wedding venues

October 1, 2026

What Is Included When You Book a Wedding at The Lodge at Seven Oaks

Venue pricing pages are hard to compare. One venue quotes a room rental, another a package, and a third calls itself all-inclusive. If you are comparing wedding venue packages in Iowa for a 2027 wedding, the useful question is simple: what do you actually get, and what will you still need to bring, rent or hire?

This post walks through what is included at The Lodge at Seven Oaks, what changes between the Basic, Ultimate and Supreme packages, the house rules to plan around, and the questions worth asking every venue on your list. The Lodge details here come from its Weddings & Receptions sheet (PDF) and website. Prices are not included here because they can change, so ask the events team for current pricing.

What every package includes

Basic is the starting package, and each package above it includes everything below it. Every wedding package at The Lodge at Seven Oaks includes:

Exclusive use of the Main Lodge, with its 16-foot vaulted ceiling, knotty pine and big windows looking out on the ski slopes
Two days of building access: Friday 10 AM to 8 PM and Saturday 8 AM to midnight, so you can decorate the day before and host your rehearsal dinner on site
Day-of event staff and planning consultations with the on-site events team (three with Basic and Ultimate)
A customized floor plan for your guest count and layout
Private dressing areas, including a dressing area with three hair and makeup stations and large mirrors
Bartenders: one for the rehearsal dinner and two for the reception
A staff member to bus tables throughout your event
Pre-event setup of indoor tables and chairs
The outdoor courtyard with tables, chairs, umbrellas and lighting
The large lawn
Full kitchen access for your caterer
An open vendor policy (caterers must be full service)
Climate control, with air conditioning and heating
Event clean-up

Receptions can host up to 300 guests. If your ceremony is also at the Lodge, the maximum is 200 guests. The Lodge sits on 150 acres of timber in the Des Moines River Valley with three ceremony sites, and indoor ceremonies can accommodate up to 200 guests.

What changes from Basic to Ultimate to Supreme

Basic and Ultimate are available for a reception only or a reception and ceremony. Supreme is offered for a reception and ceremony.

Ultimate adds

The Conference Center, the connected space with a fireplace
Up to 40 table linens in your choice of colors
Up to 200 cloth napkins in your selected color
A dance floor
Unlimited soda and lemonade for guests
A bottle of house champagne

Supreme adds

A fourth planning consultation
Up to 40 table runners and up to 40 centerpieces
Guest book table setup and décor, including a card box
Up to 200 ceremony chairs, with setup and teardown
Full event setup and teardown
A projector and screen for a slideshow or video
Two bottles of house champagne in place of one

Two items are easy to miss. Outdoor ceremony chairs are not included in Basic or Ultimate, and full event setup and teardown comes with Supreme. Several items, including a dance floor, a projector and screen, ceremony chair setup and event breakdown, can also be added individually, so ask how an add-on compares with moving up a package.

The sheet also notes that package prices do not include sales tax or gratuity.

House rules to plan around

Every venue has décor and safety rules. At the Lodge, these are the ones that most often shape a couple’s plans:

Candle rules. If candlelight is part of your look, ask the events team for the current candle rules and confirm your plan with them before you buy anything.
No confetti or glitter. Plan a different send-off or table scatter.
No staples, tacks or tape on walls or woodwork. Choose freestanding signs, easels, backdrops on stands, or décor that sits on tables.
No outside alcohol, and ID is required for alcohol service.

Share these with your florist, planner and anyone decorating on Friday, so nobody shows up with a staple gun.

Questions to ask about any venue’s package

Whether you tour three venues or ten, these questions make packages easier to compare:

What does “setup” cover? Some packages include only tables and chairs. Ask who places linens and centerpieces, who sets up the ceremony, and who takes everything down at the end of the night.
Are ceremony chairs included, and who moves them? Chairs for a ceremony are often priced separately from reception seating.
Can we get in the day before? Friday access for decorating or a rehearsal dinner can take a lot of pressure off Saturday morning.
What are the vendor rules? Ask whether you can choose your own caterer, DJ and photographer, and whether caterers must be full service. The Lodge’s vendors page lists local caterers, photographers, DJs, florists, planners and more.
How does bar service work? Ask who staffs the bar, whether outside alcohol is allowed, and what bar formats are offered. The Lodge’s sheet lists hosted, open and cash bars, drink tickets and custom options, and it notes an added fee for events without alcohol.
What are the décor rules? Ask about candles, confetti, glitter and hanging items before you order anything.
What linens and décor come with the package? Linens, runners and centerpieces can change your rental budget, so compare them line by line.
What is the plan if it rains? Ask where an outdoor ceremony moves and how many guests that space holds.

Bring the same list to every tour and write the answers down. The Knot and Zola both publish longer venue question lists, linked below.

Frequently asked questions

How many guests can the Lodge host for a wedding?

Up to 300 guests for a reception only, and up to 200 guests when the ceremony is also at the Lodge.

Are bartenders included?

Yes. Every package includes one bartender for the rehearsal dinner and two for the reception.

Can we pick our own vendors?

Yes. The Lodge has an open vendor policy. Caterers must be full service.

When are wedding dates available?

Venue rentals are available April through October. Popular Saturdays go first, so reach out early.

See it in person

A package list only tells you so much. Walking through the Main Lodge, the courtyard and the lawn will show you where your ceremony, dinner and dance floor will go. Browse the wedding photos, then schedule a tour or send an inquiry or call 515-432-9457 ext. 305. The events team will get back to you within 24 hours.