Florence isn’t just a city of romance, it’s a mecca for hi-fashion and picture-worthy hotspots. Whether you’re planning a wedding in Italy or far from it, these gowns by Jules Bly are sure show-stoppers for any destination wedding.

Get a first-hand look into this styled gown shoot in the gorgeous streets and gardens of Florence from the designer herself!

Dress: “Diamonds a Dozen” | Location: Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

Duomo Di Firenze made a dramatic backdrop with its gothic style, giant wooden doors and polychrome panels of various shades of green and pink marble. Diamonds a Dozen features a diamond of Hand-loomed, hand-beaded French Guipure Lace. A front split reveals just the perfect amount of leg and nude-colored lining. The plunging back is accentuated with same French lace, also hand beaded with tiny silver flocked seed beads and Japanese Pearls. 

Dress: “Fall From Lace” | Location: Ponte Vecchio / The Streets of Firenze

“Fall from Lace” is wooing brides-to-be all over Europe and as life imitates art, the early morning shoot on the bridge looking back to the Ponte Vecchio, several photographers who were positioned on the bridge to catch the magical early morning light reflecting in the Arno could hardly believe their luck when a beautiful model in a beautiful gown showed up to delight not only them, also the crowds that were beginning to wake up and pass by. As we shot- and the long lensed photographers shot our shoot (yes, they asked and we agreed), people gathered to watch what they thought must be a celebrity wedding. The passers-by thought our new friends were paparazzi. Silk Faille gives a heavy drape to the full circle of Fall from Lace. The long-sleeved bodice is adorned with hand-loomed French laces, Guipure lace flowers are cut and re appliqued to create a three-dimensional texture. The square plunging back nestles snugly against the waist giving an illusion of a teeny-tiny waist.

Dresses: “Let’s Slip Away” (Gown) “Icing on the Cape” (Caplette) | Location: Giardino Bardini

There is something uniquely dreamy and romantic about the views over Florence from the hills of Oltrarno on a stunning Spring morning. Without doubt one of the best views in all of Toscana. The Villa Bardini opened only recently to the public and its Italian Renaissance garden was the perfect fit for “Lets Slip Away” a simply elegant Pure Silk Charmeuse wrap, bias-cut gown. Introducing “Icing on the Cape” with its soft drape gave a delicate touch of hand-loomed French Lace. The luxurious fluidity of “Lets Slip Away” contrasted spectacularly against the pillars, stairways and statues of the Giardino Bardini.

All my gowns are created in my studio and handcrafted with passion and attention to every detail. With an eye to comfort and wear-ability, they are also Eco-sensitive helping to keep microfibers out of our Eco-systems, waters ways and oceans. Let your senses guide you. You’ll know when you find the gown of your dreams.

Vendors: Photographer: Olga Makarova; Makeup & Hair: Valeriya Azaryonok; Jewelry Designer: Martina Loncar Jewellery; Model: Birna Guðmundsdóttir