Surety Hotel

Des Moines' premier wedding venue, Surety Hotel

Des Moines, IA

Holds ceremonies and receptions

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OfferExpires on 10/24/2026

Winter Wedding Promo (January/February 2027)

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Aleah Anderson

SENIOR CATERING MANAGER

AWARD WINNER (1X)

Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot

Start your story at Surety! Experience is high on the list for your event, from the cuisine to the ballroom ambiance, every touch will be an elevated experience for you and your guests. With that in mind, we personalize everything by working with you one-on-one to ensure its truly YOUR wedding ... not one that fits every couple but catered to YOU. Surety Hotel was founded in the city’s old Midland Building. Also known as the Southern Surety Building, it was one of the first skyscrapers to grace the skyline of Des Moines, cementing its iconic status in the story of the city. It was built in the Beaux-Arts style of architecture for an elaborate and instantly recognizable look. The Polk County Courthouse is nearby, alongside many other city highlights. Although the building has its foundations in the world of insurance, it has seamlessly transitioned to hospitality. Purposeful design features were added to showcase the history including green tile, green exit signs and copper accents, a nod to currency. Surety Hotel offers 3 unique spaces, the Surety Ballroom, Solarium and Midland Room. Capacity levels range from 40 guests all the way to 150 guests. Throughout the event spaces you’ll find distinctive artwork, exposed brick, and rich tones abound for a luxurious feel. If you and your loved ones want to continue the experience, this property features 137 guest rooms. Plan your tour today to see what all the excitement is about at Des Moines' newest venue, the Surety Hotel Des Moines. See you soon and congratulations.

6+ years in business

Speaks English, Spanish

Small team (2-10 members)

Amenities + details

Amenities

Ceremony Area

Dressing Room

Handicap Accessible

Indoor Event Space

Liability Insurance

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

Ballroom

Historic Venue

Hotel

Restaurant

Venue Service Offerings

Bar & Drinks

Cakes & Desserts

Other Desserts

Food & Catering

Service Staff

Awards and Affiliations

Any questions?

Meet the team

Aleah Anderson

Senior Catering Manager

Congratulations on your engagement! My name is Aleah Anderson, and I am the Senior Catering Manager at Surety Hotel. If an unforgettable day is high on your priority list, look no further! We will team up with you every step of the way whether it's during the booking process, food tasting, or on the day of your wedding, our favorite word is "YES!" if it means making your wedding vision a reality. We would love to host you!

4.8

out of 5.0

14 reviews

Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Review Summary

This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.

The Surety Hotel is described as an exceptional wedding venue with a dedicated and accommodating team. Reviewers were impressed by the outstanding communication, seamless coordination with event planners, beautiful spaces for each wedding event, and delicious food from Mulberry Street Tavern. The staff, including Aleah, Megan, Sergio, and Tori, received high praise for their professionalism, attentiveness, and helpfulness throughout the planning process and on the wedding day. Guests appreciated the stunning ceremony location in the Solarium and the breathtaking views from the Marchande Suite, making the Surety Hotel highly recommended for future events.

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Amee D

1/10/2026

If I could give this place more than five stars I would. This was a destination wedding that I tried to coordinate from the East Coast. The reservations specialist was so accommoda...

ting she even FaceTime so I could see what the rooms look like in real life. The events manager was there with suggestions and adjustments without any complaint. When I told her I’ve never heard of a Scotcharoo she brought me out a sample immediately to taste. Communication was above and beyond via email, text phone, etc. The reception staff was so pleasant with my guests and helping us out out of staters get settled for our big weekend. The staff there worked seamlessly with our event planner and made everything so beautiful. It was just perfect.

Hannah P

10/16/2025

The Surety Hotel, truly exceptional. Where do I even begin? This was an absolutely remarkable place to stay and celebrate our wedding. The staff, chef, catering team, front desk, a...

nd event staff all went above and beyond to make our day more special than we could have ever imagined. From the very first tour, we knew The Surety was “the one.” Every interaction — from the initial planning stages to the final farewell, and even beyond — was marked by genuine kindness, professionalism, and exceptional hospitality. If you’re looking for a venue that combines elegance, warmth, and a true feeling of home, The Surety Hotel is the perfect choice.

Response from Surety Hotel on 11/20/2025

We truly had such a wonderful time working with both of you! Thank you for trusting us wit...

h such a special day. We hope to have you back here soon for a celebratory cocktail!

Any questions?

Anna B

10/07/2025

I cannot recommend the Surety enough. First of all, it’s absolutely stunning, and the spaces they have for every wedding event are perfect. Secondly, I can’t say enough good words ...

about Megan and the team there. Throughout the entire process they were extremely helpful and accommodating. Day of the wedding, I had 0 worries about how it would go because of how well their team prepares and answers questions. If you book the surety you will not be disappointed!!

Response from Surety Hotel on 11/20/2025

Thank you for sharing about your experience at Surety, and an even bigger thank you for tr...

usting our team with your special day! We are so lucky to have been part of it! - Surety Team

Anne E

9/29/2025

Beautiful venue and event better team! From the moment I booked with Aleah last year, I knew we made the right decision for our event. Megan in sales made the planning process fu...

n & easy and Sergio banquet team are the BEST in the biz. We will definitely be back for future events!

Response from Surety Hotel on 11/20/2025

Anne!! We SO appreciate the kind words. We are so glad we got to be part of your special d...

ay + would absolutely love to have you back at Surety soon!

Peyton H

9/25/2025

Our wedding day itself was beautiful—the space was perfect, the food was great, and the on-site staff went above and beyond to make sure everything ran smoothly. They are the only ...

reason this isn’t a 1-star review. Everything leading up to the wedding, however, was an absolute nightmare. Communication with the event coordinator, Megan, was terrible. She was slow to respond (often only after multiple follow-ups) and disorganized throughout the process. The worst part was the accounting—it was flat-out wrong. When we got our catering bill, we were being overcharged by nearly $1,000. If we hadn’t gone through the invoice line by line and done the math ourselves, it would have slipped through. Even after we pointed out the errors, she doubled down until we literally sent her copies of our receipts. To make things worse, they charged our credit card for the bar bill before we approved the final numbers, and added fees that hadn't been disclosed on the catering bill before the wedding. It was stressful, unprofessional, and not what you expect when you’re paying this much for a venue. If you have a planner who can run interference with Megan, you’ll probably be fine (so long as they know to check the accounting). But if you’re managing the process yourself, be prepared to fight for accurate billing and to triple-check everything. The day-of team is excellent, but the planning process was so frustrating that I struggle to recommend this venue without serious caveats. The venue is too good to have the planning side held back by poor coordination and sloppy accounting.

Olivia G

2/06/2025

Surety hotel was absolutely amazing for our big day! They had such a dedication and commitment to make our day the one of our dreams. From last minute changes to logistic alteratio...

ns, they made the day as stress free as possible. The pictures turned out absolutely amazing too! Everyone was just amazing to work with and made our big day that much more amazing. 11/10 recommend booking!

Response from Surety Hotel on 11/20/2025

We absolutely loved working with you and making your wedding vision come to life! Thank yo...

u for allowing us to be part of your big day! - Surety Team

Victoria N

5/14/2024

We had our wedding at the Surety in March and we had such a great experience with them. Tori was very professional and always quick to respond with any questions we had (even the l...

ast minute ones!) We had our ceremony in the Solarium which was absolutely breathtaking. Our guests kept complimenting how beautiful the space was. The bridal party got ready in the Marchande Suite which has the most amazing view of downtown Des Moines. The food from Mulberry Street Tavern was absolutely perfect, from the appetizers to the main meal. I can't recommend the Surety highly enough!

Response from Surety Hotel on 05/15/2024

Thank you so much. We are so happy you made the choice to join us at the Surety for your ...

special day and so thrilled it was what you had dreamed of. Congratulations and we look forward to seeing you back with us on your 1st anniversary.

Adrienne B

3/10/2023

We got married at the Surety a few weeks ago and it is an absolutely beautiful and a stunning venue. The service from Sergio and his team was wonderful. Everyone was so friendly an...

d helpful and really made sure our day ran very smoothly. The servers even brought some of the appetizers out to us while we were having our photos taken during the cocktail hour which was just so sweet of them. The hotel housekeeping is extremely helpful and accommodating and the hotel beds are super comfy and if I could steal one, I would. :) We did have a small billing issue after the wedding was over, but the team at the Surety worked with me and it was resolved in a timely manner. They went above and beyond every step and we are so happy we had our wedding there.

Kim c

10/07/2021

We held our daughters wedding at the Surety where the bridal party got ready in the Marchande Suite, groomsmen in the Hippee Board Room, ceremony was in the solarium, cocktail hour...

in the courtyard, dinner/dance in the ballroom, and bon voyage brunch in the solarium, and absolutely everything was perfect. Honestly, there was not one thing I would have changed about the weekend. Because of our experience planning and working with the team prior to the wedding, we knew the Surety would do a fantastic job and we knew the team at the Surety would be phenomenal in such a personal, friendly, comfortable way, and they exceeded all of our expectations! I say comfortable because ever since we stepped foot in the Surety, even back when we had to wear hard hats to visit, this hotel has felt like a home away from home. It’s a beautiful, breathtaking place that could easily feel intimidating, stuffy, and uncomfortable, but it’s the opposite, it’s beauty is matched by the team behind the scenes who made us feel so special and so welcome in every interaction we had with them, but most importantly during the wedding weekend. We plan to continue to visit often and the Surety will always hold a special spot in our hearts. Weirdly we feel part of it’s start and are so proud of how successful the Surety team has made it. We especially thank Tara for everything she did for us throughout the wedding planning and all the personal touches. It truly meant the world to us.

Shelby M

9/26/2021

The Surety Hotel was a dream come true for us! The staff at the Surety's professionalism sold us on the venue before construction was even finished. Chef Marque at the Mulberry Str...

eet Tavern and his excellent menu ideas were what sold us on our very foodie wedding. We loved having so much variety and quality in the food we offered for our guests. Taylor and Tara worked with us for each step of our event, which included the ceremony in the solarium, a cocktail hour in the courtyard, and the reception in the ballroom. One of my favorite details was them helping us to customize the open bar with batches of our favorite cocktails and letting me choose some of my favorite, local craft beers. Throughout the process, the Surety Hotel was transparent and fair in its pricing. The hotel itself is absolutely beautiful, so beautiful that we took all of our wedding photos there. The suites/rooms are gorgeous and it was wonderful to have guests be able to retire upstairs whenever they were ready. We had multiple guests express how much they loved the hotel. The event staff, led by Sergio, were efficient and kind. Every step of the way, there was someone from the Surety Hotel to support us. We are so grateful for the Surety Hotel! We highly recommend them for any event.

Joelle V

9/17/2021

Our wedding reception at Surety Hotel was absolutely perfect! The venue is chic and beautiful - an ideal setting for celebrating with friends and family. Each space at the hotel p...

layed an important role in our big day. The Suite Marchande was the perfect space for getting ready, the solarium was a beautiful backdrop for our first look and cocktail hour, the hotel lobby was a wonderful gathering space throughout the entire weekend, the courtyard and patio were enjoyed by guests all night long, and the ballroom completely blew away our expectations. Beyond these stunning spaces, the service at Surety is what made our experience truly exceptional. From the time we first toured the space until the wedding night, Tara was there each step of the way. She made us feel incredibly special and worked with us and our vendors to create the day of our dreams! Tara's willingness to go above and beyond is unmatched. I will ALWAYS recommend Surety as one of the best venues in Des Moines!

Alivia H

6/16/2021

Our original venue canceled on us 2 months before our wedding. (The surety had not opened yet when we booked our first location). Tara at the surety hotel went above and beyond to ...

make our day perfect. The day was seem-less and I knew everything was being taken care of. I can not say enough good about the surety hotel. I would recommend every bride to take a look at the surety- you are sure to fall in love the second you walk in the door.

Response from Surety Hotel on 06/16/2021

It was a true pleasure to work with you both and assist after the challenges you both have...

faced. We wish you nothing but the best and hope to see you back at the Surety/Mulberry Street Tavern for dinners, drinks and your anniversary. Congratulations!

Amy H

1/26/2021

Look no further! The Surety Hotel is absolutely breathtaking! We stayed here on our wedding night and were completely blown away. We had an unbeatable view of the courthouse buildi...

ng that made our stay that much more special. Pre-COVID we had blocked a bunch of rooms off, and they were so flexible and helpful when we had to cancel that due to reducing our wedding guest list. Their venue space is so beautiful, especially if you want a ceremony in their Atrium. It is STUNNING and you won't find anything like it in the area. Tara was amazing to work with, and so was every other staff member we encountered. Highly recommend you contact the Surety for all things wedding!

Jason C

1/08/2021

As a wedding photographer myself, I've seen hundreds of wedding venues throughout the country and I can't shout the praises of Surety Hotel's space enough! The solarium is an absol...

ute show stopper, so beautiful! Surety's suites and rehearsal dinner spaces are also unreal. I think it's pretty easy to walk into Surety in downtown Des Moines and realize there's no venue with such a great vibe in the area. What is a little harder to tell when searching for the perfect venue online, is customer service side of things. Surety's staff has been AMAZING from start to finish. Tara has worked tirelessly with us to make sure that our day is perfect. Chef Marque and JC have made unique to us cocktails and menu items that speak to specific things we love. Everyone knows us by name, goes out of their way to greet us whenever we stop in for dinner at Mulberry Street Tavern and genuinely makes us feel like a part of their family. Having the right vibe from your wedding vendors is crucial to the day, and this is absolutely Surety's biggest strength. Give Tara a call and schedule a walk through, you'll see what I mean!

Service area & Contact info

206 6th Avenue, Des Moines, IA

Open map

(515) 978-0092

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Surety Hotel

Aleah Anderson

Senior Catering Manager

Surety Hotel's photos

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Surety Hotel

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Review Summary

Service area & Contact info

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