Southern Charm Meets Old World Complete with a Art Gallery Escort Wall

Styled to perfection by Siena & Co Events, with stunning florals from Fiorella Nashville, and every moment captured by Kera Photography, this wedding photoshoot is where Southern charm meets Old World elegance. A masterclass in mixing tradition with creativity, it’s the perfect blend of romance and innovation—just like the couple themselves!

This editorial wedding goes beyond the usual destination wedding vibes, infusing old-world charm with modern elegance and unexpected surprises. Think vineyard-inspired tablescapes, olive branch centerpieces, and the warm glow of candlelight, all set against a backdrop that transports you straight to the Italian countryside.

The Venue
CJ’s Off the Square is one of the most quaint outdoor venues in Franklin, TN. It’s charming garden setting attached to the historical home made this the perfect setting for an Italian inspired wedding. The front porch of CJ’s off the Square pulls guests in immediately with its matured Italian cypress trees and white blossoms. On this day, the breeze was aromatic with flowers blossoming and if you closed your eyes for a second you would think you were right on the beaches of Lake Garda.

Favorite Design Elements
The “never been done before” art gallery escort wall incorporated sensory art pieces with blooming florals. This was an amazingly fun way to wow and entertain guests while giving a nod to the modern art galleries William and Jessica used to frequent during their time in Italy.

The hand-painted name and table cards on canvas were the perfect addition to this design. These custom design elements can also be seen on the invitation suites that were hand-painted one-by-one.

But here’s the show-stopping twist that sets this wedding apart: a never-been-done-before Art Gallery Escort Wall. Say goodbye to standard escort cards and hello to a seating chart that doubles as a curated art exhibit. Guests don’t just find their seats—they embark on an artistic journey, exploring a gallery wall where each piece of art corresponds to their table. It’s a blend of personal style and creativity that takes wedding décor to an entirely new level.

Wedding Colors
Inspired by the blush wine William and Jessica were drinking when they fell in love, Joanna Lewis from Siena & Co. Events weaved blush colors throughout the design, incorporating it into the velvet linens, florals, and custom art pieces on the escort wall — complete with blossoming florals that served as a sensory experience for guests accompanied by hand-painted canvas name and table cards.

The addition of deep purples in the florals can take this summer wedding right into Fall.

On his travels to Lake Garda in the summer of 2022, William spent his time traveling solo — a well deserved rest and relaxation after receiving his masters in business at Vanderbilt University. William would spend most of his time soaking up the culture in Italian cafes and on the beaches where he would watch locals sailing on the crystal blue waters of the lake.

The Details
Joanna from Siena & Co. Events wanted the space to transfer guests back to Italy with al fresco dining and intentional details. The velvet blush linens from Southern Events was an ode to the blush wine Jessica and William were drinking when they fell in love.

The floral centerpieces featured an array of pinks and purples and incorporated clusters of grapes as a nod to the many amazing vineyards and wineries in Lake Garda that Jessica and William would visit.

The floral installation with off-set chandeliers was a stunning feature and yet another way to incorporate Lake Garda’s rich history — many of the mansions of the time were decorated with rich furniture and large chandeliers.

The escort wall complete with picture frame molding was a triumph, alluding to the many modern art galleries Jessica introduced to William during their time in Italy.

The cake was unbelievably stunning, with the base of the cake iced in a stone-like fashion to mimic the stone architecture of Italy made by Katelin Hayes Desserts. The cascading icing and florals adorned the lemon flavored cake perfectly.

More Tennessee wedding inspo this way

Every moment and detail captured in this editorial was intentional — a nod to the charming characteristics of Lake Garda and the blush wine William and Jessica were drinking when they fell in love. Even though William and Jessica are now living in Franklin, TN., we wanted to create a wedding day that felt like they could be right in the middle of the Lake Garda town square. From dining al fresco with Italian wines to a custom art gallery escort wall — every detail was an ode to their time falling in love in Lake Garda.

The Fashion
We opted for a simple but very classic off the shoulder gown. Cut in a beautifully textured crinkle habotai, this Farrow gown by Jenny Yoo features a notched sweetheart neckline and a flattering angled cummerbund waist. Dramatic off the shoulder sleeves are draped out of the neckline, and the gathered ball skirt has beautiful movement allowing Jessica to move and dance freely the entire day.

For our groom, we opted for a classic suite and bowtie with a blush jacket, which was just enough color to pull it into the rest of the design.

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