I went on a little trip not too long ago to some place very interesting….
Can you guess where??
No, I didn't head to South America or the rainforest…
Sri Lanka? Nope, not there either…
I was right in Des Moines at the Blank Park Zoo!
It was a beautiful and sunny afternoon and Rachael Kinnick, the Special Events Manager at the Blank Park Zoo gave me a tour of all the fabulous facilities the zoo has to offer for your upcoming wedding. I was so shocked by the beauty and uniqueness of the spaces, especially considering what you get for your dollar. The photo above is of the Discovery Center, a space where you can have an intimate ceremony accompanied by close family and friends with a pretty sweet backdrop of aquariums and simulated rainforests.
The zoo has a lot of options if you're hoping to have a reception or ceremony on their grounds. You can do something indoors, outdoors or both. You have the option to rent out some space near the animals or simply stay on the perimeter of the property. But no matter what you would choose, it would be the type of wedding your guests wouldn't stop talking about. The type where they felt special and lucky to be invited to such a fabulous wedding at such a unique venue.
You literally have the option of renting out the ENTIRE zoo, afterhours, for your guests to peruse the property and celebrate your wedding. It's hard to think of anything that feels more VIP than that in Des Moines.
The packages range from simple to extravagant but all are affordable. A couple can choose to add items a la carte to their reception such as, feeding the giraffes or having trainers come into their shindig with rabbits, snakes and the like all for your guests to touch, up close and personal.
With all the packages, the option to use the zoo, free of charge, for your engagement and/or wedding photos is included.
Rachael's exceptional service and care is also included in your package with the Blank Park Zoo. She is young, recently married and knows her stuff, casually spouting off the names of all the bird species as we walked by them. But more than the birds, she knows events and what you want in a vendor. She's easy to work with, organized, approachable and sincere.
The zoo's catering is provided by Johnny's Steakhouse one of the best restaurants in the whole city. In fact, for Mother's Day, my only request was that we could have brunch at Johnny's 
I like to think of this website as a place where I can share with y'all the things I love in the Des Moines wedding world. I share things I would share with my sister and do my best to promote businesses I would give my own business to. The Blank Park Zoo is one of those places. I simply love what they have to offer and how unique and special it could make your wedding and I didn't want you to do any more searching for the perfect venue until you took a good look at this place.
