There’s something undeniably romantic about a wedding at Rollins Mansion in Des Moines, and Kendrie and Raphael’s celebration was the perfect example. From the historic architecture and beautifully manicured gardens to the elegant blue-and-white details woven throughout their day, every part of this wedding felt timeless, intentional, and effortlessly sophisticated.

Kendrie and Raphael embraced everything that makes a Rollins Mansion wedding so special. Their outdoor garden ceremony took place surrounded by lush greenery, colorful blooms, and the mansion’s old-world charm, creating an intimate setting for the two to exchange their vows. The historic estate also gave us no shortage of gorgeous backdrops for portraits—from the garden fountain to the Tudor-style architecture that makes this Des Moines wedding venue so recognizable.

Their wedding design complemented the venue beautifully, with soft shades of blue, crisp white florals, delicate calla lilies, and elegant personalized details that felt right at home against the mansion’s historic setting. Even the smallest touches came together to create a celebration that felt refined without losing the warmth and personality of Kendrie and Raphael’s day.

As a Des Moines wedding planner, we love when a couple chooses a venue with this much character. Rollins Mansion provides an incredible foundation for a wedding day, allowing every detail—from the ceremony and bridal party portraits to cocktail hour and the reception—to feel like part of one cohesive experience.

Keep scrolling for a closer look at Kendrie and Raphael’s Rollins Mansion wedding in Des Moines, Iowa, and all the beautiful details that made their day one to remember.

As a Des Moines wedding planner, Rollins Mansion is one of those venues that never fails to make an impression. From the moment you arrive, the historic architecture, manicured gardens, and European-inspired details create a setting that feels romantic, elevated, and completely different from your typical Iowa wedding venue. For couples dreaming of a timeless celebration, a Rollins Mansion wedding in Des Moines offers so much to work with.

One of our favorite things about Rollins Mansion is the variety of spaces throughout the property. The gardens provide a gorgeous backdrop for an outdoor wedding ceremony in Des Moines, while the fountain, mature trees, brick walls, and Tudor-style exterior create endless opportunities for wedding portraits. Kendrie and Raphael’s day was a perfect example—the mansion looked beautiful from every angle, allowing their photographer to create completely different looks without ever having to leave the property.

We also love how much character Rollins Mansion brings to a wedding design. Instead of starting with a blank space, couples get to build upon the history and charm already present throughout the estate. Whether your vision is classic and romantic, colorful and garden-inspired, or modern with timeless touches, the venue provides an incredible foundation for making the design feel intentional and unique to you.

From a planning perspective, having so many parts of the wedding day take place on one property can also create a much more seamless experience for both the couple and their guests. Guests can arrive, settle in, and enjoy the celebration while transitioning naturally from one portion of the day to the next—all surrounded by the beauty of this historic Des Moines wedding venue.

For our team at Elizabeth Bliss Events, getting to plan and design weddings at Rollins Mansion is always a treat. Between the beautiful grounds, distinctive architecture, intimate garden atmosphere, and countless opportunities to personalize the space, it’s easy to see why Rollins Mansion continues to be such a special choice for couples planning a Des Moines, Iowa wedding.

Getting Ready for a Rollins Mansion Wedding in Des Moines

Kendrie and Raphael’s Des Moines wedding day began just a short distance from Rollins Mansion, where they spent the morning getting ready at a nearby salon. Having hair and makeup completed off-site gave everyone plenty of time to relax, get pampered, and enjoy the excitement of the morning before heading over to the venue.
Around noon, the wedding party made their way to Rollins Mansion in Des Moines, where Kendrie slipped into her wedding dress and added all of those final details that make the getting-ready portion of a wedding day so special. From jewelry and finishing touches to those quiet moments in front of the mirror, the mansion provided a beautiful, timeless backdrop as the day officially began to come together.
We love a wedding-day timeline that allows hair and makeup to happen off-site while still building in plenty of time at the venue before the ceremony. Arriving at Rollins Mansion at noon meant Kendrie and Raphael weren't rushing straight into their ceremony. Instead, there was time to get dressed, capture getting-ready photos, photograph the wedding party, and take advantage of the gorgeous grounds for portraits.
For couples planning a Rollins Mansion wedding, this is a great example of how thoughtful timeline planning can make the entire day feel more relaxed. As a Des Moines wedding planner, we always recommend allowing extra time after arriving at your venue for those finishing touches and photos. Not only does it create breathing room in the schedule, but it also gives your photographer more opportunities to capture the beautiful architecture and scenery that make a Rollins Mansion wedding in Des Moines, Iowa so special.

Timeless Bridal Details for a Rollins Mansion Wedding

Kendrie’s bridal look was the perfect complement to the timeless elegance of her Rollins Mansion wedding in Des Moines. Every detail felt refined and intentional, from the clean silhouette of her gown to the soft, organic florals she carried down the aisle. Against the historic architecture and lush gardens of Rollins Mansion, her bridal style felt effortlessly classic while still having a modern edge.
Her wedding dress was an absolute showstopper. The structured, strapless bodice paired beautifully with the full skirt and dramatic train, creating a silhouette that photographed beautifully throughout the mansion grounds. One of our favorite elements was the chic scarf-style neckline, which added an unexpected fashion-forward detail to an otherwise timeless gown. Her long, flowing veil completed the look and added just the right amount of movement and romance to her Des Moines wedding portraits.
The florals brought another layer of texture and softness to Kendrie’s bridal look. Her bouquet featured a gorgeous mix of white and green blooms, including calla lilies and orchids, surrounded by lush greenery and cascading elements. Rather than competing with the gown, the natural green-and-white palette complemented it perfectly and tied into the beautiful gardens surrounding the mansion.
Even her smaller accessories were thoughtfully chosen. With her hair styled into a sleek low bun and delicate earrings adding a subtle pop of color, the overall look felt polished without being overdone. Every element worked together while still allowing Kendrie—and that incredible dress—to be the focus.

A Bridal Party in Shades of Blue

Kendrie’s bridal party brought the most beautiful mix of blues to her Rollins Mansion wedding in Des Moines. Rather than choosing one matching bridesmaid dress, each member of the bridal party wore a different shade and style, ranging from soft dusty blue to rich navy. The combination created an effortlessly coordinated look that felt elegant, dimensional, and perfectly suited to the timeless setting of Rollins Mansion.
We especially love how the varying fabrics, silhouettes, and shades allowed each bridesmaid to have an individual look while still creating a cohesive color palette. Against the greenery, gardens, and historic brick architecture of this Des Moines wedding venue, the blues photographed beautifully and added just the right amount of color to the day.
To complete the look, each bridesmaid carried a simple bouquet of white calla lilies, finished with flowing ivory ribbon. The minimalist bouquets were such a gorgeous choice alongside the more detailed dresses and also tied perfectly into the calla lilies featured in Kendrie’s bridal bouquet.
The result was a bridal party look that felt sophisticated without being overly matching—a beautiful example of how mixing blue bridesmaid dresses can create a cohesive wedding design while still allowing each person’s individual style to shine. It was the perfect complement to Kendrie and Raphael’s elegant Rollins Mansion wedding in Des Moines, Iowa.

Welcoming Guests to Kendrie & Raphael’s Rollins Mansion Wedding

Before heading into the ceremony, guests were welcomed to Kendrie and Raphael’s Rollins Mansion wedding with a thoughtfully designed welcome area that offered the perfect first glimpse into the style of their day. This space gave guests a place to sign the couple’s guestbook, leave cards and gifts, and settle in before the ceremony began.
One of our favorite details was the beautiful blue-and-white welcome sign, framed with a stained-glass-inspired floral design that tied seamlessly into the shades of blue seen throughout the wedding. Paired with blue-and-white accents, fresh florals, and elegant tabletop details, the entire display felt intentional while complementing the historic charm and gardens of Rollins Mansion in Des Moines.
We always love creating a designated welcome area because it serves both a practical and design purpose. Guests immediately know where to leave their cards and gifts and have an opportunity to sign the guestbook before getting caught up in the excitement of the celebration. At the same time, it creates a beautiful introduction to the colors, textures, and details they’ll see throughout the rest of the wedding.
For Kendrie and Raphael’s Des Moines wedding, their welcome display was the perfect beginning to a day filled with thoughtful blue-and-white details—and a beautiful example of how even the smallest spaces can contribute to a cohesive wedding design.

A prayer Before Walking Down the Aisle

Some of the most meaningful moments on a wedding day happen away from the guests and before the ceremony ever begins. Just before Kendrie walked down the aisle at her Rollins Mansion wedding in Des Moines, her bridal party and mother gathered around her for a quiet moment of prayer.
With hands resting on Kendrie’s shoulders, they prayed over her, her marriage, and the new chapter she and Raphael were about to begin together. In the middle of a day filled with timelines, photographs, details, and anticipation, this moment gave everyone an opportunity to slow down and focus on what the celebration was truly about.
We love when couples intentionally make room for meaningful traditions like this in their wedding day timeline. These quiet, emotional moments often become some of the most treasured memories—and photographs—from the entire day.
Surrounded by some of the women closest to her, Kendrie was able to take in one final moment before stepping outside, walking through the beautiful grounds of Rollins Mansion in Des Moines, and making her way down the aisle to Raphael. It was such a heartfelt beginning to their ceremony and one of the sweetest moments from their Des Moines, Iowa wedding day.

A Romantic Garden Ceremony at Rollins Mansion

Kendrie and Raphael exchanged vows surrounded by their closest family and friends during a beautiful outdoor wedding ceremony at Rollins Mansion in Des Moines. Set within the mansion’s sunken garden, their ceremony showcased one of the most breathtaking parts of this historic property. Between the Tudor-style architecture, brick walls, lush greenery, colorful garden beds, and charming fountain, very little additional décor was needed to create an unforgettable setting.
Guests were seated around the garden, with additional seating along the elevated terrace overlooking the ceremony. We love the way this layout makes a Rollins Mansion wedding ceremony feel intimate while also allowing the mansion itself to become part of the backdrop. The existing pink, purple, and white flowers surrounding the fountain brought natural color to the space and paired beautifully with the soft blues, whites, and greenery used throughout Kendrie and Raphael’s wedding design.
One of the sweetest moments was Kendrie’s walk down the aisle. With her mother and father by her side, she made her way through the garden toward Raphael, carrying her white-and-green bouquet as guests looked on. Her timeless gown and flowing veil looked especially beautiful against the greenery and historic brick architecture surrounding them.
At the end of the aisle, a simple wooden cross draped in white fabric created a meaningful focal point without taking away from the natural beauty of the gardens. It was a perfect example of how ceremony décor at Rollins Mansion can remain simple and intentional—the venue already provides so much character on its own.

An Elegant Outdoor Reception at Rollins Mansion

Following their garden ceremony, Kendrie and Raphael continued the celebration with a beautiful outdoor wedding reception at Rollins Mansion in Des Moines. The mansion’s terrace created such a unique setting for dinner, toasts, and an evening spent celebrating with the people they love most. Surrounded by the historic Tudor-style architecture and strung with glowing café lights overhead, the reception felt intimate, romantic, and effortlessly elegant.
Guests gathered around long banquet-style tables dressed in crisp white linens, with Kendrie and Raphael seated alongside their closest family and friends. The tables featured delicate floral arrangements, taper candles, and soft, organic details that carried the couple’s timeless wedding design from the ceremony into the reception. We especially loved how the understated décor allowed the incredible architecture of Rollins Mansion to remain part of the overall design.
As dinner came to an end, the evening transitioned into heartfelt speeches and toasts. These are always some of our favorite moments of a wedding reception—the formalities of the day begin to wind down, everyone settles in, and you get to hear stories and memories from the people who know the couple best. The photos from Kendrie and Raphael’s reception capture so many genuine reactions, from laughter around the tables to emotional embraces with family.
As the sun began to set, the string lights brought an entirely different atmosphere to the terrace. What had been a bright and airy outdoor dinner transformed into a warm, romantic space perfect for continuing the celebration into the evening. It’s one of the many reasons we love an outdoor reception at Rollins Mansion—the space changes beautifully throughout the day while keeping guests surrounded by the character of the historic estate.

From the quiet moments of getting ready to their garden ceremony and evening reception beneath the string lights, Kendrie and Raphael’s Rollins Mansion wedding in Des Moines was filled with so many meaningful details. Their timeless blue-and-white color palette, elegant florals, thoughtful personal touches, and the historic beauty of the mansion came together to create a celebration that felt completely their own.

More than anything, we loved how much heart was woven throughout their day. From Kendrie’s bridal party and mother praying over her before the ceremony to the heartfelt speeches, laughter, and emotional moments shared with family and friends during the reception, this wedding was a beautiful reminder that the best celebrations are about so much more than the details.

It was such a joy for our team at Elizabeth Bliss Events to be part of Kendrie and Raphael’s wedding day and help bring everything together at one of our favorite Des Moines wedding venues. We’re so grateful they trusted us with such an important celebration and wish them a lifetime of love, laughter, and happiness together.

If you’re planning your own Rollins Mansion wedding or searching for a Des Moines wedding planner to help bring your vision to life, we would love to be part of your day. From creating a seamless wedding-day timeline to coordinating vendors and making sure every last detail is in place, our goal is to give you the freedom to be fully present and enjoy the celebration you’ve spent so much time dreaming about.