Summer Castle Soiree Wedding Inspiration

If you’re loving the trend of pink everything like we are right now, then this shoot’s the one for you. This inspiration sesh took place at a nearly 100-year-old castle outside of Nashville, and it’s just about as beautiful as you’d imagine! The talented team of Christy Wilson Photography, Randi Events, and Lauren Atkinson Design captured ethereal romantic to a T, right down to the dreamy blush wedding gown.

I wanted to incorporate outdoor elements into this whimsical garden inspired photo shoot. As fate would have it, while we were throwing around location ideas, our company took over management of a new venue in Franklin, TN called The Castle. The Castle is an exquisite location, set just a few miles from the heart of downtown Nashville. The venue, built in the 1920s is brimming with history. One of my main goals in this shoot was to incorporate the romantic and dreamlike feel that The Castle reflects. I didn’t want it to seem too stuffy, but I gave everything a soft touch. Enter Christy Wilson! Her photography really captures the elegance of the space, as well as highlights the emotions and history behind both the stunning couple, and the exquisite venue. From the start, I wanted to create an enchanting head-to-toe look with features such as the gorgeous dress that flared out to a full, floor-length skirt. I fell in love with the beautiful gown and knew the garden-inspired head piece was a perfect choice for our model and the setting.

I knew that mixing stone and the warm landscape would give a fairy tale ambience to the Castle’s charm. This theme provided the inspiration for the rest of the design. Elements included the private whimsical pergola dinner, Jo’s Custom Cakes‘ 3-tiered confection, G Catering homemade edible flower popsicles dipped in champagne, and our own DIY twist, the tiled-patterned escort cards. For florals, I envisioned a full bouquet of white roses with touches of blush and flowy greenery. Lauren Atkinson from Lauren Atkinson Design definitely exceeded all of our expectations for this shoot and helped create the WOW factor that every bride deserves! At first glance, the front of the Castle where the ceremony takes place grabs your attention. The stone pavement is engraved with symbols from the venues history, which lead to the aisles lit with glass pillar candles. The trail let up to the breath-taking flower wall, custom made by our friends at Please Be Seated. I wanted to continue the soft touch of the flower wall, and chose several different seating arrangements around the property, featuring comfy furniture, vintage coffee tables, chandelier lighting, and accent pillows.

The whimsical feel continued into the reception area. I mimicked the range of hues with a sheer draping for the pergola, wrapped in airy greenery. The touches of blush and white florals from the bouquet appeared here too. The antique white washed farm wood tables were covered with a light blue and gold table runner from Nuage Designs. The tabletop décor included antique gold candlesticks filled with light blue and white candles. Each individual place setting featured a light pink sea sponge charger from BBJ Linen. Above each charger sat a blue vintage vessel glass from Music City Tents and Events. Each setting contained a light pink napkin held together by a rustic gold/stone napkin ring. The silverware was tied together by a sheer ribbon that accentuated the custom-made menus from The Dotted Line. I wanted to incorporate centerpieces similar to the bride’s bouquet, and the elegant floral arrangements gave the exact final touch we were looking for.

Our models for this shoot weren’t faking that amazing chemistry, they are a real couple! Hunter Schleicher maintains her own blog and inspires many women around the world with her story and positivity. Pictured with Hunter was her fiancé Cameron Premo, normally on the other side of the camera as Hunter’s photographer! He is used to working with his beautiful bride-to-be to try and capture each beautiful moment they share together. Melissa Schleicher, owner of Parlour 3 salons, styled her daughters platinum locks into a gorgeous loose half-up hairstyle. We loved how Hunter’s neutral makeup tones highlighted her natural beauty. It was the perfect look to complete the fairy tale ending. This styled shoot at the Castle came together effortlessly with the help of Christy and our team!