Kellie & Connor | Colorful Late Summer Garden Wedding at Haven on the Farm in Peoria, IL

August 2024

It’s 2025 and we are back on the blog! During these frigid, midwest winter days, I dream about the previous summers weddings, full of bright colors and warm tones. Looking back at Kellie and Connor’s late summer wedding at Haven on the Farm almost makes me think I can feel the warm sun on my face with a brilliant and broad color palette filled with a range of pinks accompanied by light blue, pale yellow, and soft peach. Kellie’s lush bouquet was filled with a colorful mix of seasonal favorites featuring bold dahlias, delicate cosmos, and fragrant roses with accents of blue delphinium, scabiosa, stock, ranunculus, and waxflower. The maid of honor and flower girl each held coordinating petite bouquets of the same blooms while the groom and ring bearer adorned classic style, peach ranunculus boutonnieres that popped off black tuxedos.

The couple’s intimate ceremony on the back drive also embodied the fun, bright and colorful theme from back of aisle to altar. We placed dual ground arrangements just behind the back row of chairs filled with soft pink roses, stock, waxflower, and larkspur with pops of colorful stems of delphinium and carnations. The ceremony spotlight however, was the large wooden arbor backdrop at the altar adorned with two large corner floral sprays to frame the bride and groom as they exchanged vows. With added vivid pink dahlias and cosmos against the deep green salal and huckleberry, these pieces stood above the rest.

Warm light followed the ceremony into the barn reception hall where we combined several centerpiece styles throughout the space to add interest and accentuate the towering ceilings. Simple farmhouse tables were dressed up with a thin cream colored runner topped with a large, romantic floral arrangement atop a tall gold stand sided with light blue taper candles in gold holders over a trail of greenery. Round tables with white linens either featured simple trios of taper candles over a bed of greens or more intricate floral arrangements designed on top of small gold risers each paired with clear glass ribbed votives that elevated the whole look. We also made sure to cover all the stops with simple rose, dahlia, and blue delphinium bud vase arrangements peppered throughout the cocktail hour and miscellaneous reception spaces for one cohesive whole wedding design.

At J.Blu we prioritize getting to know and building a trusting relationship with each and every couple so we can create truly personalized and focused pieces that reflect your vision. Kellie and Connor’s wedding day was uniquely noteworthy not for the fun and colorful blooms or extraordinary design work but because of the bride’s touching story. Kellie shares her account in a book titled Behind My Smile where she tells of how she tragically lost her husband and the father of their two young children, Alex, in a car accident. If you are interested in learning more of her personal journey, I encourage you to follow her or find her book using the links below. We loved getting to know Connor and Kellie and were honored to design for their intimate wedding. We wish the newlyweds a lifetime of happiness together!