Casual, Classic and Affordable!
201 to 250 guests
Holds ceremonies and receptions
Dana and Curtis VanGilder
OWNERS
Alta House Event Center hosts quarterly open houses. RSVP Required. To RSVP please go to www.altahouse.com/open-house-events. We hope to see you soon!
Located in Newton, IA, Alta House Event Center is a rural wedding venue. This rustic farmhouse is complemented by all of the modern facilities you have come to rely on. Situated less than an hour from Des Moines, this setting feels like an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Our team is there to support you every step of the way .
Owners Dana and Curtis VanGilder purchased this property in 2018 and renovated every aspect of it. They wanted to turn Alta House Event Center into a boutique space for various gatherings and celebrations. It was named for Dana’s grandmother, showing the respect the owners have for honoring their loved ones. The decor of the house is inspired by Dana and Curtis’s parents and grandparents, alongside their Iowa heritage. The main goal for this venue was to design a chic, intimate event space in a convenient location for everyone in the surrounding communities to enjoy.
Alta House Event Center welcomes celebrations with up to 250 guests while maintaining an air of spaciousness. Dana and Curtis want to create as much joy as possible for you on your special day. This venue is available for weekend-long wedding events. Starting on Friday afternoon, you are granted access to the great room, upper deck, and the garden patio. A get-ready room in a private apartment is also available for the wedding party to use. The great room and patio are both available to hold your wedding events, depending on whether you have envisioned an indoor or outdoor wedding. The subtle water feature on the patio provides a gentle accompaniment to any ceremony held outside. The house and grounds are ideally appointed for memorable wedding photos, with plenty of trees and landscaping to enjoy.
Woman-owned Business
Pricing details
Starting prices
Reception:
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Ceremony:
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Bar services:
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Catering:
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Starting prices don't include service fees, taxes, gratuity, and rental fees. Guest count and seasonality may also affect prices. Peak season for this venue is May-Oct.
Amenities + details
Amenities
Ceremony Area
Covered Outdoors Space
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
On-Site Accommodations
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Ceremony Types
Civil Union
Commitment Ceremony
Elopement
Interfaith Ceremony
Non-Religious Ceremony
Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Settings
Backyard
Ballroom
Barn
Farm & Ranch
Estate
Garden
Industrial & Warehouse
Trees
Venue Service Offerings
Bar & Drinks
Bar Rental
Destination Weddings
Destination Wedding Packages
Planning
Rentals & Equipment
Service Staff
Transportation
Shuttle Service
Any questions?
Meet the team
Dana and Curtis VanGilder
Owners
The name Alta House stems from owner, Dana VanGilder’s, Grandma Alta Nelson. Alta was a 6 foot tall Danish farmer’s wife. When choosing a name and home for the event center, the discussion centered around descriptions for a home on a tall hill. The logo designer suggested Alta House without knowing that was Dana’s beloved Grandmother’s name! Choosing the Alta House name also helped to determine the decor’ theme and is an ode to parents, grandparents and their Iowa heritage.
It took nearly two years to complete the Alta House reconstruction. Dana and Curtis VanGilder are grateful to all the construction companies and their employees for making their dreams a reality.
The goal was to purchase a much needed event center that combines convenience and location with style and charm to serve the Central Iowa communities. Come on over, take a tour and see for yourself… mission accomplished!
Reviews
5.0
out of 5.07 reviews
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Sidney M
Highlighted review.
5.0
6/22/2021
My husband and I were married at the Alta House May 29th 2021. Upon first arrival we were skeptical but the moment you walk in the door you are transported to a BEAUTIFUL venue. This place is so impressive. They have an extensive "borrow closet" so say goodbye to spending ungodly amounts of money on decor. Oh, and feel free to decorate this place HOWEVER you want to. Only rule, don't damage anything. This is your blank canvas. On top of all of this, Phoebe and Jessie are amazing. Your contract says they aren't "wedding planners" or "day-of-coordinators", but these women went out of their way to make sure my day was perfect and everything was taken care of. Contacting my vendor when an issue raised its ugly head, and helping decorate with my wonderful family and friends. They were gracious when I didn't fill out their planner, didn't bat an eye, and took the time to pour over my details with me. Schedule a tour, and book this baby. Thank you Phoebe, Jessie, and Dana. From the bottom of my heart.
response 06/23/2021
Oh my goodness Sidney and Josh thank you so much for these kind words. It's weddings with ...
people like you and your family, that makes all the hard work worth it! Not only did you transform our venue but you also invited some of the fun, down-to-earth, good-hearted people. That made our Wedding Weekend a breeze and so enjoyable. Thank you for letting us be a part of such an exciting and enjoyable wedding, definitely miss you all already! Love The Alta House Family.
Brianne B
5.0
2/15/2025
There is not enough words to describe how perfect this venue is. Phoebe helped with everything from planning to decorating to serving and having us for several meetings to get everything perfect. She has laid out documents and planners to make sure planning was done stress free. Rachel helped make sure the ceremony ran smoothly and the rest of the decor was laid out perfectly. Every single staff member was so kind and helpful. Our wedding day went so smoothly from the ceremony to dinner to the reception and it was the best day ever. Every room in the venue is so gorgeous and I love that there was a spot for the guys to get ready as well as a bridal suite. We got so many compliments about how beautiful the venue was. Most of our decor came from the borrow closet which is a huge money/life saver. Most of our decor was set up when we got there we just added in some small personalizations. The bar was open to any requests we had and the bar staff was absolutely amazing as well. I will forever be so grateful for chose the Alta house. I would recommend this venue to anyone.
Any questions?
Typhanie S
5.0
1/08/2025
We had to cancel our first venue and so we thought it was a long shot to get a new venue 5 months before the day! We were so stressed, but when we met with Phoebe she put our minds at ease. She has such a bright and bubbly personality. The venue was beautiful! It has a bridal suite and it has a groom's cabin both have sleeping options for your wedding party! They have a huge borrowed closet to help plan your day! They met with me so many times because I was a mess haha. They never led on that they were tired of me and they always made me feel special. They were so incredible to work with and they made our day so amazing! We got the wedding weekend package so we decorated on Friday had the wedding on Saturday and then organized and packed up on Sunday. The Alta house crew stayed up super late tearing all the decorations down and making our Sunday so easy! Phoebe, Maria, Rachel, and Kristen were so incredible! They simply helped make the day it was!
Megan W
5.0
5/07/2024
Such a great experience! Phoebe goes above and beyond to make sure your day is everything you want. We had the best day and the venue is gorgeous!
Sarah C
5.0
5/24/2021
I honestly cannot say enough good things about this venue! Phoebe and Jessie were SO helpful during the whole process. I was able to visit the venue several times and Phoebe helped me put together my center pieces about a month before to help the weekend go smoothly. She was always ready to answer any questions I had throughout the year of planning. We got the weekend wedding package and it was so nice to have the venue for the whole weekend and to have carl's cabin and the bridal salon. There were some unexpected changes about a week before the wedding but they were handled by Phoebe and the other staff very smoothly. Phoebe and Jesse were also so helpful during the wedding weekend, so easy to get along with and overall very nice, funny, bubbly and resourceful. I would highly recommend this venue and staff and would have my wedding there again. The guests also really enjoyed the venue! Also, the shuttle they provided for our hotel guests was great, and we had a small issue with our caterer being late and Phoebe handled it right away.
response 05/24/2021
Sarah and Zack, where do we even start! It was an absolute pleasure to be a part of one of...
the biggest days of your life! Seeing the both of you up on our ceremony stage saying your vows brought us to tears! Every single one of your family members on both sides where so easy to get along with, made us feel like family to. Thank you for trusting the Alta House Event Center for your #weddingweekend it was and honor and a privilege- Alta House Crew
Hannah R
5.0
12/08/2020
We had our wedding at Alta House on October 30th, and I cannot sing their praises enough. We booked them before everything was finished (the patio area, sound system, lighting, etc.), and we were delighted that everything was finished on time and turned out even better than we imagined. Jill and Phoebe went above and beyond before our day and during, and were so supportive and creative and an absolute joy to work with. I 100% recommend booking with Alta House if you want a beautiful basically all-inclusive venue, conveniently stocked with decor and other items for your use, and a very helpful staff. It was an amazing experience to have our perfect day at Alta House.
response 12/08/2020
Hannah we were so blessed to be a part of your beautiful day. We enjoyed getting to know ...
you and Lucas and your lovely families. It was a celebration of love we'll always remember. Thank you for your kind words! Jill
Brittany M
5.0
5/17/2020
Great people to work with! Very friendly and helpful! Beautiful space!
response 05/18/2020
Brittany, We are so honored you and Ben chose our venue. We couldn't be more excited to ...
work with you to make your Wedding Weekend SUPER Special!
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Dana and Curtis VanGilder
OWNERS
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