Behind the Scenes with Bella: Concept to Design to Installation

Happy Holidays everyone! With Christmas right around the corner, we thought this would be the perfect time to feature one of our favorite holiday parties and show some behind the scene features in the development of such a grand fete.

The first step is to develop a concept; this year the client chose to go with a "Home for the Holidays" theme for a merry and spirited feel. We then began to research colors, flowers and textures that would embody the feel and allow us to work with some unique seasonal items.


We love texture and decided that rich chocolate and wine velvets, luminous golds, crab apple greens, ilex berry red and fragrant seasonal foliage would all contribute to the theme and add to the overall sensory appeal.

We then began to create renderings of what the centerpieces would look like. With such a traditional theme, we knew we needed a WOW factor to make a memorable impression. We like to create at least three designs for a nice varied look. Here are some renderings of the three designs we came up with.



Low Design



Tall Design



Super Tall Design :) ~ This one is over 8 feet tall!

Once the prototypes were approved and all lighting and linen selections were taken care of, it was time for the installation. One of our favorite venues, The Four Seasons Resort - Las Colinas,
was the location for the party. Here is an image of the ballroom early morning.



Tables were in the form of both squares and circles for a stylish and symmetric look.



Linens were a combination of Bella Flora and Posh Couture Rentals.



As the day progressed, so did the transformation of the room. Shown here is the velvet fabric treatment going up alongside crystal chandeliers from LITE Dallas.



...and the final product with washes of amber encompassing the room along with traditional and classic damask emblems. All the elements really came together beautifully!



The tall centerpiece complete with gorgeous ornaments, antique hydrangea, amaryllis, james story orchids, and ilex berry clusters.



I loved the low centerpieces laden with berries, rosettes, mini apples, amaryllis and fragrant cedar foliage. We then placed the arrangements (designed in mercury glass) atop these charming beveled mirrors for an updated twist on "hotel-mirror" decor.



The super tall centerpiece design in all it's holiday glory :)

The event was a huge success and really captured the spirit of the holidays. While it did take hours and hours of work to create, we couldn't have been more pleased with the end results. We want to thank our awesome clients for being open to creative ideas and the fabulous team of vendors who helped create this magical evening.

Happy Holidays!

Team Bella

Bella Bride: Jessica & Phillip

As seen in the Fall 2009 issue of D Weddings, this bride & groom share this personal touch that made their special day all the more unique.

“My husband is the youth pastor at Highland Park United Methodist Church and knows a painter named Josh Widener who did some paintings for the youth department. We decided we wanted to use him in the wedding but weren’t exactly sure how. He ended up painting two 6-foot canvases during the ceremony in just 20 minutes. The paintings are of two hands put together, which signifies two families becoming one.”



A winter wedding just days before Christmas, the color theme was perfectly coordinated with the season: ivory & black with accents of crimson cranberry!







The ceremony took place at Perkins Chapel – one of the most sought-after ceremony sites in Dallas.



At the entrance into the aisle were two large arrangements of rich red tone floral – connected by willow branches to look like an arch…


Football on a wedding day? Of course.

Beautiful detail shots:





The bride changed out of her gown as the music started going at the reception, which was at The Starlight Room in Dallas' historic West End.





Each table had these ilex berries, inspired by the season!
...even on the groom's cake - yum!



The cake was adorned with crystals lining the base of each tier, which also had the French fleur-de-lis symbol. A garland of deep red flora also embedded the base to create a deep contrast against the white cake.

Credits:
Photography: Gary Donihoo/F8 Studio | Cake: The Cake Guys | Wedding Planner: April Ragsdale | Floral: Bella Flora of Dallas

Bella Bride: Heather & Kevin

We can't stop looking at these pictures from Heather & Kevin's wedding at The Stoneleigh Hotel, courtesy of Thisbe Grace Photography. Not many brides are as daring to choose red (and black!) as their colors, but Heather envisioned a really great design. The black and white patterns of the linen and the walls against the red floral and lounge furniture was so eyecatching and really made her stand out!






It all looked so refreshing! Everything from the bouquet to the decor was clean-cut and kept simply chic. Her modern concept also added to her casual style as she and the other bridesmaids let their hair down.




Getting the rings from the ringbearer - look at her excitement!


Thanks again for allowing Bella Flora to be a part of your wedding, Heather & Kevin!