Our Bella Bridesmaids!

Our Bella Bridesmaids looking lovely in dresses from Bella Greenville, Houston, Boston, Kansas City and St. Louis!

Bella Bridesmaid: Kansas City Bride: Stephanie Zeller  Designer: LulaKate

Style (s): Varied  Fabric: Silk Shantung Color: Dove Grey

Photographer: Smiley Face Collective

Bella Bridesmaid: Greenville Bride: Anne Carter,  Designer: Jenny Yoo 

Style: Maxine Dress Fabric: Crinkle Chiffon Color: Fawn

Bella Bridesmaid: Boston Bride: Allison Grabler,  Designer: Ivy & Aster 

Style: Forget Me Knot  Fabric: Chiffon Color: Almond Photographer: One Love Photo

Bella Bridesmaid: Houston  Bride: Adrianne  Designer: LulaKate

Style(s): Varied  Fabric: Silk Shantung Color: Off-White

Bella Bridesmaid: St. Louis Bride: Mallory Vargon,  Designer: Jenny Yoo 

Style: Margaux Dress Fabric: Crinkle Chiffon Color: Fawn  Photographer: Clary Pfeiffer

Real Wedding Q&A

Natalie and John's wedding will take your breath away...

Q. How did you meet your Fiance?

A. John and I met at work, but we didn’t actually speak for the first five months. I'm told that every time he would look at me my head would go in the opposite direction. A few months down the road I started in a new role and began needing to communicate with him regularly. Shortly after, I started talking to my mom about "the guy at work who is really great and I'm pretty sure interested in me" but said I would never go out with him because “it is just not smart to date co-workers, mom.” A month later he asked me out on our first date. Ten months after that we were engaged. There may have been some happy hour flirting thrown in the mix. Sometimes it's good to break your own rules.

Q. How did you choose the location for your wedding? What type of venue were you looking for?

A. John is form Pennsylvania, I am from Missouri and we live in New York. I always assumed that I would have a hometown wedding, but as I pictured our wedding in Missouri it felt like "my" wedding, not "ours." I grew up going to Palm Springs often with my family. In fact, my parents live half the year out there now. John had also spent some time in the desert before we met, then we shared our first New Years there before getting engaged. Palm Springs feels like a home to me, but it is very much "us." We knew we wanted to have our ceremony in a church and have the reception at a resort where our guests would enjoy staying. Our friends and family were coming from all over the country, so it was important to us that we make their weekend as fun and convenient as possible. La Quinta Resort and Club is picture book beautiful and a vacation within itself.

Q. What made you decide to do varied styles, colors, etc. for your bridesmaids dresses?

A. I had quite a few bridesmaids. Eleven to be exact. I wanted the girls to be comfortable and have a say in what they wore. Since it's basically impossible to find one dress that eleven girls feel good in, I thought it would be fun to have all the dresses be different. My Maid of Honor Annie, Jamie from Bella NYC and I had the challenge of figuring out combinations of dresses and colors so that no two girls where wearing the exact same thing. It was a lot of fun envisioning what it would look like and trying on a billion dresses in the store. Of course, I owe all the diagramming and math to the two of them!

Q. Who designed your bridal gown? Where did you get it?

A. My mom flew out to New York to help me search for my gown. We made an appointment at the Bergdorf Goodman bridal boutique, and I ended up only trying on about five dresses. Too many options seemed overwhelming and I loved the simplicity and silhouette of my dress.  And I doubt John was shocked that I chose lace…My only rule going in was no princess ball gowns. I'm a petite girl, so where would I put all that poof!

Q. What was your favorite part of the day?

A. I certainly can't pick a favorite part of the day. Getting ready in the morning with all my girlfriends, my mom and mother-in-law was of course a lot of fun. I remember being on the bus with all my bridesmaids heading to the church and feeling so happy and calm. I was wearing a wedding dress, my best friends were beside me and I was on my way to marry the man I knew was made for me. It was a very surreal moment. Walking down the isle with my dad, surrounded by all of my family and friends, looking at John in his tuxedo about to make me his wife is a feeling that will never be beat. The ceremony was beautiful, and I was giddy as could be. But in addition to all the love and all the gush, we had one heck of a party! If your wedding sets the tone for your marriage, ours is due to be fun, fairly traditional and a perhaps a bit rowdy.

Q. What inspired you when you were planning your big day?

A. I wanted the weekend to be classic and elegant, but most of all I wanted to plan a wedding that was fun and we would love attending if we were guests.  Planning a wedding from the opposite coast can be a bit of a trick, but between my mother, our floral and design team, and wedding planner I was in good hands and able to enjoy the process. With the Southern California weather, gorgeous venue and killer band, there was really no worrying that is wasn’t going to be a great weekend for everyone.

Q. What advise do you have for other brides?

A. Relax and enjoy it. The engagement and wedding fly by, and it's an experience you only get to have once. There is a good chance that of all the million things you plan, something will go wrong, but when you are marrying the man you can't live without and are surrounded by the people you love the most, you aren't going to notice if the napkins are the wrong shade or the band plays a song you didn't request. And your guests won't either. Make an effort to take in every moment of the day. The cliché stands true. Your wedding day will go by in the blink of an eye. And the best part… If you’ve done it right, your life following the I Do’s only gets better.  

Venue:  La Quinta Resort and Club
Photographer: Jonathan Young Photography
Wedding Planner: Celebrations of Joy-Cathy O'Connell
Florist/Designer: :arrangementsdesign.com
Band: Side Effect
Bridesmaids Dresses: Joanna August from Bella Bridesmaid NYC

 

Real Wedding Q&A

Christie and Patrick's wedding is the definition of southern charm and elegance...

Q.  How did you meet your fiancé?

A.  I met my fiancé/husband in high school, but we never dated, we just had a "thing." Technically, I wasn't allowed to date him because my dad thought he was too wild, but everyone grows up and we started talking again in college. We would get together during the breaks and when we were finally back in Jacksonville, we gradually began dating. We were engaged on June 25, 2011! It was such an exciting day!

Q.  How did you choose the location for your wedding? What type of venue were you looking for?

A.  I was looking for a southern venue that had characteristics of old Florida! Patrick and I are very laid back and I wanted a relaxed, comfortable wedding. I knew that we would have many children there and we both have a lot of family. Having the indoor/outdoor reception was perfect for my guests!

Q. Who designed your bridal gown? Where was it purchased?

A.  My bridal gown was designed by Allure Bridal and it was purchased from the Bridal Shoppe at the Avenues.

Q. What was your favorite part of the day?

A.  This is a hard question and I really have not thought about that until now, but I think it would have to be the moment I saw Patrick. I'm sure every bride feels that way, but it really was indescribable. There was another moment when Patrick and I were standing in front of our bridal party and I turned back to look at them. That was a beautiful sight - being surround by our 5 brothers, our cousins, and best friends. I felt overwhelmed to have such a sweet support system willing and excited to stand by us on our special day. Oh and the last dance when everyone else was getting ready for the exit. It was just us and the band and the dance floor. I would encourage every bride to do that. I'll never forget how quiet and sweet that was.

Q. What inspired you when you were planning your big day?

A.  The South, Old Florida, lace...

Q.  What advise do you have for other brides?

A.  Relax. It is only a day and it flies by. Go with your instinct. Patrick thought a few things I planned were a little corny and they ended up being some of the highlights of his day. Most importantly, the wedding is such a wonderful experience, but just remember that you're working towards a happy marriage. I tried to keep that my main priority. At the end of the day, I knew it wasn't as much about a wedding as it was about me taking home a husband and that was the most perfect part.

See more photos!

Venue: Ribault Club

Photographer: Brooke Images

Wedding Gown: Bridal Shoppe at the Avenues

Bridesmaids Dresses: LulaKate from Bella Bridesmaid Jacksonville
Event Design: A White Veiled Occasion

Going Green

Goodbye Tangerine Tango, Hello Emerald! Pantone recently chose this lush, jewel tone as THE color of 2013. Everyone and everything is going green this year- designers, home decor, celebrities. If Angelina can do it, so can we!

This new hue is vibrant, stylish, and flattering on everyone, so why not incorporate it into your big day! Here are some ways to help our 2013 brides Oz it up...Dorothy and the Emerald City style.