Airlie resembles the beauty of an Italian villa and will whisk you away to a late summer afternoon on the Tuscan coast. This blog post will show you that you can have the destination wedding of your dreams (all while staying in the States) with a wedding at Airlie in Warrenton, Virginia.
Inspiration was pulled from the romance of Italy and a pastel color palette that only warm weather can boast. This wedding vision is perfect for the couple who values family, travel and experiences, and wants to host an intimate event for just their closest friends and family.
Airlie features lush gardens, a statement staircase and well-manicured lawns, all reminiscent of an Italian villa. With a courtyard for the champagne tower and cocktail hour, and beautiful gardens for guests to wander through as they sip on their cocktails, we couldn’t imagine a more serene setting than Airlie.
Because our couple loves family and entertaining, we created a lavish tablescape to surprise and delight. For the centerpieces, we used a mixture of symmetry with the candles and candlesticks, and asymmetry with vases of differing height. This gave the table a modern and intentional look. When choosing bold statement pieces such as the tablecloth and the flower cloud, it was important to keep the flowers on the table simple.
Olive branch greenery throughout the table brought in texture and Italian romance. Additionally, because handmade details are a special touch for a wedding table, we chose to hand press dried flowers onto tapered candles. This brought the flowers and candles together.
To further pull in the magic of Italy, lemons were printed on the menu cards, which were found at each place setting. The floral cloud that was suspended over the table floated above the guests and was a delightful focal point during the four-course dinner. Additionally, the glassware and place settings, provided by Blooming Arrow Events, incorporated a floral vintage charm to the tablescape.
Custom his and hers cocktails included Under the Tuscan Sun and Limoncello Spritz, along with garnishments like blackberries and lavender. Additionally, the Lemons of the Limoncello perfectly tied in the citrus found on the menu cards and invitation wax seals.
The invitation suite featured handwritten calligraphy in soft blue ink on handmade paper by Lauren of Line Avenue Calligraphy. Simplicity was important when choosing stationary because it complimented the refined and elegant Italian-inspired atmosphere.
“For this Italian inspired shoot, I knew I wanted to focus in on the magic of Italy with the florals”, Keturah of One Last Avocado remarked. Olive greenery was sourced and used exclusively throughout the table scape and floral cloud. The olive coupled with in-season peonies made for an opulent, yet simple and elegant, floral statement. For pops of color, Keturah pulled in some garden roses, sunflowers, ranunculus, and dainty fillers, but the main focus was the greenery and the peonies for a lush Italian inspired look.
The gowns, designed by Barbara Kavchok, are perfect for the bride that is looking for a timeless elegance in her wedding dress, but also wants something original and exquisite. The pearl accents of the Calypso gown along with the crisscross bodice and bold sleeves of the Olive 2.0 gown bring forth two very different look possibilities, because we know that no two brides are alike.
The bridal jewelry, created by Maria of Tia Adoro, complimented each gown flawlessly. White Dior heels were paired with the ensembles.
For the groom, we chose a classic black tailored tux and bowtie to compliment the Calypso gown, and a grey suit to compliment the Olive. Dena Leann Artistry created a fresh and clean look for our refined bride.
We hope this Tuscan inspired wedding at Airlie transported you to the Italian Coast and gave you some ideas for your own wedding, whether that be in Europe or here in the states.
Venue: Airlie
Photography: Carly Rose Photography
Florals: One Last Avocado
Planning: Sarah K Events
Hair and Makeup: Deena Leann Artistry
Black Tux: Cape Cod Formals
Grey Tux: Generation Tux
Jewelry: TiAdoro Jewelry
Glassware and Furniture Rentals: Blooming Arrow Events
Rentals: Grand Event Center
Videography: Kiersten Beatley Films
Models: Kingsley Models
Dresses: Barbara Kavchok
Cake: Tiers In Heaven
Invitations: Line Avenue Calligraphy
Signage: Written In The Stars
Shoes: Dior
GET IN TOUCH
Let's get 'book dream wedding photographer' checked off of your to-do list! Once you have inquired, you can expect a response from me within 24 hours. I will send you a brochure packed with information on what a wedding experience with me looks like. I love to hop on a consultation call so that we can chat about your wedding day plans. If you decide that I am the PERFECT photographer for your Big Day, I will email you all of the information needed to book and reserve your wedding date.