete without the little details, and for our Million Dollar Man styled shoot at The Tea Room in Des Moines, we wanted every element to feel as though it had been collected and cherished for generations. Inspired by old-world romance and Gilded Age elegance, the bridal details blended delicate femininity with the refined, heirloom-inspired aesthetic woven throughout the entire shoot.
Pearls, antique cameo brooches, gold jewelry, and a vintage-inspired jewelry box brought layers of history and character to the flat lays. A cream rotary telephone with gold accents, a classic perfume atomizer, wax seals, and sculptural details added another nod to a bygone era. Against flowing ivory satin and delicate lace, each piece felt soft, romantic, and effortlessly luxurious. Fresh white ranunculus completed the styling, adding an organic touch to the otherwise polished collection.
The wedding stationery carried that same timeless elegance. Rather than relying on bold colors or overly modern design elements, the invitation suite embraced a monochromatic ivory palette with intricate floral detailing, delicate script typography, embossed textures, and softly shaped paper. The coordinating RSVP and reception cards added subtle dimension while allowing the craftsmanship of the stationery to become the focal point.
Together, these carefully curated elements created luxury wedding detail inspiration that felt romantic without being overly feminine and vintage without feeling dated. For couples planning an elegant wedding at The Tea Room in Des Moines, details like heirloom jewelry, pearls, vintage accessories, custom stationery, and textural fabrics can transform even the smallest moments of a wedding day into part of the larger story.
A Grand Welcome at The Tea Room in Des Moines
First impressions set the tone for an entire wedding day, and for our Million Dollar Man styled shoot at The Tea Room in Des Moines, we wanted guests to feel immersed in the experience from the moment they stepped off the elevator. The result was a dramatic, editorial-inspired welcome display that perfectly blended old-money wedding inspiration, timeless romance, and modern luxury.
Invited DSM, who also created the beautiful stationery for the shoot, designed an extraordinary welcome installation featuring three multi-level pillars draped in flowing white satin. The gathered fabric created beautiful movement and texture while maintaining the monochromatic, sophisticated aesthetic of the overall design. Lush floral arrangements in shades of ivory, soft blush, and green cascaded from varying heights, creating an organic contrast against the structured columns and luxurious fabric. A custom welcome sign nestled among the florals completed the installation and introduced guests to the celebration ahead.
One of our favorite features of The Tea Room wedding venue in downtown Des Moines is its dedicated welcome area and lounge. Rather than guests immediately entering the reception space, the venue offers a beautiful transition into the celebration. The striking checkered floors, grand architectural columns, arched openings, and historic details already give the space so much personality, making it an incredible backdrop for a statement wedding installation.
For this luxury Des Moines wedding inspiration, we intentionally designed the welcome display to complement the existing architecture rather than compete with it.
Old-Money Elegance: A Luxury Wedding Tablescape at The Tea Room
Of all the designs from our Million Dollar Man styled shoot at The Tea Room in Des Moines, this reception table was easily one of my favorites. Every element was designed to complement the venue’s old-money charm, from its soaring ceilings and grand windows to its intricate architectural details. The finished tablescape felt extravagant yet timeless—the perfect inspiration for a luxury wedding in Des Moines, Iowa.
The long reception table was draped in crisp white linen and anchored by tall gold candelabras with classic white taper candles. Overhead, stunning gold and crystal chandeliers from Monarch Events added a dramatic touch of Gilded Age glamour, while gold Chiavari chairs from Beyond Elegance framed the table. Low floral arrangements featuring white hydrangeas, roses, greenery, and cascading textures softened the design and added an organic layer of romance.
Each place setting was thoughtfully styled with white charger plates from 11:11 Event Co., textured gold-accented salad plates, white satin napkins, and polished gold flatware. Water, wine, and champagne glassware added another layer of elegance, while delicate black satin bows created the perfect contrast against the ivory-and-gold palette. Custom stationery from Invited DSM completed the look and tied the entire old-money wedding tablescape together.
What made this design so special was the balance between grandeur and restraint. Ivory brought softness, gold added warmth and luxury, and subtle black accents introduced the masculine edge behind the Million Dollar Man concept. For couples planning an elegant wedding at The Tea Room in Des Moines, this tablescape is the perfect example of how statement lighting, layered place settings, lush florals, and candlelight can transform a reception into something truly timeless.
A Candlelit Reception Table Filled with Old-Money Glamour
Our second reception table for the Million Dollar Man styled shoot at The Tea Room in Des Moines embraced a moodier side of luxury. More than 15 candles in varying heights and styles—including pillar candles, classic tapers, glass hurricanes, and Athena candleholders—filled the table with warm candlelight. The abundance of gold paired with crisp white linens and dramatic black accents created a sophisticated old-money wedding tablescape that felt both intimate and extravagant.
One of our favorite details was the gold Athena candleholders from 11:11 Event Co. These unique rental pieces added another layer of texture and character to the design, proving how much impact unexpected décor can have on a wedding reception. We mixed candleholders of different heights and shapes throughout the table, creating dimension while maintaining the refined aesthetic of our luxury Des Moines wedding inspiration.
The custom table numbers, designed by Lauren, became another statement piece. Ornate gold mirrors were personalized with a unique number for each table, blending seamlessly with the vintage-inspired décor. Each place setting featured white charger plates from 11:11 Event Co., gold-rimmed dinnerware, sleek black napkins, gold flatware, and wine, water, and champagne glassware. The black details added just enough contrast to give the otherwise soft palette a masculine, tailored edge.
Finally, menus from Invited DSM brought the entire design together with elegant typography inspired by the timeless aesthetic of the shoot. Surrounded by candlelight and the historic architecture of The Tea Room in downtown Des Moines, the finished table felt intimate, dramatic, and effortlessly luxurious—perfect inspiration for couples dreaming of an elegant, old-money-inspired wedding in Des Moines, Iowa.
A Romantic Sweetheart Table at The Tea Room
The sweetheart table served as a romantic focal point for our Million Dollar Man styled shoot at The Tea Room in Des Moines. Draped in soft, flowing white fabric from Monarch Events, the design embraced the effortless elegance and old-money aesthetic woven throughout the shoot. The layered fabric created beautiful movement while allowing The Tea Room’s soaring windows and natural light to become part of the design.
Vintage-inspired gold candelabras from Borrow My Vintage framed the couple’s seats, filling the space with the warmth of candlelight and adding another touch of old-world grandeur. Additional pillar candles gathered at the base of the table created an intimate glow, while the mix of candle heights added depth without distracting from the romantic simplicity of the design.
Statement florals from Heather’s Secret Garden brought the sweetheart table to life with lush white blooms, soft touches of blush, cascading greenery, and oversized arrangements. Florals spilled gracefully across the front of the table and from a large urn beside it, giving the otherwise neutral luxury wedding design an organic, garden-inspired softness. Elegant stationery from Invited DSM completed the setting with a polished, personalized touch.
Set against the grand architecture of The Tea Room in downtown Des Moines, the finished sweetheart table felt intimate while still making a statement within the reception space. For couples planning an elegant Des Moines wedding, this design shows how draping, candlelight, lush florals, and thoughtfully selected details can turn a sweetheart table into one of the most beautiful focal points of the entire reception.
A Statement Wedding Cake Made for the Spotlight
No luxury wedding at The Tea Room in Des Moines would be complete without a show-stopping cake, and this eight-tier masterpiece from Parinda Cupcakes was truly unforgettable. Towering above the reception design, the all-white wedding cake embodied the timeless elegance and old-money sophistication behind our Million Dollar Man styled shoot.
While the color palette remained beautifully simple, intricate piping, delicate floral details, and vintage-inspired textures gave each tier its own character. Fresh florals surrounding the base and finishing the top softened the dramatic height of the cake while seamlessly connecting it to the romantic floral design throughout the reception. Against The Tea Room’s grand windows and historic architecture, the finished display felt effortlessly editorial.
A statement wedding cake can be so much more than dessert—it can become part of the wedding décor itself. The impressive scale of this design created incredible photo opportunities that felt straight from the pages of Vogue, while giving guests another memorable focal point to experience throughout the celebration.
For couples searching for luxury wedding inspiration in Des Moines, Iowa, an oversized wedding cake is a beautiful way to bring drama and personality into a reception. Whether your style is classic, romantic, or inspired by old-money wedding elegance, a cake this grand transforms a traditional wedding detail into an unforgettable piece of art.
Featuring Hotel Des Lux
The Million Dollar Man vision didn’t stop at The Tea Room. We also wanted to showcase one of our favorite discoveries from the day: Hotel Des Lux in downtown Des Moines. After touring The Tea Room, we stumbled upon this hidden gem just around the corner, and the moment we walked through the doors, we knew it belonged in this shoot. The entire hotel felt like an extension of the old-money, Gilded Age aesthetic we were already creating—with a little old Hollywood glamour mixed in.
The lobby of Hotel Des Lux gave us endless inspiration. Glittering chandeliers, a vintage piano, velvet seating, ornate details, and more than 20 antique mirrors created one gorgeous photo opportunity after another. Instead of overly directing every shot, we let our photographers explore the space and get creative. The result was a collection of editorial wedding photos in Des Moines that felt sophisticated, romantic, and straight out of another era.
From there, we headed up to a third-floor suite and let the Million Dollar Man story become a little more playful. We created an editorial-style wedding after-party filled with vintage phone moments, intimate portraits, champagne toasts, newspapers, pizza in the bathtub, and the bride jumping on the bed. It was the perfect contrast to the polished elegance of The Tea Room and gave the shoot a stylish, personality-filled ending.
And for couples planning a wedding at The Tea Room in Des Moines, Hotel Des Lux is absolutely worth adding to your wedding weekend. Whether you use it for accommodations, getting-ready photos, bridal portraits, or a fun after-party photo session, its vintage-inspired interiors photograph beautifully. With The Tea Room just around the corner, pairing these two downtown Des Moines wedding locations creates the perfect combination of timeless elegance, old Hollywood romance, and editorial wedding inspiration.
A Playful Hotel Room Wedding Photo Op at Hotel Des Lux
While so much of the Million Dollar Man styled shoot focused on polished, old-money elegance, we also wanted to show couples that wedding photography doesn’t always have to feel perfectly posed or traditional. Our suite at Hotel Des Lux in downtown Des Moines gave us the perfect opportunity to loosen things up and create a fun, editorial hotel room photo session filled with personality.
We wanted these images to feel like the after-party after the after-party—the heels are off, the formalities are over, and the newlyweds finally get to enjoy being married. Newspapers scattered across the bed, cocktails in hand, late-night pizza, fluffy slippers, and a vintage telephone transformed ordinary moments into playful editorial wedding photos. The contrast between the glamorous wardrobe and the relaxed hotel room setting made the photos feel effortlessly cool while still fitting the sophisticated aesthetic of the shoot.
A hotel room wedding photo op is also such a fun way to capture a completely different side of a wedding day. Getting-ready suites and hotel rooms don’t have to be reserved for hair and makeup photos! They can become the setting for after-party portraits, champagne toasts, room-service photos, or those slightly messy, carefree moments that often end up being some of the most memorable images in a gallery.
For couples planning a downtown Des Moines wedding, Hotel Des Lux offers an incredible backdrop for creating something a little unexpected. Paired with a wedding at The Tea Room in Des Moines, a hotel room photo session adds another layer to the story of the day—moving from timeless, formal elegance to playful newlywed energy and giving couples the best of both worlds in their wedding photos.
Getting Ready at Hotel Des Lux in Downtown Des Moines
Getting ready is one of the first chapters of a wedding day, and Hotel Des Lux in downtown Des Moines offers such a unique backdrop for those early moments. For our Million Dollar Man styled shoot, we wanted the getting-ready portion of the day to feel less traditional and more like an editorial experience—glamorous, playful, and filled with personality while still capturing the timeless, old-money aesthetic of the shoot.
Inside the suite, the dramatic tufted headboard, dark walls, mirrored furnishings, and vintage-inspired details immediately gave the photos an Old Hollywood wedding feel. Our bride slipped into a feather-trimmed satin getting-ready dress and fluffy slippers, creating the perfect contrast against the rich interiors. From touching up lipstick in the bathroom mirror to lounging on the bed with a vintage telephone, even the simplest getting-ready moments became incredible photo opportunities.
We especially loved incorporating details that made the morning feel lived-in and fun. A vintage phone, cocktails, newspapers, and relaxed portraits of the couple transformed the suite into its own little world before the formality of the wedding began. It was a reminder that wedding getting-ready photos don't have to be limited to robes, hair, and makeup—they can be stylish, romantic, playful, and completely unique to the couple.
For couples planning a wedding at The Tea Room in Des Moines, getting ready at Hotel Des Lux is a beautiful way to add variety to your wedding gallery while keeping the day centered in downtown Des Moines. The hotel's dramatic interiors pair beautifully with The Tea Room's bright, sophisticated architecture, creating two distinct looks within the same wedding day and plenty of inspiration for couples dreaming of a luxury downtown Des Moines wedding.
Endless Wedding Photo Opportunities at Hotel Des Lux
One of the things that made Hotel Des Lux in downtown Des Moines such an exciting addition to our Million Dollar Man styled shoot was the sheer number of incredible photo opportunities throughout the hotel. Nearly every corner offered a completely different backdrop, allowing us to create a wedding gallery that felt editorial, luxurious, and full of variety without ever leaving the property.
The hotel lobby was especially memorable. Rich colors, dramatic lighting, velvet furnishings, vintage-inspired décor, and an incredible collection of ornate mirrors created the perfect setting for editorial bridal portraits in Des Moines. We staged several bridal and couple portraits throughout the lobby, including in front of the statement mirror wall, which gave the images a glamorous, Old Hollywood quality that fit seamlessly with the old-money inspiration behind the shoot.
Beyond the lobby, there were countless little spaces to get creative. Hallways, seating areas, dramatic architectural details, and the hotel suite itself gave our photographers opportunities to play with different lighting, poses, and moods. Within a single Des Moines wedding hotel, we were able to capture everything from polished bridal portraits to romantic couple photos and playful, candid-inspired images.
For couples searching for unique wedding photo locations in Des Moines, Iowa, Hotel Des Lux offers so much more than simply a place to stay. It can become part of the wedding-day experience itself—especially for couples celebrating nearby at The Tea Room in downtown Des Moines. Between the dramatic lobby, vintage details, luxurious suites, and endless photo-worthy corners, Hotel Des Lux is an incredible setting for couples who want their wedding photography to feel sophisticated, editorial, and anything but ordinary.
The Grand Piano: An Editorial Wedding Photo Moment
One of our favorite photo opportunities at Hotel Des Lux in downtown Des Moines was tucked inside the lobby: the stunning grand piano. Surrounded by exposed brick, rich wood tones, built-in bookshelves, vintage artwork, and a sparkling crystal chandelier, this little corner of the hotel felt intimate, dramatic, and straight out of an old Hollywood film.
For our Million Dollar Man styled shoot, we wanted to use the piano for something beyond traditional portraits. With the bride perched on top of the grand piano and the groom beside her, the images took on a playful, romantic, and slightly unexpected editorial feel. The bride’s lace veil and satin look created a beautiful contrast against the dark piano and warm brick backdrop, while the chandelier overhead added just the right amount of glamour.
Spaces like this are exactly why we loved incorporating Hotel Des Lux wedding photos into the shoot. Couples don't always need an elaborate setup to create unforgettable portraits—a unique piece of furniture, interesting architecture, and a photographer willing to get creative can completely transform a moment. The grand piano offered a backdrop that felt luxurious while still having plenty of personality.
For couples searching for unique wedding photo locations in Des Moines, Iowa, the grand piano at Hotel Des Lux is just one of the many photo-worthy spaces throughout the property. Especially when paired with a wedding at The Tea Room in Des Moines, Hotel Des Lux provides an incredible setting for editorial wedding portraits that feel romantic, sophisticated, and a little bit daring.
A Fun End-of-the-Night Wedding Photo Idea… in the bathtub
After a day filled with polished details and elevated luxury wedding inspiration, we wanted the final photos of our Million Dollar Man styled shoot to feel completely different—playful, relaxed, and a little unexpected. We imagined that just-married feeling at the end of the night when the formalities are over, the heels come off, and the couple finally gets a moment to themselves.
At Hotel Des Lux in downtown Des Moines, the bathtub gave us the perfect setting to bring that idea to life. We grabbed a pizza, poured the champagne, added a few disco balls, and let our couple climb right in. The result was a series of fun end-of-the-night wedding photos that felt candid and carefree while still maintaining the editorial style of the shoot.
We love the idea of incorporating something the couple might actually do after their wedding—whether that's ordering late-night pizza, popping another bottle of champagne, changing into an after-party outfit, or simply relaxing together once the celebration winds down. Those little moments can create some of the most personality-filled photos from the entire wedding day.
For couples planning a downtown Des Moines wedding, an after-party photo session at Hotel Des Lux is such a fun way to end the night. Paired with the timeless elegance of a Tea Room Des Moines wedding, these playful hotel photos created the perfect final chapter to our Million Dollar Man story: a little less formal, a little more fun, and completely unforgettable.
From the grand architecture of The Tea Room in Des Moines to the vintage glamour of Hotel Des Lux, A Million Dollar Man was created to prove that timeless wedding design can still feel fresh, editorial, and full of personality. Every detail was intentionally chosen to blend old-money wedding inspiration, Gilded Age elegance, and modern luxury into a celebration that felt as though it could belong to any era.
Throughout the day, we played with contrast—extravagant florals alongside tailored fashion, towering cakes and candlelit tablescapes paired with playful hotel-room portraits, and sophisticated black, white, and gold details balanced by moments that felt effortlessly fun. The result was more than a styled shoot; it was a complete wedding-day story, from the first detail photos to the late-night pizza and champagne.
One of our favorite things about creating this luxury Des Moines wedding inspiration was showcasing just how much personality can exist within a timeless design. Elegant doesn't have to mean predictable. Your wedding can have grand chandeliers, vintage candelabras, custom stationery, an eight-tier wedding cake, and beautifully curated tables while still leaving room for champagne in bed, vintage telephone photos, and pizza in the bathtub at the end of the night.
For couples dreaming of a Des Moines wedding at The Tea Room, we hope A Million Dollar Man inspires you to embrace the details that make your celebration feel entirely your own. And if you're searching for a Des Moines wedding planner to transform your vision into an intentional, elevated, and unforgettable wedding experience, Elizabeth Bliss Events would love to help bring that story to life. Because trends may come and go—but a wedding designed around your story will always be timeless.
The Vendor Team
Planner & Designer: Elizabeth Bliss Events
Lead Photographer: Sarah Rolling Photography @sarahrollingphoto
Venue: The Tea Room @thetearoomdsm
Photographers: Zach Captures @zachcaptures ,Breanna Maxwell Photography @breannamaxwellphotography, Elizabeth Ann Photography @elizabethannphotos
Content Creator: Katie Mcdonald Photography @katie_mcdonald_photography
Florals: Heather’s Secret Garden @heatherssgarden
Stationery + Signage: Invited DSM @invited.dsm
Cake: Parinda Cupcakes @parindacupcakes
Dresses: Modern Dress @moderndress
Rings + Jewelry: Siebke Hoyt Jewelers @siebkehoytjewelers
Suit: Skeffington’s Formal Wear @skeffingtonsformalwear
Hair: Bespoke Beauty LLC @bespoke_beauty_llc
Makeup: Makeup by Morgan Dodds @makeupbymorgandodds
Decor + Sweetheart Table Draping: Monarch Events @monarchevents.co
Decor: 11:11 Event Co. @1111eventco
Candelabras: Borrow My Vintage @borrowmyvintage
Flat Lay Rentals: Annata Vintage Rental Co. @annatavintageco
Chairs: Beyond Elegance @beyond_elegance
Models: Lea Rappl & Brock Rathbun@learappl &@feelmyrathbun
The Tea Room Wedding Venue
Address: 713 Walnut St UNIT 600, Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone: (515) 336-1317
Email: info@thetearoomdsm.com
Capacity of 300 guests
Cost starts at $4,000 to $9,000+
Amenities included: Tables & chairs, table linens, bar setup and staffing, 1 bridal suite, indoor ceremony options.