10 of the Best Places to Propose in Central Iowa

Planning a proposal is much more than picking pretty location-- I believe every aspect of your proposal should be planned with your girlfriend (future fiancé!) in mind, and locations are just one part of this!

In the planning process, we'll go over both of your visions and rehearse exactly where each of us will be, down to the direction you'll face and where exactly I will hide (or sometimes I'll hide in plain sight). This is not a comprehensive list of locations, there are endless beautiful spots to propose-- these are just a few of my absolute favorites!

1. Ewing Park - South Side of Des Moines

2. Brenton Arboretum - near Dallas Center

3. Saylorville Beach or Marina - near Ankeny/ Polk City/ Johnston

4. Easter Lake - South Side of Des Moines

5. Iowa State Campus - Ames

6. Ada Hayden - Ames

7. Jacob Krumm Nature Preserve - near Grinnell

8. Story County Conservation Center - Ames

9. Dale Maffit Reservioir

10. A spot that is meaningful to you two

1. Ewing Park - South Side of Des Moines

Best season to propose here: beautiful in every season!

Why I love it:

• Absolutely stunning view and scenery - hard to beat

• Conveniently located parking lot

Things to consider:

• No public restrooms

Ewing Park is my #1 favorite for a reason-- the views are grand, which I feel reflects the weight of the moment and life decision. Not to mention, the lilacs and tree blossoms that bloom in late April through early May are stunning.

2. Brenton Arboretum - near Dallas Center

   
   

Best season to propose here: beautiful in every season!

Why I love it:

• Seriously stunning scenery

• Endless pretty spots to pop the question - together we can pick the area within the arb that most feels like her

• Since it's out of the metro off of a gravel road, Brenton feels very remote and private, it's own bubble of a world

Things to consider:

• Cell service is spotty

• Reservations must be made ahead of time, and there is a fee to propose here

• Could feel like a suspiciously long drive to the arb if she's already expecting something, depending on where you're located

3. Saylorville Beach or Marina - near Ankeny/ Polk City/ Johnston

   
   

Best season to propose here: beautiful in every season!

Why I love it:

• Picturesque lakeside view, stunning around golden hour and sunset

• Near the metro and Ankeny, but doesn't feel like it

Things to consider:

• Beach access is dependent upon water level, some accesses are closed when the lake levels are too high (so for this spot, I recommend having a back-up location arranged)

• Porta-potties only

4. Easter Lake - South Side of Des Moines

   
   

   Best season to propose here: June- October

   
   

   Why I love it:

   • Pretty grassy lakeside and views

   • Conveniently located parking lots

   • Public restrooms throughout the park

     
     

   Things to consider:

   • Depending on the day, there may be other people out and about enjoying the park, this spot tends to be a little busier than some

   
   

   The tall wild sunflowers here in the late summer and early fall are absolutely gorgeous. This would be a great spot to propose if there's going to be a large group of people hiding to celebrate with afterwards because the park is so spread out.

   

   

   

   

   

5. Iowa State Campus - Ames

   
   

Best season to propose here: beautiful in every season

Why I love it:

• Beautiful buildings and manicured landscaping

• Multiple gorgeous spots to propose on campus

Things to consider:

• Parking isn't free can be a little rough, but is doable

• During the academic year, it can be busy with students

There are so many pretty areas here, if you have ties to ISU, it's a great option!

6. Ada Hayden - Ames

   
   

Best season to propose here: beautiful in every season!

Why I love it:

• Multiple areas that are gorgeous, beautiful scenery

• Convenient parking

• Public restrooms available spring through fall

Things to consider:

• It's pretty busy in general, regardless of the time of day or year

7. Jacob Krumm Nature Preserve - near Grinnell

   
   

Best season to propose here: April - October

Why I love it:

• A beautiful landscape with prairie and pond areas

• Feels secluded and peaceful

Things to consider:

• Likely a long drive unless you're located near Grinnell

• No public restrooms

8. Story County Conservation Center - Ames

Best season to propose here: beautiful in every season

Why I love it:

• Pretty prairie, pond, and landscape

• Public restrooms available

Things to consider:

• Can be busy at times

9. Dale Maffit Reservioir - Cumming

Best season to propose here: July- August

Why I love it:

• The most stunning spot for pinkish-purple coneflowers

• Beautiful area and scenery

Things to consider:

• Public restrooms are limited to one part of the park

If your future fiancé loves flowers or pink, I think she'll love the pink flower fields.

10. A spot that is meaningful to you two - for example, a favorite activity to do together, where you had your first date, or your favorite date spot

Best season to propose here: depends on the spot

Why I love it:

• Extra sweet if it's a nostalgic activity or spot!

Things to consider:

• We may need to make a reservation depending on the location

• If it's a high-traffic area, would she be comfortable having bystanders around?

Regardless of where you choose to propose, my focus is on capturing the raw emotion of the moment. If you're starting to think about proposing or are working on nailing down the details, I'd love to help plan and capture yours!