VENUE NEWSLETTER N OV E M B E R 2 0 1 5
1
TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S 3 Letter From the Bellagala Team 4 Featured Event Sites 10 What Wedding Planning Package is Right for You? 12 Featured Artist Reviews
2
An unknown author once quipped “Plan your work and work your plan”. That one phrase perfectly sums up what a wedding planner does. They develop a plan for the event they are overseeing, and come the day of the event, they work it. What that phrase doesn’t sum up, is the value that their “plan” and their “work” actually has to the client, as well as to the venue and the other wedding vendors that couple has chosen to be a part of their day. We all know that there are different levels, or planning packages, for the typical wedding planner, from full planning and event design, down to a day of coordination. It’s up to the client to decide what they need, or what their pocket book can afford. Regardless of the direction they go, what separates successful planners from those not as successful are essentially two things – their ability to plan and their ability to react. That’s where their value comes in! That’s where their value is felt! Their ability to plan should come from experience working in the field and learning all the necessary parts of the job, usually under the tutelage of another more seasoned and successful planner. Planning your own wedding is great, and it is an experience, but it hardly qualifies someone to become a wedding planner. It’s a good start, at best. Being in the thick of things on the day of the event is a better education than you could ever get from reading a stack of books on the subject – or planning your own wedding. Their ability to react is an unsung characteristic of this job. No matter the levels of planning, things come up and often times go differently than originally planned. When they do, planners need to be able to think on their feet. Having a keen sense of what their client wants helps push them in the direction to making the best “game time” decision. Common sense is great, but common sense covered in real world experience is like the icing on the cake. A planners job is to make things easier on their client - easier during the planning stages, and easier and stress free on the day or the wedding itself. When this happens, it allows that client to realize their wedding day visions and dreams. Successful wedding planners are constantly learning and fine tuning their craft. They are planning and strategizing their continuing education, getting themselves into the “field” whenever possible, and gaining valuable real world experience. This is the cornerstone to Bellagala Wedding Planners – experience in the field. Our planners are constantly working with each other, both in the field and out, to help advance the value they can bring to the table for our clients. They plan together and they work together, and it’s our clients that reap the rewards. We look forward to our planners working side-by-side with you at your venue, and as always, let us know how we can serve you better!
The Bellagala Team
3
featured event site
WINDOWS ON MINNESOTA JAC QU E L I N E & M AT T H E W | M AY 2 , 2 0 1 5
4
Jacqueline and Matthew’s wedding was nothing short of beautiful. From her blush colored gown, twinkle lights encompassing the entire room, and endless flowers flowing over their head table, every detail was executed to perfection. Located on the 50th floor of the IDS Tower in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, the Windows on Minnesota provide stunning city views. A space large enough for all your guests, the location offers four magnificent ballrooms accommodating up to 350 people. This prime location, luxurious atmosphere, and legendary 5-star service will make your event truly unforgettable. Another perk? Since the venue is associated with the Marquette Hotel, coordination of hotel rooms for guests couldn’t be easier. If you’re looking for a location to wow your guests and provide them with a true Minneapolis experience, look no further than Windows on Minnesota.
5
featured event site
LANDMARK CENTER JUSTINE & JIN | JUNE 13, 2015
We’ve all heard the saying “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” But, it doesn’t always… Sometimes you end up meeting the love of your life, like Justine White and Jin Kim did while on vacation. Flash forward five years later, the couple was back in Las Vegas with their families when Jin got down on one knee. Justine and Jin’s Saint Paul wedding couldn’t have been more picture-perfect. Keeping a vision of simplicity and elegance, the pair chose the Landmark Center as the backdrop for their dreamy day.
6
Having been around since the early 1900’s, the Landmark Center is full of history, which you can learn more about through their formal guided tours. The venues exquisite architecture includes an incredible amount of arches, columns, and turrets, giving it a very classy and sophisticated feel. Since limited amount of decoration is needed, Justine and Jin chose a soft and romantic color palette, adding in little touches such as metallic candelabras and fresh roses. However, when asking the Bride about her favorite detail from her wedding day she says, “My grandparents were able to read a scripture passage. It meant the most to Jin and I because they have been married so long—they are our inspiration.”
7
featured event site
M I N N E S O TA H A RV E S T A P P L E O RC H A R D J E N N I F E R & B R I A N | N OV E M B E R 8 , 2 0 1 4
8
Jennifer and Brian wed on a chilly fall day at Minnesota Harvest Apple Orchard. “I knew our wedding day would be full of nerves, so I wanted it to be in a more informal and fun setting. I really loved the laid-back and vintage look of the venue,� the Bride describes. The full-service wedding facility consists of a red barn cathedral that seats up to 500 guests, a wedding reception lodge and suites for the bride, groom and members of the wedding party. Armed with a professional wedding coordinator, this southern Minnesota apple orchard will assist you in planning all the details of your special day ensuring everything runs beautifully. The autumn colors were in full swing for the pair’s big day, which made for a stunning backdrop to their ceremony location between the apple trees. And when the temperatures dipped down to the cooler side, a bonfire awaited for their guests to warm up. The Minnesota Apple Orchard provides the space and freedom to plan the wedding of your dreams.
9
G N I D D E W T A WH E G A K C A P G PLANNIN ? U O Y R O F T IS RIGH
10
1
Where are you planning to get married? a. At a venue out in the country. b. In a city hotel not far from where we live. c. Out of state
2
How many guests are you having? a. More than 150. We want a large wedding. b. 100-150. As many as we can fit in! c. Definitely less than 100. We want to keep it intimate.
3
How much time will you and your fiancé have to spend on planning the big day? a. We have high-pressure jobs and work long hours so it may be difficult to find the time. b. My hours are very flexible and I’m determined to be as hands-on as possible. c. We plan to devote every weekend and lunch hour to planning.
4
How involved are your bridesmaids or groomsmen? a. They’re helping where they can, but they’re not experts – just very enthusiastic! b. They’re a great help and have taken the pressure off us by helping with the planning. c. They’re brilliant! They’ve been on board since we got engaged and they’re always calling up to pitch in ideas and offer a hand.
5
As the date nears, are you getting excited or stressed? a. I’ve been terrified since the day he proposed! b. Mostly I’m excited, but I do worry about some aspects of the planning process. c. I can’t wait! I’m so excited that I wish we could do it sooner.
6
Do you have lots of creative ideas for the wedding or are you struggling for inspiration? a. I’ve never been particularly creative, so I am finding it a bit of a challenge. b. There’s lots of things I know I want, but there are a few elements I find baffling. c. I have a whole Pinterest board full of ideas!
7
Can you take phone calls during the day at work to discuss details with vendors? a. No, it wouldn’t be appropriate at my workplace to take personal calls ever. b. I can find little moments to chat depending on my schedule, but it must be brief. c. Yes, I’m available at anytime during the day!
8
Are you and your fiancé enjoying the process thus far? a. No, we argue over the littlest things and can’t agree on much! b. There’s a lot that we agree on, but we’re finding that executing our ideas isn’t easy. c. Yes! It seems that the wedding is all we talk about, but we’re just so excited!
MOSTLY C’S | DAY-OF COORDINATION You will have access to your planner the week prior to your wedding to finalize the details and determine your timeline and expectations. The day of, your planner will be present starting right away in the morning, and will see your wedding day through until tear down is complete. They will assist with vendor provisions, organization, and giving directions, among other details. Essentially, you plan it and your planner executes it. MOSTLY B’S | WORRY-FREE MONTH Your planner will be available for up to one month prior to your wedding to provide recommendations, handle details, finalize your timeline, communicate with vendors, develop checklists, conduct site inspections and prepare your room diagram, coordinate your transportation schedule, attend your final BEO (Banquet Event Order) meeting, etc. The Worry-Free Month package also includes all additional Day-Of Coordination inclusions. MOSTLY A’S | SANITY SAVER Your expert planner will be at your disposal for the entirety of your planning process, beginning with the initial consultation through your wedding day. They will be available to provide you with research and guidance on venue locations, act as the liaison between you and your vendors, attend key vendor appointments, provide checklists and suggested deadlines, coordinate guest accommodations and transportation, coordinate design details, oversee delivery and setup, plus all Worry-Free Month and Day-Of inclusions as well. The Sanity Saver package is a full-service option.
Learn more about Bellagala Event Planning at bellagala.com
11
event planner revie ws
NICOLE L | STUDIO EVENT PLANNER “Working with Nicole was a blessing for me. She did everything she could as a day-of coordinator to make sure our wedding day was perfect. Nicole and her assistant were so detail oriented and worked so well together making sure each one was doing what they were supposed to. I was at first very worried about having an out-of-state wedding since I hadn’t had a chance to meet with vendors and make sure everything on the wedding day would run smoothly. Nicole saved the day. The whole day went so smoothly and guests were very happy and enjoyed every moment. I would strongly recommend Nicole to anyone who is looking for someone they can rely on throughout the wedding process especially on the day of. You won’t regret it.”
AUDRA M | STUDIO EVENT PLANNER “We hired Audra as our day-of wedding coordinator and she was great! She contacted us about ten days prior to the wedding to introduce herself and start to get an idea of the services we wanted help with. She was very responsive in replying to emails and my questions. I also appreciated that she provided ideas and a list of items that she could assist us with which was also helpful. Audra also put together a timeline for the day that we could share with our wedding party. On the day of the wedding she was so helpful and assisted with so many tasks we didn’t even realize would come up along with the known tasks of helping move bags from the church to vehicles, gifts to the car, and clean up at the end of the night. We were so happy with Audra and the services we received to help make our day go as smoothly and stress-free as possible!“
12
MARISSA P | STUDIO EVENT PLANNER “We feel so lucky to have had Marissa as our wedding planner- she was an absolute pleasure to work with! From start to finish, Marissa was organized, professional, and positive. Marissa took the time to really get to know us as a couple and understand what was important to us on our big day. Whenever we had planning meetings with Marissa, she came very prepared with all of our specific wedding information and timelines. The day of our wedding was everything we hoped it would be… and more! Our guests raved about our wedding and how everything came together so perfectly. The vision we shared and created with Marissa really came to life and we could not have asked for anything more! We were like guests at our own wedding, and able to enjoy every minute of it!”
BRITTANY J | STUDIO EVENT PLANNER “From the beginning of our planning process, Brittany was incredible! She made us feel heard, gave great suggestions and was always just an email or call away if we had any last minute questions along the way...including a trip to our home to pick up our wedding decorations and other last minute set-up items. On the day of our wedding, she did a phenomenal job making the venue look absolutely beautiful and captured the exact theme and feel that we were going for. I truly could not have made it through the day without Brittany and couldn’t think of anyone better to handle the best day of your life! I know she helped make it ours!”
13
14
We love working with our local venues! Have you had a Bellagala Wedding Photographer at your venue recently? Let us know—we’d love to share the images with you! All image requests can be sent directly to our Marketing Coordinator, Darac Moua. You can contact her via email at darac.moua@bellagala.com or call 651.227.1202.
15
255 E 6th Street St. Paul, MN 55101 bellagala.com | 651.227.1202