Former Miss America Nia Franklin Marries Shannon Patterson in 'Elegant' North Carolina Wedding: All the Details! (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Shannon Patterson and Nia Franklin.Photo:Avery Wooten Photography

Avery Wooten Photography

Nia Franklinis married!

AfterShannon Pattersonsaw Franklinwin Miss America 2019, he told her sister that he was going to marry her. Now, more than six years later, the couple have officially tied the knot.

Patterson and Franklin married on Friday, March 7, at the place where they first met, Mount Zion Baptist Church in North Carolina. They celebrated after with a reception atMaple Chase Golf & Country Club.

Shannon Patterson and Nia Franklin.Avery Wooten Photography

“We wanted our wedding to be elegant, but not over-the-top, because we wanted our day to be about us and our love for one another. Not all the noise,” Franklin exclusively tells PEOPLE.

Shannon Patterson.Nia Franklin.Shannon Patterson.PHOTO:Avery Wooten PhotographyNia Franklin.PHOTO:Avery Wooten Photography

Shannon Patterson.Nia Franklin.

Shannon Patterson.

Nia Franklin.

Shannon Patterson.PHOTO:Avery Wooten PhotographyNia Franklin.PHOTO:Avery Wooten Photography

Music at the nuptials was especially important to Franklin, who is a music business adjunct instructor atHigh Point Universityand was a 2024 composer-in-residence atThe American Library in Paris.

The former Miss New York began composing in high school, has her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music composition, and is currently working on her second opera.

“Music is a huge part of my life, and I wanted to compose something that we could listen to for years to come and think of our wedding day,” she continues. “Writing music comes naturally to me, so it was only right to compose a special piece for my husband!”

Franklin walked down the aisle to the hymn “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” played on the church organ. She carried a bouquet of red roses.

“Shannon and I both wanted to add thoughtful touches that spoke to our strong Christian faith (red is symbolic of the blood of Jesus and His love for us),” Franklin says. “Also, gold is one of Shannon’s favorite colors.”

Nia Franklin and Shannon Patterson.Nia Franklin and Shannon Patterson.Nia Franklin and Shannon Patterson.PHOTO:Avery Wooten PhotographyNia Franklin and Shannon Patterson.PHOTO:Avery Wooten Photography

Nia Franklin and Shannon Patterson.Nia Franklin and Shannon Patterson.

Nia Franklin and Shannon Patterson.

Nia Franklin and Shannon Patterson.PHOTO:Avery Wooten PhotographyNia Franklin and Shannon Patterson.PHOTO:Avery Wooten Photography

The bride wore aJustin Alexanderwedding dress from hisSincerity Collection, bought fromFallen In Love Bridal & Formalin High Point, North Carolina. She accessorized the look with her mother’s lace veil with dainty pearl lining, as well as a headpiece with pearl, lace and sequin accents.

“I saw the dress while looking through inspiration photos and thought it would be fun to try it on and I immediately loved it. After trying on several others, I came back to the very first one,” Franklin says. “I had a similar experience selecting my evening gown for Miss America, which coincidentally was also white.”

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For the reception, Franklin changed into a modified version of her mother’s wedding dress.

Nia Franklin.Avery Wooten Photography

“It has gone from a gown in 1992 to a minidress in 2025!” she says.

After a buffet-style dinner of steak and salmon, the pair sliced into a personal three-tier vanilla wedding cake fromMaddie Cakes Bakery. Their guests had red velvet, chocolate and vanilla cupcakes for dessert, as well as Krispy Kreme doughnuts and key lime and banana puddings.

The couple describes their wedding as “the best day of our lives” and says they are “most excited” for their European honeymoon and starting a family together.

“Being married means finding my wife who I can build an empire with,” says Patterson, who popped the question on Oct. 13, 2024, on an amphitheater stage at Patterson Avenue in their hometown of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

“In our next chapter, we will focus on advancing our careers, deepening our relationship with Christ and pouring into each other even more,” Franklin adds.

Additional Credits:

Publicist:Poise Public Relations

Rings:Helzberg

Reception Florals:Passion Roses

source: people.com