Welcome!

If you've heard about gay and lesbian couples getting married in Iowa and have been thinking about traveling here, we invite you to consider Decorah, Iowa. Nearly 150 couples from across the United States have!  Not planning a wedding? Why not just come for a visit to our beautiful and welcoming community? President Obama did!

Decorah is a lovely and unique place.  We've got a vibrant and historic downtown, a stunning courthouse, a luxury hotel and B&Bs, incredible local food, great wine, a couple of dive bars, canoeing and kayaking, and gorgeous hiking and cycling trails.

We started this website to make your planning easier. We've checked out each vendor on this site.   Each of the businesses included here welcomes gay and lesbian couples and your friends and family.  If you've been here for a wedding or a vacation, please drop me a line about your experience.

To get started planning a wedding, next, check out the Marriage in Iowa tab to find out about Iowa's marriage laws and your first steps. Second, check out the wonderful businesses in our community and start planning. You may also contact us with specific questions. Please note: we are volunteers and due to the volume of calls, we cannot provide general information about how to get married or the legal implications of getting married. Please consult the resources on our Marriage in Iowa page for this information. Then if you have specific questions about vendors in Decorah, we'll be happy to help.

Decorah is in the bluff country of Northeast Iowa, a little under three hours from the Twin Cities and five hours from Chicago.  Come check us out for your Iowa gay wedding or getaway—you are welcome in Decorah.  Please note: Decorah's largest celebration, Nordic Fest, is the last full weekend each July. The town is extremely full during these times, and hotels are booked months in advance. We recommend avoiding this weekend for your wedding.