Finding Fresh Inspiration in the Beauty of the Italian Countryside

Erin Lepperd
July 13, 2017
Categories: Photo Shoot, The Blog

From the smallest detail to the biggest, sweeping backdrop, every single moment shines bright in this European inspiration crafted by Kaleb Norman James. Wanting to add a fresh twist to classic Italian villa celebration, this team incorporated elegant stationery by La Happy, rich colors, luxe fabrics and the juxtaposition of muted pastels. That combo proves to be a gorgeous one. Watch the Italian countryside come to life through the lens of O’Malley Photographers.

From Planner/Stylist Kaleb Norman James… I spent my summer’s growing up traveling through Italy with my family. From the rolling hills of Tuscany, to the seaside coast of the Almalfi, I always knew that once I started planning weddings, I would return here and combine my love of Italian culture, with my love for weddings. Not to be cliche or predictable, but our inspiration for this styled shoot was truly Italy itself. I wanted the colors to evoke something that felt rich and cultured, such as the intensity of the burnt orange velvet jacket & the embroidery of the vintage gown. But I also wanted to accent with softer, cooler tones, adding contrast, such as the neutral linens & soft pinks in the floral. The combo of the two looks felt reminiscent of the architecture of the buildings and landscape you see here in Florence. Some buildings are a rich red with aged stucco and plaster, while others are next to it are a pale, buttery yellow, covered in climbing wisteria vines. These two feelings seen throughout my travels were where I found my inspiration and what brought everything together. Imperfectly paired, to create an unexpected sense of culture and history. The place settings accomplished a similar juxtaposition, with the use of more formal gold rimmed glasses alongside of rustic, rough edged ceramic plates & bone handled flatware. One of my favorite parts of putting the tablescape together was finding the most of the details in the small shops and market’s directly in Florence. I spent hours wandering through market stalls and linen shops looking for the perfect napkins to accent the tablecloths & just the right locally made trays for all the fruit to sit on. We sourced almost everything for the table locally, to help create as authentic of a look as possible.