Mackenzie & Cade Proposal
When Cade reached out to plan a surprise proposal at Iris Aisle the day after Christmas, we were thrilled to say yes. We love every proposal that happens out here, but this one was extra special to us for good reason, and we’ll tell you the story…
Cade’s girlfriend, Makenzie, happens to be the granddaughter of Shirley, a woman who had lived on our property for many years before we moved here and started our dream of turning it into an intimate wedding venue. We first met Shirley selling doilies at a farmers market, where she shared with us many memories about this place. We learned that she and her late husband had planted many of the trees on our property, back when it was simply their home.
We invited her to visit the venue so she could see what had become of her old place and walk through the trees we love so much. She started visiting us regularly, and each time, our daughter Eliisa would join Shirley in picking apples and walnuts from the trees she planted years ago. It was SO sweet. As Shirley got older and visited us less often, we loved to make breakfast for her and take it over to her house for visits instead.
After Shirley’s passing, her granddaughter Makenzie reached out to us with fond memories of the irises that bloomed beautifully here. She told us that she appreciated how we had named our venue “Iris Aisle,” because her grandmother had loved these flowers so much. She told us she would love to come for a visit one day, and we wanted to make it happen too.
Enter Cade, who really made it happen.
After Makenzie contacted us, Cade reached out in secret to ask us about his plan to propose to her here, knowing how special this venue was to her because of her grandmother’s memory. He arranged for Mackenzie’s mom and dad, who is Shirley’s son, to be present for the proposal so they could share in this special reunion too. When we met them, Makenzie’s dad shared his own stories and memories of the property's past, and told us how Makenzie used to play in the apple trees as a child.
Knowing this family’s deep connection to this place, hosting Cade and Makenzie’s proposal at Iris Aisle felt incredibly right to us, and we are so thankful we got the opportunity to help facilitate such a touching reunion for Makenzie’s family. With every couple who gets married or engaged or renews their vows here at Iris Aisle, we are happy to be able to add a little more to the rich history of love in this place.
If you’re looking for the perfect place to propose to your partner, we happen to think our Conservatory, nestled in a beautiful grove of cedar trees in Winterset, would make the most perfect place to pop the question. Reach out to us here to rent our space!
Photography by Raelyn Ramey
