201-250 guest capacity
This venue can host up to 250 guests
About this vendor
Located in Ames, IA on the Iowa State University campus, the Iowa State University Alumni Center is a grand and timeless wedding venue. Equally proud of their history and their team, the Cyclones, the center flaunts large banquet halls and elegant gardens, all lightly decorated with tasteful ISU-inspired art. The building and grounds alike provide a spacious and stately location for hosting nuptials.
The Iowa State University Alumni Center was built in 2008 by the college’s Alumni Association as a space for people to come together, making it a fitting place to host your wedding. Constructed with a traditional brick and mortar style, the building and grounds have a storied feel, a reflection of the association’s rich history. Seeped in campus tradition, this center has a timelessness that gives it a nod toward the romantic.
Boasting the grandeur of academic halls and understated ballrooms, the Iowa State University Alumni Center offers a classic setting for ceremonies and receptions. Outside are gardens and lofty trees for those seeking a more nature-centered event. Massive windows delicately sectioned by metal beams allow natural light to pour in, creating a cathedral-esque and warm atmosphere. A plus to this location is the opportunity for individualization, the brick walls and white halls providing a blank slate for couples to create their vision through their decor.
For wedding planning ease, ISU Alumni Center offers a number of packages and event planning services. A versatile center, they offer access to ready rooms, WiFi and indoor and outdoor spaces. In addition, as a multipurpose site, couples can host the rehearsal dinner, ceremony, reception, and more here. Clients can choose from a list of approved caterers, helping the pair narrow down savory options to fuel their big night. For outdoor locales, couples can choose from a number of gardens designed with events in mind, such as the Eggerling ISU Traditions Garden. The Reiman Ballroom can host up to 250 guests, making this an ideal location for large weddings. Packages include white linens and chair covers, setup and breakdown services, and event staff, so this campus location feels polished and upscale.
Amenities + details
Ceremony Area
Covered Outdoors Space
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Liability Insurance
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
On-Site Accommodations
Ceremony Types
- Civil Union
- Commitment Ceremony
- Interfaith Ceremony
- Non-Religious Ceremony
- Religious Ceremony
- Second Wedding
Guest Capacity
- Up to 250
Settings
- Ballroom
- Estate
- Garden
- Historic Venue
- Museum
- Tented
Venue Service Offerings
- Planning
- Rentals & Equipment
- Service Staff
Reviews
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5
out of 5.024 reviews
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We met with Lauren and she did an amazing job explaining how everything is going to work. They handle any day of complications and coordinate with your vendors. They also help set up decor and tables/chairs. Amazing amenities!
Not only is the Alumni Center a beautiful place to have a wedding reception but they are also super helpful and friendly! They kept us up to date with changes, were flexible to our needs and helped with any day-of problems that came up efficiently and without hassle. Would definitely recommend!
The Alumni Center was absolutely amazing! Angela and her crew day of were incredible and I did not have a single sense of worry/anxiety at all because of it. Angela was great about meeting with us prior to our day (both with me and my now husband and also my mom) and was great about answering all of my questions, seeing my vision, and making it happen! The venue is so reasonably priced and I truly believe they went above and beyond what they needed to to make the day as perfect as ever. We basically paid for a day of coordinator included with the venue price with how well the team worked to make things go flawlessly prior to and day of. I was even able to get a food cart that was not previously approved to serve our late night snack. We had a winter wedding, so that was an added bonus that the whole venue was already decorated with lights, garland, ribbon, and evergreens. I cannot emphasize enough how fantastic our experience was! They made our day everything we wanted and more! Thank you Angela and everyone!
We had a fantastic experience at the ISU Alumni Center. Bry and her staff were incredibly kind and helpful. She took care of everything and kept us on schedule. We would recommend the ISU Alumni Center to anyone looking for a wedding ceremony and/or reception venue. The building is beautiful, and both being ISU alumni, my husband and I loved the ISU décor and charm. Our wedding day was perfect and it was all thanks to Bry and her staff!
We had a great experience using the Alumni center for our wedding. Bry, the alumni center wedding coordinator, did a fantastic job scheduling and dealing with all our vendors. Once we picked them, she basically took care of the rest.
As for the venue itself, it was perfect. We got married on site in the fenced in courtyard area west of the building, and both the banquet hall and ceremony space were excellent locations. Besides the banquet hall, the reception space includes a bar space outside the banquet room as well as an exterior terrace. Utilizing the different spaces was a great experience and gave guests the ability to have quieter, more relaxing areas to gather and chat.
Prior to the wedding, two rooms were set up for the wedding party to get ready in on site, which was a nice touch and gave the wedding party space to gather and store their belongings during the day.
Surprising to us, the Alumni Center was actually one of the cheaper venues in the Ames/Ankeny/Des Moines area that we could find.
Overall, I can't imagine our wedding being held anywhere else. It was the perfect location throughout the entire day. From gathering and getting ready, pictures, the ceremony, and then the reception, the location and staff were excellent.
The Alumni Center and its staff easily gets our recommendation.
We loved using the Alumni Center for our daughter's wedding venue. We worked with Bry, who was amazingly helpful and patient. I was very impressed by the level of service that she and her staff offer. Bry coordinated everything for us - the catering, the band, the rehearsal, the ceremony processional and timeline, the reception timeline, etc. - it was by far the easiest wedding planning that I have ever experienced (and with multiple daughters, I've had a lot of experience!) Our wedding was intended to be outdoors in the garden, but the weather had other ideas. No worries - the staff quickly set up for an indoor ceremony and the whole day went as smoothly as if it had been planned that way! I highly recommend the Alumni Center to anyone looking for a beautiful venue and an experienced and capable staff. Fantastic experience!
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. We had our wedding this past Saturday and everything was so perfect. The staff was so well organized and handled everything for us. They set up all the decorations and handled all the vendors the day of. My bustle broke and Bry worked with my bridesmaids to fix it. They made sure everything ran smoothly and kept everything under control. There was so many things that went wrong that I never knew of until the next day because they took care of it all and fixed it. The venue is absolutely amazing and beautiful. I can’t recommend them enough !
I can honestly say the staff at the Iowa State Alumni Center made our day so amazing and unforgettable! No need to hire a wedding planner with this venue. They have an amazing coordinator named Brooke and interns from the college that are there every step of the way. Once I had my "day of" meeting with Brooke, she and the staff made sure that everything was on time and the guests/vendors/wedding party were where they needed to be. I didn't have to worry about a thing and was able to have the most carefree time with my husband and loved ones. The price is completely worth the money as they did all of my decorating(with my own items) and have their own things they set up as well(lighted backdrop for example). You also can have the ceremony and reception at the center and there's even a rain backup inside, which we used and I was incredibly thankful for it! I could go on and on about this place, but you should really see for yourself! THANK YOU SO MUCH ALUMNI CENTER!
Is it possible to fall in love with a venue? Because after having my wedding at the Alumni Center I absolutely believe it’s possible.
We chose to do a morning ceremony and a brunch reception, so I was looking for a venue that would be able to accommodate a slightly non-traditional wedding. We had both at the Alumni Center. The staff did a FLAWLESS job! Seriously, I had no stress throughout the whole process. Everything ran smoothly from beginning to end. Our event planner Bry was amazing to work with. She was so easy to get ahold of and quick to answer any questions or concerns I had. We had originally planned for an outdoor ceremony, and ended up moving it indoors a few days before due to the weather forecast. That caused no problem at all! The staff took care of EVERYTHING (coordinated day-of schedule of events with my other vendors, set up the room including decor I dropped off, made sure the bridal party was where they needed to be, assisted my guests with parking, seating, buffet line, etc.) We recieved so many compliments from our guests on the venue as a whole, including flow of events, professionalism of the staff and beauty of the building. I felt like all I had to do was show up and enjoy my wedding! Highly recommend using this venue.
We had our ceremony and reception at the Alumni Center and couldn't be happier with Brooke and the staff! They were very responsive throughout the process and were patient with the many questions I had :)
Not only were they great throughout the planning, but they helped coordinate with the rest of the vendors and made sure our day went as smoothly as possible. At the end of the night, we got many compliments about how smoothly the day went and we know we couldn't have done it without the help of the Alumni Center!
We held our wedding reception in the Reiman Ballroom, and had a wonderful experience working with the Alumni Center and its staff! Our reception was as perfect as we could have imagined! Throughout our wedding planning process and the reception, the staff was very easy to get a hold of, answered all our questions, accommodated our needs and wants, and their experience was very evident as they were able to guide us through our planning and coordinating. Not to mention, the space is absolutely beautiful inside and out, full of memorabilia to compliment my husband's and my love of Iowa State and add some fun and character to the space. We loved that we were able to drop off our decorations the day before the wedding for storage overnight, and the staff was helpful in coordinating and organizing this drop-off. When our designated decorators arrived the morning of the wedding, the ballroom was all set up with tables, chairs, and linens according to the seating arrangement we decided upon, and the staff assisted throughout the decorating. We were impressed with the extra work the staff did for us during our reception, including dismissing tables for dinner, clearing tables, and tearing down the tables and chairs at the end of the night - all our families were responsible for were ensuring the space was free of trash and taking home all personal decor that we had brought. I would highly recommend this venue for your wedding if you love Iowa State and are looking for a classy venue with extra touches to make your planning and wedding day stress-free!
The Alumni Center was a great place to have our wedding and reception! Even when things changed with our catering, they worked with us to make sure everything worked out. The building is beautiful and all of the people work hard to make sure everything is exactly how you want it. They were there for the rehearsal as well as all day for the wedding. I couldn't imagine having my wedding any other place!
We couldn't have been happier with using the Alumni Center as our reception venue. They made planning so easy, and I didn't have to worry about anything the day of the wedding. Awesome staff and great location!
The Alumni center is a beautiful venue and worked great for our wedding and reception. They have indoor and outdoor ceremony venues, and a great reception hall. The staff was also amazing, working with us from the day we booked (a year and a half out) up through the wedding night. They even provide a lot of the equipment (tables, linens, chairs, etc.) and help with set-up and tear-down.
Overall great experience!
The ISUAC staff and facilities were top notch. If I could give more than five stars I would. From day 1, Angela, Brooke and the team were by our side helping us plan our perfect day. They helped coordinated between all the vendors, ensured every detail was perfect and looked into any last minute rentals or late night frantic questions we had. The facilities were gorgeous and lent itself to beautiful photos all day. The staff was professional and courteous, even when having to deal with one or two unruly guests. Having Angela be our point of contact on the day of put me at such ease, I don't think I was actually nervous at all the day leading up to the wedding and the day of the wedding. Everything about the alumni center is worth every penny from the staff, to the vendors, to the building, to the parking. And having Angela reassuring us along the way was better than any wedding planner we could have ever asked for! Thank you so much, you guys made everything so easy! I'd almost be crazy enough to want to do it all again! ;)
We were so happy with our decision to have our small, intimate wedding ceremony at the Alumni Center. We were pleased from the start with the amount of services and resources shared with us from and through our planning process. Brooke had a great line of communication open with us and made sure our needs were being met with our unique small wedding. Brooke was available the day of and answered any question and helped us through making our event perfect for us. The venue was beautiful and wouldn’t change a thing! The price was very reasonable. Thank you for all of your help in making our day special! We would choose this location all over again and recommend this venue to others!
We absolutely love(d) our decision to host our wedding reception at the Alumni Center. From the very beginning, we were greeted with useful resources, recommendations for additional vendors to utilize, and (most importantly) mindful coordinators that were willing to go above and beyond what they are paid to do! Brooke made sure to check in with us frequently to gather information for the day of and offered insight into useful tips for myself/our wedding party. On the day of the wedding, I knew I was in good hands and didn't have to call to check in a million times. She didn't even bother me with any small inquiries- instead, she made sure I had a day-of contact so I could relax and enjoy my special day... An amazing feeling to have on your big day!! The hall was absolutely beautiful, contracted vendors were more than accommodating, and Brooke was so so so helpful throughout the day. She made sure all then vendors were on the same page and in sync for when we arrived and were ready to be announced. All in all, I would choose the Alumni Center a million times over if I had the choice. The pricing was excellent and they offered a ton of room for all of our guests. Thank you to the Alumni Center and to Brooke for everything!!!!
The Vans
I am a very detail-oriented bride, almost to the point of obsessive. I need to have all the details planned out, what will happen when, who is where at what time, what needs to be where, etc.
Working with the staff at the ISU Alumni Center was a dream! They were incredibly professional, gave suggestions if I got stuck (only child and first marriage on my side) and made sure everything went as planned. Brooke was fantastic, especially. The staff emails you a timeline after you meet with them to talk about it, then emails it to vendors so everyone is in the loop! The Alumni Center sets up and provides all the chairs, tables, linens, and allows you to use any of the decorations they have available (wooden pillars, plush chairs, couches, etc). They connect with vendors about set up times, make sure everything is where you want it and answer any questions vendors have about the venue.
The staff was on top of it and communicated with my mom and the bridal party the day of if anything came up so I didn't have to worry about little stuff.
It's like a quarterback knowing he's got the entire offensive line to handle anything that comes his way. Couldn't have pulled this wedding off so beautifully without the staff at the Alumni Center!
The choice to have our wedding ceremony and reception at the Iowa State University Alumni Center was simple. When we saw the all-inclusive nature of the venue, in addition to the easy-to-find location, plenty of parking, and on-site staff for the day, the decision was made. Leading up to our wedding, the ISUAC staff was very helpful, asking all the right questions, offering recommendations if asked, and providing us with the information we needed to get all our planning done (table seating charts in advance, ceremony layout, etc). The staff at ISUAC is absolutely incredible. They are extremely knowledgeable about events (especially weddings!) and do everything they can to help you and your wedding party. Our wedding was fantastic and so many of our guests complimented the venue choice for different reasons. We would choose the ISUAC all over again if we had to. You will not be disappointed in their quality of services and venue!
The event staff really helped me stay organized and ask questions that I hadn't thought of. I trusted their opinions and the reception turned out perfectly! I got some great pictures there as well. It is expensive but I would not think of having our reception anywhere else in the area.
I had my wedding ceremony at the alumni center a week ago. I absolutely LOVED it! The wedding coordinator and staff were amazing, extremely organized, professional, and went above and beyond my expectations! I highly recommend this venue! Simple, beautiful, and excellent staff! My wedding day went perfectly and much credit goes to the coordinator & staff of Iowa State University Alumni Center.
We had our wedding reception here.The staff was very easy to work with, thorough, and friendly. Definitely recommend!
This facility is beautiful! I can't imagine a more perfect venue for our wedding reception. Lexi and Angela were a joy to work with - always accommodating and always willing to work with you, or give you ideas on what they've done in the past. Loved my experience with them!
We had our wedding ceremony at the Iowa State Alumni Center in the Reiman Ball Room and it was perfect. The Alumni Center staff were beyond helpful. They attended rehearsal the night before and took notes so they were prepared to help facilitate the wedding ceremony. They went above and beyond, we had Alumni Staff pinning on boutonnieres, running the music for the ceremony and coordinating our entrances so that my husband and I did not see each other before the ceremony. I can't say enough about how attentive they were to every detail and any requests we had. They were very friendly and made sure everything ran smoothly on our wedding day. The ballroom was gorgeous and was an amazing setting for our ceremony. Everything went smoothly and I would definitely recommend the Iowa State Alumni Center!
Contact
429 Alumni Lane, Ames, IA
ISU Alumni Center
ISU Alumni Center's photos