A Fairy Tale Wedding: Jane Owen and Fernando Ferro’s Athens Riviera Celebration

This June, renowned publicist Jane Owen and Emmy-nominated Venezuelan-American film director, writer, and producer Fernando Ferro exchanged their vows at the breathtaking Island Escape on the Athens Riviera in Greece. The celebration was full of elegance, romance, and cultural richness, culminating in the most enchanting summertime wedding.

Island Art & Taste ‘Escape’  is a secluded paradise on the Greek ‘Athens Rivera’ coast, providing the ideal setting for this fairy-tale affair. The azure waters of the Aegean Sea and the lush, scenic surroundings created a picturesque backdrop for Jane and Fernando’s nuptials. The venue exemplified the couple’s affinity for both luxury and natural beauty, harmonizing beach-relaxed vibes and Hollywood glamor.

With her event production expertise, Jane had a hand in planning every detail of the wedding. Collaborating with Athens-based wedding planning company White Season Events, headed by Katerina Strimmenou, the day was without a flaw.

Jane created an ambience full of rustic charm and glamorous elements, featuring chandeliers and designer art de table that enhanced the natural beauty of the venue. The floral decorations were a labor of love, gifted by her childhood best friend Anna Cassavetti, and created in partnership with esteemed UK florists Flavia Goldsworthy and Freddy Owen, Jane’s sister. The vibrant flowers added a touch of whimsy and beauty, perfectly complementing the wedding’s color palette of navy blue, fuchsia, and olive green.

Guests were greeted with handmade bracelets featuring the traditional evil eye, or “mati,” to ward off bad energy. Amongst those who attended were actor Jimmy Akingbola from “Bel Air,” actress Melia Kreiling from “Mammals,” New York based journalist and editor Emily Smith, actor Jaylen Moore from the TV series “SIX,” filmmaker and former Disney executive Adam Leipzig, AMFAR board member Tony Mancilla, New York socialite and restaurateur Emilio Vitolo Jr., Miranda Rock of Burghley House, Entrepreneur Chris Gravagna, and Allegra Harris, wife of actor Jared Harris.

Showing off her impeccable style, Jane wore two stunning dresses that reflected her sophisticated yet adventurous spirit. For the ceremony, she chose a timeless gown by Spanish designer Pronovias, exuding classic elegance. She later transformed into a sultry Grecian-inspired dress by Mikaella, perfect for the evening’s festivities.

Jane walked down the aisle to a live Spanish guitar and instrumental rendition of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” setting a poignant and emotional tone for the ceremony officiated by the groom’s father, the esteemed Miami-based Theater and TV producer Miguel Ferro. The couple read emotional vows to each other in front of a lovely floral archway of white wood and muslin decorated with bougainvillea, against a beautiful Mediterranean Sea sunset.

Speeches at dinner brought tears and laughter, with heartfelt tributes from the bride’s father, author Max Owen, and stepmother Sophie Perkins, who honored Jane’s late mother, Catherine Adrianopoulos, and late stepfather, Jonathan Leatham. The groom’s best man, Henry Alverez, his sister, actress Andrea Ferro, and mother, executive Maria Madrid, shared endearing memories.

The culinary experience was nothing short of spectacular, with five stations of live cooking helmed by thirteen chefs, offering a diverse array of delicacies from sushi and paella to lobster and traditional Greek dishes. The open bars, fully stocked and serving from the ceremony through to the early morning hours, ensured that guests were well-catered to throughout the evening.

The couple’s first dance to “It Had to Be You” from their favorite movie “When Harry Met Sally” was a touching highlight, encapsulating their love story in a single moment.

As the night progressed, guests were surprised with a magnificent fireworks display, bridging the gap between the meal and dancing. The DJ kept the energy high with a mix of popular hits, decade throwbacks, and Hispanic music, catering to the diverse tastes of the guests and the couple. The evening concluded with a toast from the bride’s siblings, Harry, Molly, and Freddy, led by her maid of honor, sister Cecily Leatham.

Jane Owen and Fernando Ferro’s wedding was a night to remember, full of love, romance, and enchantment. It was not only a celebration of their union but the joining of families, cultures, and friends in a truly magical setting.