Q. My husband-to-be is from Iowa and wants to get married close to home. I’m game, but I don’t want a boring church or gazebo wedding. Are there any cool cultural spots you can recommend in the Hawkeye State?
A. Absolutely! Iowa has perfect locations whether you're glam, sporty, or smarties. If your style is more Hollywood Hills than Great Plains, head east. In Bettendorf, a former monastery situated on a bluff has been resurrected as the Romanesque four-diamond Abbey Hotel (563-355-0291) with a pristine chapel, gorgeous grounds, and outstanding view of the Mississippi River. At the other end of the spectrum, you and your MVP could wed at the John O'Donnell Stadium (563-333-2723) in downtown Davenport. You get an unbeatable river view and a year-round baseball field with the fun of a sports-theme site. These two spots are in the Quad Cities (two towns from both Iowa and Illinois), so your guests have four times as many recreational options.
If you two are literary-minded, consider tying the knot at one of the famed Bridges of Madison County. Six covered bridges near Winterset, southwest of Des Moines, offer a romantic overtone -- Roseman Bridge plays heavily in the book and is the most popular for weddings; Holliwell Bridge is the one from the movie; and the Hogback Bridge just underwent a huge renovation in May. You can contact the Chamber of Commerce (800-298-6119) for more information on wedding at one of the bridges.
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