Located in the Midwestern United States, Iowa is often referred to as the "American Heartland."  Iowa's capital city is Des Moines and it is the 26th largest state in the country.   An interesting distinction of the state is the fact that is has been listed as one of the safest states to live in. Keeping that in mind, Iowa makes a wonderful place to host your wedding.  

As one of the few states where same sex marriage licenses can be obtained, wedding chapels abound in Iowa.  You can find a wedding chapel in almost every major city within the state.  There are also several wineries throughout Iowa that are amazing venues to host your wedding ceremony and reception.  

Madison County Winery, which is located in St. Charles, is a beautiful venue that can host your wedding and reception.  The entire facility is dedicated to being "green" and practices sustainability throughout the entire facility.  Since destination weddings are all the rage currently, hosting your wedding in Madison County will make for an excellent wedding weekend as you can visit the bridges of Madison County as part of your wedding weekend festivities.  You can also schedule a wine tasting at the winery as well.  What better way to spend your wedding weekend with your friends and family?

If you are planning your wedding in Dubuque, Iowa, there are many venues to choose from and you can also spend a bit of your down down visiting the Field of Dreams located in Dyersville which is only about 30 minutes from Dubuque.  Dubuque offers many places where your can browse through wedding gowns, choose your wedding bands or order your wedding flowers.  When planning your wedding in or around this area, you should be able to check off every item on your wedding checklist.  

While most people don't think of Iowa as a tourist destination, there are many fascinating places to visit including state parks, historic buildings and more than a few offbeat destinations as well.