The Alley

Last night we hosted our second workshop/styled shoot with , + ! There is something magical about watching an idea come to life. Thank you to all who joined us to learn from Grace and to all the amazing vendors who helped make a dream a reality! Already planning for our spring workshop, stay tuned. 🖤
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Design + Styling:
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Hair: .artistry
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And they lived happily ever after.

“A person should always choose a costume which is in direct contrast to her own personality.” - Lucy, “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”
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It’s Beggars Night for Des Moines! We celebrate Halloween the night before for some weird reason. What’s your favorite childhood costume? My mom dressed me up as a skunk one year because she found a giant piece of fake fur on sale.

Family pictures can be stressful! There are outfits to coordinate, kids to keep happy + unpredictable Iowa weather. Eliminate the worry of weather + book time at The Alley for your family photos this year!

Our Posing + Pricing Workshop is just around the corner! Join us November 9th from 3:00-5:30 PM and learn from the talented . Gather content for the long winter ahead + get to know other creatives in the area. DM for more details or to grab a ticket!

How cute is this proposal!? We can’t get over all the details + planning that went into this sweet moment.
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The Alley is here for the big + small moments. As Iowa’s winter weather starts freezing up book studio time to stay warm for family photos, engagements, bridal showers + small get togethers! DM for info on how to book!

The moment when you realize that when the ball drops for 2021 the pandemic isn’t over...

Holidays are quickly approaching! Our family is wanting to get creative in the kitchen this year for thanksgiving, what’s some of your favorite non traditional recipes!?

Swipe to see what I’ll be needing after a day of being a mom.

When your former 8th grade student, who made abstract art for his Social Studies projects, is now and adult and captures this beauty.
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Let the good times roll!
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Check out for cute clothes + accessories! 💫

Meet Alexandria! She is a recent graduate of UNI with degrees in both Real Estate + Marketing. Alex is newly married and together they enjoy playing golf + cheering on the Hawkeyes! She aspires to travel the world with her husband + overly rambunctious Australian Shepherd! We are so excited to have her join our team!

“I’ve always thought of accessories as the exclamation point of a woman’s outfit.” -Michael Kors

365 days with you, a lifetime to go.

Let’s start celebrating parents on a child’s first birthday. 365 days of sleepless nights, endless diapers, late night feedings, worrying, crying, piles of laundry, and love you can’t describe.

"Don’t forget I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her." – Notting Hill
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Vendors:

Laughing at the fact that Iowa’s weather goes from 39° to 82° within a week...

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5 hours left to snag your ticket to our Posing + Pricing workshop with at a discounted rate! 🌟 Link in bio to get your ticket!

November 9th, 2020 | 3:00-5:30

TOMORROW! 🌟 Tickets go on sale tomorrow from 9 AM - 9 PM for our Pricing + Posing workshop!

November 9th from 3:00-5:30 join us for a winter styled shoot by / + learn from the talented !

Tickets will be $400 ONLY tomorrow. Link in bio to snag your spot!

Raise your hand if you’re ready for sweater season! 🍁
We’ve transitioned The Alley’s lounge area into all things autumn: burnt orange velvet chairs, spiced candles, cozy corduroy retro chairs + dried florals. The fall calendar is filling up so reach out to book your studio time! 📷:

What are two things humans crave? Coffee + human interaction. We are so excited for our second work day! We know people have been busy with events this past summer + want to give an opportunity to get some work done outside of the house! Sometimes the soul needs some face to face interaction (even if those faces are masked + 6ft away!) Join us September 17th from 9 AM - 3 PM for work day. DM for more details or to reserve a spot!

We are blown away by the stunning art that was created at our Beams + Branding workshop! Thank you to all who attended! It was a joy to see everyone learning, networking + having fun capturing these stunning photos. Investing in your business is not easy but so worth it! We have loved seeing all that was learned put into action through these photos + social media.

is an outstanding teacher so if you missed this one stay tuned for more details about our Posing + Pricing workshop on November 9th from 3:00-5:30.
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Vendors:
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Dress: @ The Alley

Posing + Pricing Photographer Workshop //
We are excited to announce the date for our next workshop with !

November 9th, 2020 | 3:00-5:30

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

Tickets are $435 | We will be offering a ONE DAY SALE! Snag your ticket on September 9th between 9 AM - 9 PM for $400! More details about design, models, + florals to come.

We’re still on cloud nine from our first workshop/styled shoot! This summer The Alley has been filled with bridal showers, bachelorette parties, birthday parties, engagements, weddings, styled shoots + small gatherings. It brings us so much joy to see the countless memories + creativity being captured here! Reach out if you are interested in booking the space this fall!

Beams + Branding Mini Workshop 💫
This evening was so fun collaborating, learning + networking with local creatives! Thanks to for sharing your tips + tricks of the trade! And thanks to all who attended + contributed!
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Double tap if you love coffee + Fridays.

A song she heard
Of cold that gathers
Like winter's tongue
Among the shadows
It rose like blackness
In the sky
That on volcano's
Vomit rise
A Stone of ruin
From burn to chill
Like black moonrise
Her voice fell still...
-Robert Fanney

This crisp weather makes us long for a cozy sweater + a hot mug of mulled cider. What fall food or activities are you looking forward to?

Oh hello! Thought I’d say hi to all the new faces on here with a little game. What’s the lie?!

1. My favorite food is pizza and I could eat it for every meal!
2. I used to teach middle school Social Studies and often miss the craziness of the classroom.
3. I can parallel park like a boss!

Hi, I’m Lexi, the face behind The Alley!We’re a mother-daughter run company that primarily uses the space as our office for + . When I’m not lining up dinosaurs, running around parks or changing diapers, I’m organizing The Alley rentals, updating the website and popping on here!

Let’s talk about intimate weddings!

As we celebrated our 8 year anniversary my husband and I reflected on our wedding. It was big, busy and honestly a blur. We both said our favorite memory was driving away after the ceremony. It was just the two of us in an old convertible and we were finally married.

My heart goes out to all the couples having to navigate planning a wedding during a pandemic. Planning a wedding is stressful enough! My unsolicited advice is to talk through your priorities for the day, always keeping in mind that regardless of the events of the day, you get to drive away married and at the beginning of a wonderful new adventure!

If you are contemplating an intimate wedding check out our elopement packages! We would love to help navigate and explore options that preserve your perfect day in imperfect times. Link in our bio.
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INSTAGRAM TAKEOVER!

The beautiful, bubbly + ever so talented is taking over our Instagram tomorrow! Grace will be sharing more about what she will be teaching at the mini workshop on August 18th ! Stay tuned tomorrow on our stories to hear from Grace!
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Workshop is August 18th from 4 pm- 6 pm! We have a few spots left!

“It’s the little things that make you remember the big moments.” @ The Alley

Meet Blue the office assistant! His strength is enthusiastic greeter + his weakness is he can’t type well.
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This is just a space in little East Village, Des Moines but it’s a space where memories are being created.
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A Sunday well spent brings a week of content. How are you spending your Sunday?
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We are loving all these beautiful images from a shoot last weekend!

Celebrate | to acknowledge a happy day with a social gathering

In a world with limited social gatherings remember to celebrate the small things! Today we’re celebrating family. What are you celebrating today?
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Growing up our dining room table was filled weekly with guests + family. Our parents have a knack for hosting and make anyone feel at home. There was a box filled with conversation questions to better knew those sitting around the table. It is important to us to build authentic relationships. While we would love to have you all over for dinner; we can start by asking what’s your favorite meal?

We only eat cake on days that end with “y”
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What’s your favorite cake flavor? Addy is a huge fan of creme brûlée + Lexi loves a traditional yellow cake with chocolate frosting!
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Today’s forecast says cloudy with a chance of rain. . . but these two are bringing the heat 🔥
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Always inspired by the beauty that is created + captured at The Alley. We strive to cultivate a space where people can gather, create + feel rejuvenated to spread beauty outside these four walls to the rest of Des Moines.

||Pops of mustard yellow, muted greens+ soft grays for our new lounge area to kickoff summer||

Click the link in our bio to rent the space for a photo shoot, intimate wedding, creative workshop, private dinner party, bridal shower, or whatever your heart desires!

“To see beauty is to see light” -Victor Hugo
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📷: @ The Alley