Confluence Brewing Company

The Night Before

Rollins Mansion

Wedding Day

In Confidence

After Party

Fall

Our Wedding

Our Journey

Photos

"Porter" & Riley became besties on the first day of 4th grade at a Wendy's & never looked back! They bonded over their mutual love of sports, fishing, & Harry Potter. Also known as Beans & Scooter, they did everything together all the way through high school & even roomed together at Dobson Hall at Truman State! Now, Riley lives in St. Louis, MO and is the best history teacher around. She enjoys traveling & golfing over her summers off from school. Meet the MOH & one of your MC's for the big night...Riley! 

Riley Keltner

Carson recruited Kody to Beta Theta Pi Fraternity at Truman in the Fall of 2013 & they've been buds & brothers ever since. Through cross-country moves & new jobs, these two have remained close. You may find Carson playing pranks on Kody in his spare time, and in the same breath the two will talk business & life goals to no end. Kody is now back living in downtown Kansas City, MO & works for Microsoft. During down time Kody loves traveling, working out & enjoying good food/drinks. Meet your other MC for the big night...Kody!

Kody Henning

Wedding Party

Q + A

Step back into history and celebrate the return of an icon, where worldly wanderers gather and visionaries find inspiration. Stay where celebrities like Elvis and Johnny Cash once stayed before taking the stage at sold out shows. Where John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson once ate&nbsp;dinner&nbsp;and met on domestic policy. Founded in&nbsp;1919&nbsp;to rival the greatest hotels of the era, Hotel Fort Des Moines is a&nbsp;perfectly preserved landmark where history is both celebrated and made. *In order to get the wedding room block discount, please enter the code 911 in the group code field, which is found under the special rates button! Guests should book by September 10th, 2025 to get the discounted rate. You can also call (515) 528-7733 and book over the phone, mentioning Carson and Kelsey's last names. Parking: Guests can valet for $36/night or self park in the nationwide parking garage, located at 1100 Walnut St. The cost of this parking garage is $10/day.

Hotel Fort Des Moines, Curio Collection by Hilton

In a past life, the Surety Hotel&nbsp;was an office building for insurance companies, something the city of Des Moines, IA is known for. Now the midcentury-modern hotel features well-appointed rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook downtown, tiled walk-in showers, a fabulous restaurant off the lobby and swanky vibes all around.

Surety Hotel

Travel

Gray's Lake is one of our favorite parks in the Des Moines area! The paved trail around the lake is almost exactly 2 miles &amp; one of our favorite views of downtown Des Moines.

Gray's Lake Park

One of our favorite meals in Greater DSM is the drunken noodles at Lucky Lotus on Ingersoll! It's right across the street from our favorite burger place, Lachelle's, and just down from Cheese Bar...another great spot! If you're looking for a delicious handcrafted cocktail before or after dinner, stop by the Bartender's Handshake.

Lucky Lotus

This is probably our favorite brewery in Greater DSM...which says A LOT! Barn Town may be in a strip of businesses in the suburbs, but it is anything but ordinary. The funky spins they do on craft beer are amazing and their food is delicious. Even if you don't typically enjoy sour beers, still be sure to give this place a chance. It is worth the drive to West Des Moines while you're in town, trust us!

Barn Town Brewing

Valley Junction is a great spot to shop! A historic strip of boutiques, gift shops &amp; restaurants/bars in West Des Moines, be sure to hit up Hinge on 5th (Kelsey's favorite women's boutique), Bozz Prints (Des Moines apparel/gifts) &amp; St. Kilda Collective for lunch/brunch!

Historic Valley Junction

Did you know that the Iowa State Capitol building is the only state capitol with 5 domes &amp; one of the only ones with real gold on it? The law library and all the architectural details are some of our favorite parts of this FREE guided tour.

Iowa State Capitol

We don't know what we love more about El Bait Shop: the patio view of downtown, the dive-bar vibes or the incredible beer tap list! Our favorite snack is the bacon wrapped little smokies and the Graziano's italian sausage sandwich is great!

El Bait Shop

This is another awesome park to hit in West Des Moines before or after your trip to Valley Junction! This 3.2 mile trail around a lake and along a river will give you scenic views while you get your steps in &amp; earn those calories!

Raccoon River Park

If you're looking for a luxe dinner spot with good drinks &amp; a swanky ambiance, look no further! Their brussels sprouts are to die for &amp; this restaurant is on the main floor of The Hotel Fort Des Moines right off the lobby!

Proudfoot & Bird

A one stop shop...literally! The Jordan Creek area in West Des Moines has all kinds of stores if you forgot anything at home. From Nordstrom Rack to Lululemon to TJ Maxx to Trader Joes, enjoy the convenience of having all your favorites in one area!

Jordan Creek Town Center

Got a hankering to play some pickleball while you're in town? While there are lots of outdoor public parks around the metro, our go-to spot for some pickle is Smash Park. They have 4 indoor courts and a couple outdoor courts you can rent. Their bar is huge &amp; their food is pretty good! They have lots of TVs for any sports you're missing out on over the weekend, along with darts, cornhole/bags, shuffleboard, ax-throwing, arcade games, ping pong &amp; more. It's always a party at Smash!

Smash Park Des Moines

Another great brewery, this one is more urban and within walking distance to a few other breweries we enjoy (Exile &amp; Big Grove).

Lua Brewing

A beautiful spot no matter what time of year! There are indoor and outdoor areas to walk around and admire. The dome is probably our favorite part during the cooler months!

Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden

Stop here on your way back from your tour of the Capitol building! The mix of rustic and industrial vibes will make Iowa Taproom your new favorite spot to watch a game with a great beer tap list and good food in a true Iowa ambiance. We love the egg rolls on the appetizer menu.

The Iowa Taproom

Another great paved trail around a body of water?! You guessed it! This is another superb park on the south side of town that has a 4 mile paved trail around the lake, several scenic bridges, a few public bathrooms &amp; playgrounds. This one is a little hilly so bring your walking shoes!

Easter Lake Park

With an extensive list of imported German beers and foods, this bar/restaurant is Carson approved! Right in the heart of it all and close to where the Farmer's Market is held from May-October on Saturdays, this is a great pitstop for a good ole fashioned Hefeweizen or Oktoberfest.

Hessen Haus

The Salisbury House &amp; Gardens are not only beautiful themselves, but they are tucked away in our favorite neighborhood in greater DSM to drive around &amp; admire the unique architecture &amp; holiday lights! Be sure to check out the painting of the little boys on the main floor of the house when you walk in on the right. Their eyes follow you no matter where you are at!

Salisbury House & Gardens

The Blank Park Zoo is a south side staple! It's close to downtown &amp; the airport.

Blank Park Zoo

Another cool dinner spot is on the main floor of the Surety Hotel. Their duck &amp; crafted cocktails are delish and it's right off the boutique-style retro hotel lounge that we LOVE!

Mulberry Street Tavern

If you're looking for a thrill while in town, look no further! People come from all over Iowa to go to Adventureland. In the Fall on select days, you can make a night out of Phantom Fall Fest for a spook-tacular time!

Adventureland Park

Living History Farms in Urbandale, Iowa is an interactive, 500-acre outdoor museum that tells the amazing 300+ year story of how Iowans transformed the fertile prairies of the Midwest into the most productive farmland in the world. Walking trails and tractor-drawn carts connect the 1876 Town of Walnut Hill to each of the historical farms. Each site is authentically farmed or worked by historic interpreters.

Carson & Kelsey

Carson & Kelsey

Photos