Some wedding designs begin with a color palette, a venue, or a single Pinterest photo. Lilac Haze began with one thing: flowers. More specifically, the fleeting, romantic beauty of lilacs.

Kathryn with Beautifully Bloomed and Olivia with Olivia Katherine Photography came to me early on with a vision to create a styled wedding shoot that showcased lilacs in all their glory. With that one goal in mind, the girls pretty much gave me free rein to dream up a wedding design centered entirely around this delicate seasonal bloom. And when your starting point is armfuls of gorgeous lilacs, there really is no shortage of inspiration!

Hosted at Walnut Ridge in Shellsburg, Iowa, Lilac Haze became a romantic, floral-forward celebration filled with soft purple hues, organic textures, whimsical details, and, of course, an abundance of fresh flowers. Rather than simply incorporating lilac into the color palette, we wanted the flowers themselves to guide the entire design—from the ceremony and tablescape to the smaller details woven throughout the shoot.

Because lilacs have such a short blooming season, there is something especially magical about designing a wedding around them. Their fleeting nature became part of what made this shoot feel so special: a celebration of embracing what is beautiful in a particular season and allowing it to inspire every detail.

For couples searching for lilac wedding inspiration, purple wedding ideas, spring wedding inspiration, or a floral wedding design in Iowa, Lilac Haze is proof that sometimes one flower is all you need to inspire an entire wedding. Keep scrolling to see how we transformed Walnut Ridge wedding venue in Iowa into our romantic, flower-filled vision of Lilac Haze.

There’s a reason we’re always excited to return to Walnut Ridge in Shellsburg, Iowa. Surrounded by beautiful Iowa countryside, the venue offers a peaceful, romantic setting while giving couples plenty of flexibility to make their wedding day feel completely their own. For a design-focused shoot like Lilac Haze, it gave us the perfect backdrop to let the florals and creative details truly take center stage.

One of our favorite things about a Walnut Ridge wedding is just how versatile the property is. The venue’s neutral spaces work beautifully with so many different wedding styles, color palettes, and design concepts. Whether we’re working with soft lilacs and romantic spring florals or creating something bold and colorful, Walnut Ridge provides a gorgeous foundation without competing with the overall wedding design.

The surrounding property also offers so many opportunities for Iowa wedding photography. Open countryside, natural greenery, and beautiful outdoor spaces give photographers plenty of variety throughout the day, while couples can take advantage of the scenery for everything from bridal portraits to golden-hour photos.

From a wedding planner and designer’s perspective, we especially love venues that allow us to get creative—and Walnut Ridge in Shellsburg gives us the freedom to do exactly that. For Lilac Haze, we were able to take one simple source of inspiration—the fleeting beauty of lilacs—and build an entire floral-forward wedding concept around it.

For couples searching for a Shellsburg wedding venue, Cedar Rapids wedding venue, or romantic Iowa wedding venue, Walnut Ridge offers a beautiful countryside setting with endless possibilities for personalization. It’s a space we love transforming, and every wedding or styled shoot reminds us just how many different ways Walnut Ridge can come to life.

All about the lilacs

When we say Lilac Haze was inspired by lilacs, we mean it! From the very beginning, we wanted the floral design to feel intentional, abundant, and completely different from what you typically see at an Iowa wedding. Instead of creating arrangements with a long list of different flower varieties, Kathryn with Beautifully Bloomed kept the floral concept beautifully simple: lilacs, lilacs, and more lilacs.
The beauty of using only lilacs was that it allowed their natural texture, movement, and incredible shades of purple to become the focus of the entire design. Overflowing arrangements filled vintage baskets and vessels throughout Walnut Ridge, creating a look that felt organic, romantic, and almost as though the flowers had just been gathered from a blooming lilac garden. The fresh greenery mixed naturally throughout the branches added even more dimension without taking attention away from the star of the shoot.
Because lilacs have such a short blooming season, incorporating them on this scale made the Lilac Haze styled wedding at Walnut Ridge feel even more special. Their fleeting seasonality became part of the inspiration itself—showcasing how choosing a single seasonal flower can create an incredibly impactful wedding design.
For couples dreaming of a floral-focused Iowa wedding, this shoot is proof that you don’t necessarily need dozens of flower varieties to create something unforgettable. Sometimes committing fully to one bloom can make an even bigger statement. The abundance of lilacs transformed Walnut Ridge into a romantic spring garden and brought our entire lilac wedding inspiration to life in the most beautiful way.

Getting Ready at Walnut Ridge

One of the many reasons we love weddings at Walnut Ridge in Shellsburg, Iowa is that couples can spend so much of their wedding day right on the property. Having a beautiful space to get ready at the venue makes the morning feel more relaxed while also eliminating unnecessary travel before the ceremony. For our Lilac Haze wedding inspiration, we took advantage of the natural light throughout Walnut Ridge to capture some gorgeous bridal getting-ready portraits.
The clean, modern interior of the venue created the perfect backdrop for the bride's timeless wedding-day look. Her structured satin gown featured a romantic draped neckline, corset-inspired bodice, and flowing skirt, while the scarf detail added an elevated, editorial touch. With soft natural light pouring through the window, these quiet moments before the rest of the day began felt effortless and intimate.
Getting ready onsite is also incredibly convenient from a wedding planning perspective. Hair and makeup, bridal details, getting dressed, and portraits can all happen in one location before transitioning into the ceremony and reception. It gives couples more time to enjoy their morning and allows photographers to capture those little in-between moments without having to build additional transportation time into the wedding timeline.
For couples searching for an Iowa wedding venue near Cedar Rapids, Walnut Ridge offers a beautiful setting from the very beginning of the day through the final celebration. From getting-ready photos and an outdoor ceremony to an indoor reception and portraits around the property, there are so many opportunities to create a cohesive wedding experience without ever having to leave the venue.

A Modern Lilac Wedding Ceremony at Walnut Ridge

Wedding ceremony arches will always be a classic, but one of our favorite wedding ceremony trends right now is something a little more modern: ceremony pillars. For our Lilac Haze styled shoot at Walnut Ridge in Shellsburg, Iowa, we wanted the ceremony design to feel romantic and floral-forward without taking attention away from the natural beauty surrounding the venue. Pillars were the perfect way to accomplish exactly that.
Rather than creating one large floral arch, ceremony pillars allow floral arrangements to be displayed at varying heights around the couple. For this lilac-inspired wedding ceremony, the design kept the focus on our overflowing lilac arrangements while still allowing the scenery at Walnut Ridge to shine. The result was a ceremony setup that felt elevated and intentional without overwhelming the space.
Another reason we love this modern wedding ceremony backdrop is its versatility. Unlike a large ceremony installation, pillars can easily be moved after the ceremony and repurposed throughout the reception. Couples can use them around a sweetheart table, beside a welcome sign, as part of a wedding lounge, near a seating chart, or anywhere else that could use an extra floral moment. Repurposing ceremony flowers and decor is one of our favorite ways to make the most of a wedding design while creating cohesion from one part of the day to the next.

Lilac-Inspired Wedding Table Decor

For the reception design of our Lilac Haze styled wedding at Walnut Ridge, we wanted the tablescape to feel overflowing with lilacs while still keeping the overall look elegant, romantic, and approachable. Since the entire inspiration for this lilac wedding in Iowa began with the flowers, it only made sense to let them take center stage on the reception table too.
Abundant lilac arrangements ran down the center of the warm wood table, layered over soft, flowing shades of purple fabric. Rather than creating one traditional centerpiece, we used florals at different heights and in varying vessels to give the table a more organic, garden-inspired feeling. Lavender taper candles in brass holders added height and a soft glow, while purple vintage-inspired glassware brought another layer of color and texture into the design.
For each place setting, woven chargers added a natural element that complemented Walnut Ridge's warm wood tables, while pearl-edged chargers, glass dinnerware, deep purple napkins, and gold-and-white flatware elevated the overall look. The combination of casual organic textures with more refined details created a tablescape that felt romantic without becoming overly formal.
One of our favorite things about designing weddings at Walnut Ridge in Shellsburg, Iowa is how beautifully the venue works with color. The clean, neutral interior and large windows allow wedding decor to truly stand out, and the natural light made every shade of lavender, lilac, and deep purple in this design come to life.

A Romantic Candlelit Lilac Tablescape

For our second table design for Lilac Haze at Walnut Ridge, we wanted to show another way couples could embrace a purple wedding color palette while creating a completely different atmosphere. While our first tablescape focused heavily on abundant floral arrangements, this design was all about candlelight, texture, and smaller touches of lilac.
We layered soft lavender fabric down the center of Walnut Ridge's wood tables, allowing it to drape naturally over the edges for a romantic, effortless look. Instead of large centerpieces, clusters of fresh lilacs were tucked throughout the tablescape alongside an assortment of tall ivory taper candles in vintage-inspired brass candlesticks. The varying candle heights added dimension and drama without blocking guests' views across the table.
One of our favorite additions was the petite table lamps mixed between the candles. These brought another layer of warm, intimate lighting to the design and gave the entire lilac wedding tablescape an elevated dinner-party feel. Deep purple goblets and lavender napkins carried the color palette into each place setting, while gold flatware and delicate dinnerware added just enough elegance to balance the more organic elements.
This table is also a perfect example of how couples can create impactful wedding reception decor without relying solely on large floral centerpieces. By combining candles, specialty lighting, colorful glassware, linens, and strategically placed flowers, we were able to create a full, dimensional design while letting the lilacs remain the signature floral element.

Lilac-Inspired Wedding Stationery

No wedding design is complete without the stationery, and for our Lilac Haze styled wedding at Walnut Ridge, we wanted every paper detail to feel just as romantic and intentional as the florals and tablescapes. The invitation suite brought together soft lavender, sage green, ivory, and touches of gold for a design that felt elegant, garden-inspired, and timeless.
One of our favorite details was the floral envelope liner, filled with delicate lilac blooms that tied the stationery directly back to the inspiration behind the entire shoot. The soft green RSVP card introduced a subtle complementary color, while classic typography and delicate script gave the suite an elevated, romantic feel. An ornate gold border on the invitation added a hint of vintage elegance and beautifully complemented the brass and gold accents used throughout the Lilac Haze wedding design.
We also love how the stationery demonstrates that your wedding invitation suite can do more than simply provide guests with information—it can introduce the entire look and feel of your wedding before guests ever arrive. From the color palette to the typography and floral details, each element offered a preview of the romantic lilac wedding inspiration they would experience at Walnut Ridge.

A Private Wedding Day Picnic Moment

Private wedding day moments have become increasingly popular over the past few years, and we absolutely love the idea of couples intentionally setting aside a little time just for themselves. From private vows and first looks to private cake cuttings and champagne toasts, these moments give couples an opportunity to slow down, connect, and soak in their wedding day away from the crowd.
For our Lilac Haze styled wedding at Walnut Ridge, we wanted to take that idea one step further by creating an entire wedding day picnic setup dedicated to those private moments. Set alongside Walnut Ridge’s pond, the design featured a vintage-inspired rug, a fringed umbrella, baskets overflowing with fresh lilacs, and a gold bar cart holding a champagne tower. It felt romantic and playful while still fitting seamlessly into the lilac-inspired wedding aesthetic.
The couple used the space for a private champagne tower and wedding cake cutting, giving us the perfect opportunity to show how a styled picnic can serve a purpose beyond simply being beautiful. After pouring champagne together, they settled into the picnic to taste their wedding cake—and, of course, we had to take advantage of the setup for some gorgeous couple portraits!
For couples looking for unique Iowa wedding ideas, a private picnic can be customized for so many different parts of the day. Use the space for reading private vows, cutting your wedding cake, popping champagne, a garter removal, or stepping away for intimate couple portraits.

A Private Cake Cutting Moment

One of our favorite details from the Lilac Haze styled wedding at Walnut Ridge was the private cake cutting tucked away at the picnic setup. Instead of cutting the cake in front of an entire reception, we wanted to showcase how couples can turn this traditional wedding moment into something a little more intimate. With the pond at Walnut Ridge in Shellsburg, Iowa as the backdrop, the couple could sit together, enjoy their wedding cake, and have a few quiet minutes away from the rest of the day.
The lilac-inspired wedding cake fit perfectly into the overall design, featuring soft shades of purple and delicate floral details that tied back into the lilac wedding theme. Paired with the vintage-inspired picnic rug, fringed umbrella, and surrounding scenery, the setup created a relaxed and romantic atmosphere that felt intentional without being overly formal.
A private wedding cake cutting is also such a fun alternative for couples who don't necessarily want every reception tradition to happen in front of their guests. You can still have your photographer capture the cake cutting while turning it into a genuine moment together—actually sitting down, sharing a few bites of cake, and taking in the fact that you're officially married!
For couples planning an Iowa wedding at Walnut Ridge, the venue's outdoor spaces provide so many opportunities to create moments like this outside of the traditional ceremony and reception setup. Whether it's a private cake cutting, champagne toast, vow reading, or simply a few minutes alone together, incorporating intentional private moments into your Iowa wedding day timeline can make the celebration feel even more personal.

The Lounge

I love to include a lounge for every shoot I do, and I always encourage my couples to include one on their wedding day for a few reasons. 1.) You can move the furniture around the venue, even outside, to take photos with, and they make for some of the best bridal portraits! 2.) Your guests will love to sit and chat in an aesthetic lounge area during the cocktail hour and reception. 3.) They are a great space filler if your venue feels too empty. 4) It makes for a great photo op for your guests!

Creating a Wedding Lounge Your Guests Will Actually Use

If there’s one design element I love incorporating into almost every styled shoot, it’s a wedding lounge area. A lounge adds another layer of texture, color, and personality to a wedding design while also being one of the few décor elements that can be both beautiful and incredibly functional.
For this lilac-inspired Iowa wedding, the lounge complemented the romantic, vintage-inspired aesthetic we created throughout the rest of the day. It gave us another opportunity to incorporate rich purple tones alongside the fresh lilacs while creating a cozy, intentional space within the venue.
One of my favorite things about incorporating vintage lounge furniture into a wedding is how versatile it can be. The furniture doesn't have to stay in one place all day! Pieces can be moved around the venue—or even outside—to create completely different settings for bridal and couple portraits. Some of my favorite wedding photos have come from simply taking a beautiful vintage chair or loveseat outside and letting the venue's natural scenery become the backdrop.
A lounge is also something your guests can actually enjoy. During cocktail hour and throughout the reception, it creates a comfortable place for guests to sit, have a drink, and catch up away from their dinner tables. For larger venues, a thoughtfully designed lounge can also help fill an open area that might otherwise feel empty, making the entire reception design feel more complete and intentional.

From the very beginning, Lilac Haze was designed around one simple idea: letting the fleeting beauty of lilacs take center stage. What started as a floral-focused concept grew into an entire lilac-inspired wedding at Walnut Ridge, filled with layered purple tones, vintage details, romantic tablescapes, intentional private moments, and, of course, an abundance of fresh lilacs.

One of our favorite parts of designing styled shoots is showing couples that wedding inspiration doesn't have to be copied exactly. Instead, take the details you love and make them your own. Maybe that's incorporating a wedding lounge, planning a private cake cutting, creating an intimate picnic moment, using ceremony pillars instead of a traditional arch, or choosing one seasonal flower and allowing it to inspire your entire wedding design.

Walnut Ridge in Shellsburg, Iowa provided the perfect setting to bring this vision to life. Between the modern reception space, outdoor ceremony area, pond and fountain, natural scenery, and endless opportunities for portraits, we were able to create completely different moments throughout the property while still making the entire design feel cohesive.

For couples searching for an Iowa wedding venue near Cedar Rapids or dreaming of a romantic, floral-filled wedding, we hope Lilac Haze inspires you to embrace color, texture, seasonal flowers, and a few unexpected details. Your wedding should feel like you, and sometimes the most memorable designs begin with something as simple as a favorite flower.

Planning a Walnut Ridge wedding or Iowa wedding of your own? Elizabeth Bliss Events would love to help you transform your inspiration into a wedding design that's completely unique to your love story.

Our Amazing Vendors:

Venue: Walnut Ridge

Photographer: Olivia Katherine Photography

Content Creation: Katie McDonald

Planner: Elizabeth Bliss Events

Décor: 11:11 Event Co. + Decor on Tap

Vintage Rentals: Annata Vintage

Florist: Beautifully Bloomed

Stationery: Noted Design

Desserts: Baked with Grace

Dress: Jocelyn Taylor Bridal

Suit: Skeffington’s Formal Wear

Hair: Aurora Blush

MU: Aurora Blush

Jewelry: Elegance on 5th

Models: Hallei Frazier and Chaz Vasser

The Walnut Ridge Wedding Venue

Address: 6051 32nd Ave, Shellsburg, IA 52332

Phone: 319-558-9512
Email: walnutridgevenue@gmail.com
Walnut Ridge Website
Capacity of 50 - 250 guests
Cost starts at $4,000 for off season, and kicks up to $6,500+ during peak wedding season
Amenities included: 10 acres, tables & chair set up, mid length table linens, bar setup and staffing, 2 large bridal suites, indoor and outdoor ceremony options, decor options onsite, ceremony arches onsite.