2016 was quite a year in the Bella offices! With over 20 weddings and events over the course of the year, we were thrilled to spend our year celebrating so much love and such fabulous couples. From Keystone to Beaver Creek to Aspen, Colorado was our playground, and you can bet we had a blast bringing all of these amazing events to life! Here’s a little peek into what we were up to over the past 12 months. We can’t wait to see what 2017 has in store! Continue reading
What a year 2015 was! We had 20 weddings between April and December, and had the absolute pleasure of celebrating with couples from across the country. We had the honor of planning the first same-sex wedding at Beaver Creek Chapel, … Continue reading
It’s the time of the season for love! Not only because it is spring, but it is also the beginning of wedding season! Spring has sprung on us! It feels like just yesterday it was snowing (actually it did here … Continue reading
What’s more beautiful than sparkling snowflakes slowly falling to a quiet forest floor? Well, a sparkling snowflake covered wedding! Carey and Todd Shaget’s wedding had rustic mountain charm with the right of amount sophistication. From the tangled twig dangling light orbs to the white covered Vail Chapel this wedding was breath taking. Carey the bride looked stunning in her long sleeve, lace detailed gown and the groom Todd looked dapper in his classic suit.
But to celebrate a wedding in one day sometimes just isn’t enough. A weekend of festivities and skiing is the perfect way to enjoy the company of friends and family in Vail, Colorado. The Shagets started their destination wedding with a welcome dinner at Pepi’s Restaurant with adorable welcome gifts of mini wine bottles and munchies. After skiing one of the best resorts in the world, the couple invited their beloved guests to a ski-in lunch at the Bully Ranch Restaurant of Sonnenalp, Vail. At the lunch, friends and family were encouraged to flaunt their on-the-slopes wardrobe for a true apres-ski mountain meal.
And what about the rehearsal dinner? Possibly the most important meal of the wedding weekend? The rehearsal dinner was just as rustic elegant as you can get. The rehearsal site was at Cucina Rustica which does a spectacular job of reflecting the Rocky Mountain culture in hearty American classic meals. And the wedding party got down to it, perfecting their speeches and declaring why Carey and Todd’s love is so special.
We love the idea of weekend get-togethers before the wedding. Weddings like the Shaget’s, brings us together with the one’s we love and reinforces why we get married. We always do it for love.
Best wishes to the latest members of our Bella family!
Venue: Sonnenalp
Ceremony: Vail Chapel
Planning and Design: Bella Design & Planning
Photography and Videography: James Michael Lang
Cake: Sonnenalp
Florals: Bloom
Lighting and Drapery: Pink Monkey Solutions
Hair and Makeup: Candi Johns
Stationery: Richard’s Notebook
Band: Pulse
“That’s the wedding planner!” exclaimed one of the guests of Carey and Todd Shaget’s beautiful Vail, Colorado wedding on March 1st. The guest easily could pick out Emily, our boss and owner at Bella Design and Planning, from the sea of lovely guests. Why was she so easy to spot? Was it her exuberant confidence? Her friendly demeanor? Or the fact that she was somehow everywhere at one time?
What ever the reason, it was clear that Emily was working hard at making everything perfectly gorgeous.
“Wedding planning is not for the weak. I’m about to start Pilates to get in shape for the summer wedding season!” Emily said to Samantha, our new Graphic Design Coordinator and me, the new intern, on our way to my very first event.
You have to be able to take on anything at any time and handle all situations with style and grace. As the wedding planner or an assistant you are guaranteed to be on your feet 99 percent of the day and your day usually lasts for twelve hours. It is likely that you will go all day without a chance to eat a full meal because you will be running around non-stop.
Does all of this tough work pay off? I think if you asked any one who attended Carey and Todd Shaget’s stunning wedding that yes, all of one’s hard work does pay off. Their wedding had just the right amount of winter wonderland and classy sophistication. Which comes as no surprise being as the Shaget’s were so charming and lovely to work with.
So how did my first day on the job go? Well, I can tell you that I’ll be purchasing a pair of flats before the next wedding. Just as I was warned, my entire being was tired, both mentally and physically by the end of the day.
Was it all worth it? Absolutely! To say that I assisted with such a jaw-dropping wedding, numbs the pain my body may have experienced with pure ecstasy! I love that wedding planning takes a special, tough breed of confident individuals. And the need to organize, micromanage, and beautify the things around me to make others happy, makes wedding planning a job that I’ve been looking for my entire life!
Of course there is so much more that goes into being a Wedding Planner but I can’t tell you anymore, that would ruin the mystery and allure of Wedding Planning. . . and as the new intern I don’t know much yet 🙂 I’ll keep the blogs coming to share my novice insight into this crazy cool world.
Fondly,
Lauren Chartier
The Bella Intern
Emily’s wedding was hip and romantic. Her bouquet is one of my all time favorites. The florist incorporated garden rose blooms from tight to wide. The effect was dramatic, chic and clever.
Tiffany envisioned an Old World winter wedding, and that is exactly what she got–in a big, spectacular way! It was such a joy working with local Vail gal Tiffany and her sweet entourage of mom and lil’ sis. We loved Tiffany so much that you might see her working as an assistant at a Bella wedding in the future! Congratulations Tiffany and Josh!
The Team:
Wedding Design and Coordination: Bella Design and Planning
Photography: Autumn Burke Photography
Ceremony Venue: Vail Interfaith Chapel
Reception Venue: The Four Seasons Vail
Caterer: The Four Seasons Vail
Floral Design: Bloom Flower Shop
Lighting: Pink Monkey Solutions
Invitation and Stationery: Richard’s Notebook
Dress: Kleinfeld Bridal – Pnina Tornai
Groom’s Tux: Andrisen Morton
Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Blue Bridal
Hair & Makeup: Colorado Makeup and Hair
Videographer: Neil with 303 Motion
Ceremony Music: Columbine Entertainment
Band: Doctor Robert
Emily and Joe had the most beautiful fall day to exchange their vows, and Emily made the MOST beautiful bride–Joe is a lucky guy! The touches of yellow throughout the wedding looked perfect with the golden aspen leaves outside and, since Emily’s family is Swedish, they incorporated some really special elements. Look at the darling Dalecarlian horses on each table, they served Prinsesstårta cakes for dessert, and one of the prayers during the ceremony was entirely in Swedish. Perfect day for a perfect couple!
The Team:
Wedding Planner and Designer – Bella Design & Planning
Photographer – IN Photography
Florist – Bloom Flower Shop
Ceremony Venue – The Vail Interfaith Chapel
Reception Venue – Saddle Ridge
DJ – Great Time DJ
Hair and Make-up – Blush Skin Care and Roots
