A Mission Chapel, Three Hilltop Crosses, and a Wedding Venue Near Omaha That Feels Like Home

Some venues are beautiful. Others are beautiful and have a story you can see the second you walk in. Calvary Falls Event Center, tucked into the countryside just outside Logan, Iowa, is the second kind.

I'm so excited to introduce you to Kori and Chad Grosse-Rhode, the owners, who recently sat down with me to share the heart behind their venue. If you're an Omaha or Iowa-area couple dreaming of a chapel ceremony, a sunset portrait session beneath hilltop crosses, or simply a venue where the people running the show genuinely care, keep reading.

The Story Behind Calvary Falls

It began in 2021, when Kori and Chad were looking for their next business opportunity and came across the former Museum of Religious Arts building just west of Logan. Kori saw it right away: a place where couples could exchange vows, families could gather, and people could celebrate life's most meaningful moments. Chad, by her own admission, needed a little more convincing. Then they took a leap of faith together.

Renovations started in 2022. Their goal was to preserve the character of the original Mission Chapel, especially its stained-glass windows, while building a comfortable, welcoming space for weddings and events. The doors opened to the community in the summer of 2023, the first event was held in January 2024, and the first wedding reception followed in April 2024.

The name has a story too. The three crosses overlooking the property were built in 1999, long before the event center existed, and they inspired the name Calvary Falls. Kori and Chad wanted to honor that landmark while building something special around it.

The Spaces: Ceremony, Reception, and Everything Between

With roughly 8,700 square feet of indoor event space and scenic grounds, Calvary Falls gives couples real choices, all in one location.

• The Mission Chapel. Original stained-glass windows and a timeless atmosphere, with room for about 250 guests. It's also a built-in rain plan if the weather doesn't cooperate with outdoor ceremony dreams.
• The outdoor ceremony site. Say your vows beneath the three hilltop crosses with rolling countryside views and plenty of room for an aisle, arch, florals, and guest seating. It suits rustic, country, boho, and romantic styles.
• The reception hall. Space for up to about 250 guests to dine, toast, and dance, with a full-service bar and access to a commercial catering prep kitchen.
• The fenced patio. A relaxed spot for guests to unwind, visit, and play outdoor games.
• Bridal and groom suites. Private getting-ready spaces for each side.
• Onsite guest quarters. Available to rent, with three bedrooms, a full kitchen, family room, dining area, laundry, and a fenced backyard with a large patio.

Tables, chairs, setup assistance, and an onsite manager are part of the experience, too.

What It's Like to Book Your Wedding Here

Kori describes the process as a journey, and it's refreshingly personal.

1. Come take a look around. It starts with a tour, where Kori and Chad love hearing your love story and what you're picturing for your day.
2. Make it official. They walk you through the rental agreement and available options, and help you secure your date.
3. Start planning. You'll learn the venue's features, policies, and amenities, and plan your layout, decor, and details.
4. Decorate and prepare. Couples and families transform the space, and the venue coordinates your access.
5. Rehearsal time. Kori coordinates a ceremony rehearsal so your wedding party and officiant can practice the processional, recessional, and where everyone will stand.
6. Your wedding day. Ceremony and reception happen in one place, so you can move from vows to celebration without a drive in between.

Kori serves as manager and event coordinator, so the person who gives you your first tour is the same person guiding you through the details.

A Wedding Day at Calvary Falls

Mornings are full of laughter and anticipation: the bridal party getting ready in the bridal suite, the groom and his crew in their own space, music playing, final touches going in around the venue. Then the music starts, guests turn toward the aisle, and the ceremony you've been planning begins. After the ceremony and photos comes dinner, toasts, and a dance floor that fills up fast.

Kori says her favorite moments are often the in-between ones: a proud parent watching, grandparents sharing a dance, or a couple slipping away for a quiet minute after "I do."

What Makes It Different

Asked what sets Calvary Falls apart from other Omaha-area venues, Kori pointed to a few things: a beautiful countryside setting that's still a short drive from the metro, a chapel with history you simply can't recreate, indoor and outdoor options in one place, flexibility to make the space your own, and personal attention from owners who treat you as more than a date on the calendar.

The favorite spot for Kori and Chad? The three hilltop crosses. To them, standing beneath them for vows is something truly meaningful, and they're a reminder of why they created this place.

And the surprise couples don't expect? The guest quarters. Many couples tour for the chapel and the crosses, then discover a comfortable place for family to stay and spend time together around the wedding.

A Photographer's Perspective

I've had the joy of photographing several weddings at Calvary Falls, and the property delivers, especially outdoors.

• The three crosses at golden hour. The light here is warm and glowing, exactly the kind of soft, low, golden light that makes true-to-color portraits sing. Kori mentions sunset photographs near the crosses as a favorite, and I couldn't agree more.
• The outdoor ceremony area. It's perfect at golden hour, and it was thoughtfully designed to have ideal lighting even in the middle of the day. Whatever time your ceremony falls, this space is a photographer's dream.
• Stained glass in the chapel. The original windows make a one-of-a-kind backdrop for portraits and a distinctive setting for the ceremony.
• Patio and grounds. Room to wander means candid moments and relaxed wedding party photos.

Kori's tip for photographers: visit ahead of the wedding if you can, so you can plan your favorite spots and make the most of the light.

My tip for couples: if you're planning your ceremony in the indoor space, know that your photographer will practically need to use flash. Keep that in mind when you're choosing between the chapel and the outdoor ceremony area. The chapel is a wonderful rain plan, and the outdoor area is beautifully lit from midday through golden hour, so it's worth deciding which matters more to you.

For Fellow Vendors and Planners

Kori and Chad want vendors to feel like part of the team. Their biggest tip is to communicate early. Planners should connect with Kori ahead of time about timeline, ceremony setup, reception layout, and vendor arrival times. Caterers can use the commercial catering prep kitchen, and should coordinate setup and access needs in advance. Questions or special requests? Reach out before the big day.

Advice from Kori and Chad for Couples

I loved their closing words of wisdom, and I'll pass them along:

• Make the day yours. Skip the trends you don't love. Choose details that reflect the two of you.
• Don't sweat the small stuff. Years from now you'll remember the people and the feelings far more than whether every detail was perfect.
• Use everything the venue offers. Ask questions and talk through your ideas with Kori.
• Plan ahead, but leave room to breathe. Build breathing room into your timeline, and slip away together for a few minutes after the ceremony. The day goes fast.
• Remember who the day is for. Be thoughtful of guests, but keep your focus on your marriage.
• Let yourself feel it all.

As Kori and Chad put it, their wish is that every couple leaves with beautiful memories and a heart full of joy.

Ready to See It in Person?

If Calvary Falls sounds like your kind of place, I'd encourage you to schedule a tour with Kori and Chad and picture your day unfolding there. Tell them Cass sent you!

Calvary Falls Event Center, Logan, Iowa

And if you're planning a wedding anywhere in the Omaha area, I'd love to talk about your photography. Check out The Golden Hour Bridal Experience to see how we'd capture your day in warm, true-to-color light.

Best, Cass