Hotel Fort Des Moines Reviews

We absolutely loved having our wedding at HFDM in November 2022. It was the perfect backdrop for gorgeous photos as there are so many beautiful and unique spots. The Presidential Suite was the perfect get-ready-room for the bridal party as there was lots of ample light, plenty of seating, and a nice kitchenette for snacks and champagne. Our guests loved that they didn't have to brave the Iowa weather and could turn in to their beautiful rooms at the end of the night. Taylor made us feel so special throughout the planning process and she came up with amazing ideas that we had not even considered. And the FOOD. I cannot count the number of people who said it was the best meal they've ever had at a wedding. Also the glassware and place settings were so beautiful. Definitely not your typical hotel place settings. I would choose Hotel Fort Des Moines 100 times over.

We loved working with Hotel Fort Des Moines and having my daughter's wedding there.

The hotel itself is spectacular, and the three event spaces for a ceremony, cocktail hour, and a reception were so elegant. Each space was on the second floor, and there were elevators for easy access. The crystal chandeliers were beautiful, as well as the hardwood floors. The cocktail space furniture was lovely. The staircase to get to the second floor is so beautiful.

Both the staff that helped plan the wedding and the event staff that worked it were incredibly professional and made the night run so smoothly. Hotel staff that helped us with timing, vendors, hotel questions, and more were a joy with which to work. They were patient, helpful, and always smiling. The quality of the food and drink was excellent. High praise to the chefs. Wait staff was timely and nice to everyone. The bartenders were quick and friendly. The event staff, in all, was awesome.

I highly recommend using the Hotel Fort Des Moines if you are looking for an elegant wedding venue for your son or daughter. It is not an inexpensive option, but you do get your money's worth from the hard work of the staff, the very high quality of the food and drink, and the wonderful and beautiful surroundings of the hotel.

From what we heard from guests, they loved the food, drinks, and the way they were treated at the hotel. Most were still on the dance floor at the end of the night!

Book your wedding here. You won't regret it!

We hosted our son and daughter-in law's rehearsal dinner (50) and Sunday brunch (65) at the Fort Des Moines Hotel. The renovations to the hotel are amazing. My wife and I had our wedding dinner and dance there 37 years ago. The food and the service were out standing! The rooms are very nice and comfortable. Katie was our event planner and did an outstanding job is helping us plan the weekend. Also the food in the restaurant is very good. Highly recommend checking the hotel out for your next event.

The Hotel Fort Des Moines was the best place for a wedding reception! The banquet coordinators were so helpful, answered all of my questions, and were extremely flexible and easy to deal with. They were accommodating when it came to my arrangements and the wait staff at our reception were wonderful. The food was outstanding. Some of our guests told us the filet mignon was the best they'd had all year! I would absolutely recommend the Hotel Fort Des Moines for a wedding reception!

Hotel Fort Des Moines was my FIRST choice venue for our wedding reception. We booked it in either December 2006 or January 2007 (I actually can't remember which!), and it was still available. For our July 7th wedding, I knew it would be hard to find a quality venue that wasn't already booked, so I was VERY excited when I found out the Fort was still available. Our reception was in the State Ballroom (across the hall from the Grand Ballroom), and it fit our guests perfectly. Our reception coordinator was a delight to work with, and made it so easy on us! The reception is what cost the most for us overall, but it was definitely the most important part of our day, since we had so many guests. We decided to have a sit-down dinner, which was promptly served to us immediately after the wedding party arrived. I don't know about all of you, but it important to us to get the meal out of the way as soon as possible so we could hurry on to dancing and drinking! We hosted the beer and wine all night, and if anybody wanted anything else (such as mixed drinks), there was a cash bar. Just a tip if you're worried about certain people getting TOO inebriated: Don't have an open bar. The reason why people at wedding receptions get drunk so quickly is because mixed drinks can be taken down sooo easily; whereas, it takes longer to get through a glass of beer or wine. Anyway!!! The dinner was delicious, and our servers were amazing. The staff decorates the ballroom for you. They provide centerpieces and ribbon for you! Also, all the plates, silverware, and glasses are provided as well. They really go all out for you, which is exactly what a bride (and her parents!) need after a long day of primping, getting dressed, taking pictures, etc. It was awesome to have so many people there working for us. Also, the hotel gave my husband and me the Presidential suite for the night, which we were NOT expecting. They tell you that you'll receive a complimentary suite for the night, but they don't tell you what KIND of suite. The Presidential Suite was made up of 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 1 great room, a full kitchen, dining room, and study room....WAY more than we ever needed for just one night. My husband and I ended up hosting the after party in our suite (for a limited amount of time, obviously, since we wanted to be alone!). I would recommend the Hotel Fort Des Moines to EVERY engaged couple in the Des Moines area. Just make sure you book it wayyy ahead of time, because they only have 3 ballrooms.

We had our reception in the Grand Ballroom at the Hotel Fort Des Moines. The room was beautiful, and the staff (especially Liz) were great to work with. The food was also delicious! Their rates for guest rooms were very reasonable, and our guests were very pleased with the hotel.

We looked at several venues, but Hotel Fort Des Moines just seemed to fit. Wedding guests were already staying there, so it was convenient for those and downtown is a lot of fun. Over the years, we have used Hotel Fort Des Moines for Christmas parties and other celebrations so it was fun to be back, and their remodel is absolutely stunning. We met with Taylor, who made the whole planning experience easy for us. I totally trusted her advice and just knew it would be perfect, which it was. The venue is absolutely beautiful, as well as the whole hotel.. The meal was superb and, also, service was above excellent. We were really proud to have had our rehearsal dinner at The Hotel Fort Des Moines and show off what Des Moines has to offer.