Intimate Fall Wedding at Hotel Millwright in Amana, Iowa

February 17, 2023

Celina & Aaron’s Intimate Fall Wedding Day

Fun fact: Aaron was actually in my high school class and grew up down the street from me in South Amana, IA! People call him “Swim,” which is fitting not only because that’s his last name but also because he’s a total surfer boy (and a talented musician). We met Celina for the first time at their engagement session and immediately loved her, too – she’s a beach babe and a huge DND nerd, and together, they make the freakin’ most perfect couple! They’ve been together for over 8 years, they both LOVE adventures, hiking, & Korean BBQ (yum). A pretty kickass couple without a doubt!

A Kauai adventure before the big day

Celina & Aaron are both from Iowa, but have been living in Honolulu for years now, so we did their engagement photos while we were in Kauai with some other friends from high school. It was such a fun 2-day hangout filled with sightseeing, hiking, and plenty of adventure – we included a few photos from our time with Celina & Aaron at Waimea Canyon below!

Feelin’ inspired to have your own elopement in the tropics of Hawaii? We’ve got plenty of resources that you’ll love – take a look at our Comprehensive List of the Best Places to Elope in Hawaii, or our Complete 2023 Hawaii Elopement Guide!

A rainy, romantic wedding day in Middle Amana

Although they live in Hawaii, Celina & Aaron decided to come back to their home state of Iowa for their wedding, and many friends flew in from around the country for it. They kept the celebration fairly intimate, with a group of their closest family & friends that was small enough to have time to mingle with everyone, but big enough to partyyy the night away when the time came.

To bring a touch of the tropics to this midwest wedding, Celina & Aaron had leis flown in from Hawaii to add to their outfits, which were so beautiful!! Their wedding was filled with the most special, intentional details and moments, from the Hawaiian leis to wearing shoes that were gifted to them by their loved ones. 

These two really incorporated their personalities into their wedding day in the coolest ways – for example, Celina entered the ceremony to music from Lord of the Rings. HOW COOL is that?! And Aaron showed off his musical talent in multiple ways throughout the day, first with a surprise song he wrote & sang in the evening for Celina. When we tell you there was not a dry eye in the house, we mean not ONE. Celina said it best – “I think we got a water-damage charge from the flood of tears.” The song he wrote is the one featured in the highlight film a little further down in this blog!

Oh, and as if that wasn’t enough, he also wrote a surprise song for his first dance with his mom – a 6-minute acoustic guitar song that just continued the tears that were already streaming down everyone’s cheeks. Such a sweet gesture that his mom absolutely loved!

It was a rainy, cold fall day, but we got lucky when the time came for portraits of Celina & Aaron with a brief golden hour! You never know what the weather will bring on your wedding day, so we always say to expect the best but prepare for the worst 😉 And if you’re lucky like these two, even if it IS cold, cloudy, & rainy for 99% of the day, you’ll get a quick golden hour and pop of sunshine for some magical sunset portraits☀️

And Celina & Aaron’s reception was pretty much what everyone hopes their reception will be: full of pumpin’ music, flowing booze, and lots of fun all around. The happy tears from family & friends all day really showed just how loved these two are and how excited everyone was to celebrate them – we can’t thank them enough for allowing us to document their special day at Hotel Millwright!

Hotel Millwright Wedding Highlight Film

Want to get an intimate glimpse into Celina & Aaron’s gorgeous Hotel Millwright wedding in video format along with all their gorgeous photos? Watch the highlight film from their special day below!

Iowa Wedding Vendor Team

Shoutout to the vendors who helped make this day awesome!

Venue & Lodging: Hotel Millwright

Cake: Classic Cakes by Design

DJ/Emcee: Avisionary

Florist: Stacie’s Greenhouse

Hair: Just Teasin’ Salon

Makeup: Beauty by Briawna

Planner: Cherish The Day

Photo + Video: Elope With TKM

About Hotel Millwright, an Industrial Iowa Wedding Venue

Now for a little bit about the stunning venue that Celina & Aaron chose, because it’s one of our FAVORITES – Hotel Millwright. It’s a gorgeous industrial venue located in Middle Amana, Iowa, inspired by the rich history of the Amana Colonies, and offering a unique blend of modern industrial design + elements of the original textile mill it used to be. Hotel Millwright really has everything you’d need for a wedding: gorgeous ceremony & reception spaces, bars, delicious food, beautiful photo locations everywhere you look, and even a built-in hotel (obviously) that your out-of-town guests can stay at.

Hotel Millwright Wedding FAQ’s

How many wedding guests can Hotel Millwright accommodate?

The Merino Loft, located in the historic weaving building, can fit 225 guests. The Carding Studio, located in the original millwright workshop, can fit 50 guests.

What ceremony & reception options does the Hotel Millwright offer?

Hotel Millwright has two, equally gorgeous spaces you can use for your wedding: the Merino Loft, which can fit 225 guests, and the Carding Studio, which can fit 50 guests. The Merino Loft is a stunning space that you can easily customize to your unique day, and you’ll love the floor-to-ceiling windows, exposed brick, and really just the amazing historical architecture! The Carding Studio is great for more intimate events, providing a space filled with natural light, beautiful architecture, and eclectic charm.

Does Hotel Millwright have on-site catering?

Yes! You’ll enjoy expert catering services, customized menus, and delicious dishes when you hold your wedding at Hotel Millwright.

What do Hotel Millwright wedding packages include?

Here are some of the top amenities that are included in Hotel Millwright wedding packages:

  • Catering
  • Signature cocktails
  • Rehearsal dinner
  • Free on-site parking
  • Room staging support
  • Multiple flexible/customizable spaces

We highly recommend checking out Hotel Millwright for your Iowa wedding if you’re looking for a venue with tons of industrial charm, flexible space that you can totally customize to fit your day, and a great location!

Hotel Millwright Wedding Photographer & Videographer

Hey, that’s us! If you’re looking for an Iowa photo + video team who’s super familiar with the area and the venue, we’d love to document your Hotel Millwright wedding. You can learn more about us here and contact us here so we can get to know ya!

Plus, we’ve got TONS of helpful resources + guides that we know will help you plan your perfect wedding or elopement – check out a few of our faves below:

10 Best Things to Do After Getting Engaged (And What Not to Do)

Our Top 20 Elopement Planning Tips + What Not to Forget

12 Best Luxury Resort Elopement Packages in the U.S.

SHARE THIS STORY