Autumn Wedding at Elawa Farm
For this beautiful fall wedding at Elawa Farms in Lake Forest, we embraced the rich textures and hues of fall, crafted a design that was both luxurious and sustainably rooted. The result: a ceremony, reception, and overall experience that felt timeless, elegant—and entirely of the season.
Ceremony: Deconstructed Arch Florals & Aisle Arrangements
Picture a deconstructed arch: asymmetrical clusters of blooms and greenery with seasonally inspired textures.
Flanking the aisle were arrangements that echoed the arch: lowing clusters of in-season blooms paired with dried grasses, seed pods and branches in burnished copper tones. Each arrangement was placed on the ground, tucked between the chairs rather than elevated on pedestals.
In designing this ceremony space, we leaned heavily into our sustainability ethos: sourcing locally, zero foam, using mechanics that allowed for reuse or composting, and selecting blooms that were in season and optimized for longevity.
Flower Goats
We believe weddings should reflect the couple’s personality—and we love adding a touch of playfulness when it fits! Enter our “Flower Goats”: gentle, friendly goats adorned with floral collars that echoed the wedding palette and tied into the architecture of the arch and aisle florals.
Having animals at your ceremony elevates the experience: guests smile, giggle, and create stories they’ll tell long after the day. And by outfitting the collars with sustainable, wild-feeling blooms, we remained true to our commitment to elegance with ecological mindfulness.
Guest Seating Charts Displayed on Terrariums
At the entrance to the reception, we displayed the seating charts in a cluster of varying sized glass terrariums. Each terrarium held an arrangement of autumn-harvest blooms: dahlias, globe thistle and garden roses. The names and table numbers were hand-painted on the outside of each terrarium.
The effect was modern and luxurious, yet natural. The terrariums were reusable, and the blooms after the event were repurposed to adorn tables or donated—another win for our sustainable design approach.
Golden Hour Reception
As the sun began its descent over Elawa Farms, the reception space glowed in golden hour light. We selected rich blue linen overlays to provide a dramatic contrast to the warm autumn palette of the florals. The table layout is a mix of shapes: long rectangle tables perfect for conversation, paired with elegant round tables for guests to mingle and relax. This mix kept the visual interest high and invited variety in how people connect.
Above the space, a hanging floral installation swept across the ceiling in a deep yet vibrant sunset fall palette. Everywhere guests look, they see thoughtful details, luxurious texture, and lush botanicals that whisper rather than shout.
Fall Colors, Textures & In-Season Sustainable Blooms
For couples planning an autumn celebration at a venue like Elawa Farms, our advice is: let nature lead the palette, embrace texture, and allow the architecture of the space to inform your design. Then layer in touches of your own personality—animal friends, mixed table shapes, thoughtful seating chart displays—and you’ll have something memorably elegant, deeply intentional, and sustainably lovely.
Let’s Create Your Dream Wedding
If you’re dreaming of an autumn wedding that combines luxury, sustainability, and personality—let’s talk. At Flowers by Stem, we’d love to bring your vision to life with intention, craftsmanship, and heart.
Explore our work, or head over to the Contact page to reach out. At Flowers by Stem, I guide you through custom design, seasonal selections, and eco-conscious planning.
📞 Contact me here to start the conversation—and let’s create floral moments you’ll cherish forever.
Book a free consultation today and let’s begin crafting your perfect wedding!
Planner: @holli_thecreativeplanners @thecreativeplanners - Venue: @elawafarm - Photographer: @katiekett - Catering: @bigdeliciousplanet - Linens: @bbjlatavola - Lighting: @rmarkable_events