Occasions

02/09/2025

Part of the lounge we created yesterday at the Forever in Love: Des Moines Bridal Show.

This beautiful green couch and wedding themed coffee table make a comfortable focal point of any wedding reception lounge.

We received so many compliments on these pieces yesterday.

02/07/2025

Come visit us tomorrow at the Forever In Love: Des Moines Bridal Show () at Event Center West in West Des Moines from 11:00am - 3:00pm.

We'd love to hear about your wedding day and how we can design the perfect backdrop for love story with our full service decor design, delivery, and installation and our beautiful silk floral arrangements.

You can also visit with our sister company Smiling Dog Entertainment () who will be there with a cool new backdrop and portrait studio as well as their new Video Guest Book experience.

We look forward to seeing you tomorrow.

02/05/2025

A simple arch with a simple draping makes a beautiful backdrop for vows.

We have a variety of arch styles and colors to help draw the focus to you as you exchange your vows.

We also have a variety of ways we can accentuate these arches with draping, silk floral arrangements, vases, and more.

Learn more on our website at - https://bit.ly/3Z3HdHw

02/04/2025

Looking to add a touch of elegance and magic to your reception? Draping is the secret ingredient that can completely transform your space!

Whether you’re creating a soft, romantic atmosphere or a grand, luxurious vibe, drapery brings texture, depth, and a sense of opulence to any venue.

From flowing fabric hanging from the ceiling to elegant backdrops behind the head table, draping can:
- Soften harsh venue features
- Define spaces (like a cozy lounge area or a grand entrance)
- Create visual interest and movement
- Add a pop of color, or keep it classic with whites and ivories
- Highlight your lighting design for that dreamy, ambient glow

Whether you’re dreaming of a whimsical garden theme or a chic ballroom affair, draping can help you bring your vision to life in ways you never imagined! 💖

02/01/2025

Chargers, candles, votives, silk floral arrangements, napkins, vases, table cloths, these are just a few of the decor pieces we have available to bring the vision for your wedding reception decor to life.

We'd love to meet with you to show you more of our decor and silk floral options and hear all about the vision for your wedding and reception.

01/30/2025

Planning a wedding?

Plan on stopping by the Forever In Love: Des Moines Bridal Show () on February 8 at Events Center West in West Des Moines.

We'd love to meet you and learn more about how we can help design, deliver, and install the decor and floral vision for your special day!

01/29/2025

According to The Complete Guide to Planning a Wedding on Brides.com (https://www.brides.com) the Number One thing couples should do when planning a wedding is:

Set Your Wedding Budget and Stick to It

Quoting the article:

Your wedding budget will be the driving factor for many of your decisions, so this should be one of the first things you tackle.

If any family members will be contributing to your big day, chat with them about what they’re comfortable spending.

If you’re footing the bill yourself, be sure to take a hard look at your finances and prepare for any life changes you may need to make. And once you’ve landed on that magic number, make sure you stick to it.

An accompanying Brides Tip suggests leaving yourself a 10-15% cushion for unexpected expenses or last-minute "must haves"

With our Wedding Planning Services we can help you develop and stay on budget for your special day.

For more information go to https://bit.ly/3Z3HdHw

01/28/2025

We provided the silk floral swag for the arch at the Prairie Moon Winery and Vineyards () Open House this past Sunday.

We also created an aisle bouquet to go along side it.

While these are fall colors, we can create a similarly beautiful design to match the season of your wedding.

01/28/2025

Today is national chocolate cake day.

Whether you’re having chocolate, white or your favorite flavor, Occasions and Stems has you covered.

Our decorating package includes cake stands and serving utensils.

01/26/2025

We’re all setup and ready to go for today’s Open House at Prairie Moon Winery and Vineyards (prairiemoonwinery).

We’re here from 2pm-4pm today or you can reach us visit our website at https://wwwoccasionsdsm.com

We’d love to hear about your vision for your special day!

01/24/2025

If you're planning an upcoming wedding and reception and looking for an amazing venue for your reception and some great vendors to help you make your day special, stop by and see us on Sunday at the Prairie Moon Winery and Vineyards () Open House on Sunday.

We can help you with full-service wedding decor and/or silk floral design, delivery, and installation as well as wedding planning or day-of-coordination.

We'd love to meet you!

https://www.facebook.com/events/1208214283571700/

01/22/2025

Make your wedding day dreams come true with our full-service wedding decor design, delivery, and installation—plus stunning silk floral arrangements that will last long after your special day!

From breathtaking centerpieces to the perfect aisle decor, we handle every detail with love and care, so you can focus on what matters most. Let us transform your vision into reality, hassle-free.

Ready to create a wedding that’s as beautiful as your love story?

DM us today to get started!

01/21/2025

Our office is located in Pleasant Hill, Iowa next to the Hair House beauty salon.

Today, a woman stopped by our office after her appointment at the Hair House to inquire about our services.

Her daughter was recently married and had a number of items left from her reception that she was interested in selling and her mother wanted to know if we bought decor items or if we just rented them.

As we tailor the decor to each bride's vision we are often looking for items to supplement our inventory.

We are pretty full up on the basics, but if you have unique items from your reception that you're interested in selling, such as furniture, backdrops, large decor pieces, floral swag or anything else you think we might like, please feel free to send us a message with what you have.

We're not buying everything and we're not always buying, but we are always looking for unique, beautiful, and amazing decor pieces.

01/21/2025

Some great insight from our friends at Country Lane Lodge - Event Venue.

Things to think about when planning your wedding.

Many brides reflect on their wedding day and identify certain aspects they wish they had approached differently.

Common reflections include:

1. Prioritizing Personal Preferences: Some brides regret making decisions based on others' expectations rather than their own desires, leading to feelings of dissatisfaction.

2. Hiring a Professional Photographer: Opting for an amateur or budget photographer has left some brides disappointed with their wedding photos, emphasizing the importance of investing in quality photography.

3. Managing Guest Lists: Inviting individuals out of obligation rather than genuine connection has led to feelings of discomfort for some brides, highlighting the importance of a guest list that truly reflects the couple's close relationships.

4. Ensuring Comfort: Choosing uncomfortable attire or footwear has caused physical discomfort, detracting from the enjoyment of the day.

5. Engaging a Wedding Planner: Some brides have found that not hiring a wedding planner resulted in increased stress and logistical challenges, underscoring the value of professional assistance.

These insights suggest that focusing on personal preferences, investing in quality services, and ensuring comfort can contribute to a more satisfying wedding experience.

01/18/2025

Friday evening we had the opportunity to meet with Katie, her mom, her aunt, and her cousin Chelsey to discuss Occasions and Stems providing the table decor and some head table backdrop decor for her July 12 wedding reception at The River Center () in Des Moines.

After some discussion about the style of centerpieces and other table decor Katie was interested in for her guest and head tables and sharing with her some ideas of how we could bring those ideas to life Katie decided we'd be the perfect team to bring her vision to life.

One of the reasons Katie said she chose us to design, deliver, and install the decor for her reception was that we charged a flat fee for our services and everything was included in that fee. We don't charge "per piece" for the items used in the centerpieces, rather we charge a per table fee which is based on the number of guest tables with the head table, dessert table, and welcome table decor included at no additional charge.

She was so happy with the quote we presented her, with the ideas we presented her to execute her vision, and with how easy and relaxing we are going to make her wedding day.

One of the three centerpieces we'll be designing, delivering, and installing for Katie's reception is a Vintage Book based centerpiece similar to the one pictured here, as a love of books runs deep in her family.

We showed her this photo and some of the Vintage Books we had on hand and she loved it!

We went shopping today for some more Vintage Books to execute the centerpiece decor for Katie's reception.

We're so excited to create this and the other centerpieces for Katie's reception and that she chose us to be part of her special day.

01/16/2025

Occasions and Stems is excited to be part of two upcoming events where you can learn more about our wedding services and we can learn more about how we can help you create a memorable wedding day for you, your family and friends.

January 26, 2025 - Prairie Moon Winery and Vineyards ( ) Wedding Open House - 2pm - 4pm
https://www.facebook.com/events/1208214283571700

February 8, 2025 - Forever in Love: Des Moines Bridal Show - 11:00am - 3:00pm
https://www.facebook.com/events/1763972671021068

Plan to attend these two great events and stop by to see us!

01/16/2025

Complimentary colors make the tables at your reception pop.

Let us bring your colors to life!