Elegant Family Style Welcome Dinner

elegant family style welcome dinner

What is the best way to set the mood for your wedding weekend? A beautiful welcome dinner!

I suggested to Lisa and Niklas during the planning stages of their wedding to have their welcome dinner at Villa di Geggiano.

To start, they enjoy a walk with all their guests from Villa Catignano, they pass through olive groves and cypress trees with all their family and friends.

elegant family style welcome dinner

On arrival, delicious aperitifs with bellinis and canapes are available for everyone. The herb gardens have lovely views over Siena and also face the setting sun. It is an ideal location for a casual drinks reception.

elegant family style welcome dinner

Welcome dinner with entertainment

After the aperitifs, we move to the gardens in front of the theatre. Here in front of the stage, there is a long imperial table, beautiful red roses and candles decorate it. On stage, a pianist plays light music on a grand piano to accompany the dinner.

elegant family style welcome dinner

A Soprano singer who is a friend of the couple performs during the evening and sings songs that are special to the couple. The experience is lovely and everyone enjoys the casual atmosphere which allows them to mingle and talk to different friends and family members.

elegant family style welcome dinner

At the end of the bbq, Italian ice cream is available from the ice cream cart. There are plenty of flavors to choose from and the kids (and adults) love it! Then, there is a last performance by the soprano. In conclusion, when she hits the last high note of Con te Partiro’ Lisa and Niklas release the balloons into the air to signal the end of this romantic and elegant welcome dinner. All the guests then walk back to Catignano to get a good nights sleep before the wedding day.

Italian and destination wedding photographer Jules Bower photographs weddings in Italy, Europe, and worldwide. British but fluent in Italian, his strong artistic vision and vast experience in the wedding industry make him unique. His wife is a top wedding planner in Tuscany.

Jules Bower author