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V E N U E N E W S L E T T E R

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

3Letter From the Bellagala Team

4Featured Event Sites

10Tips & Tricks | Wedding Day Photo Checklist

12Featured Artist Reviews

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It’s been said that a picture is worth a thousand words. A deeper look at that phrase simply leads

us to understand that a picture can capture the emotion of a situation, the essence of a landscape

or the vibe of an atmosphere better than the words that would be chosen to describe it.

Think that’s not true? If so, ask yourself this – why do so many marketing and advertising agencies

choose pictures of babies and puppies? It’s simple - they know the powerful emotions uncovered

in the masses when we see images of cute, adorable, cuddly little babies, human or canine. They

bank on those emotions to sell whatever product or service they are peddling with the images they

have chosen.

Images in the wedding industry are equally as powerful. A picture of an embracing bride and

groom can truly capture the emotion of that singular moment. Hand-in-hand, eyes locked, com-

pletely drawn into each other – the rest of the world doesn’t exist. A picture outside in the rain,

on a balcony at sunset, or in the middle of a packed dance floor with everyone’s hands in the air.

These are all images that allow you to know what is happening at that moment without the need

for words.

But you don’t need humans in a picture to elicit emotion. A picture of a ceremony site, all dollied

up, chairs just so with floral and lighting accents used perfectly can just reek with anticipation. A

reception site ballroom beautifully prepared, with each place setting appropriately apportioned

and adorned with specific accents in color and texture gives us feelings of regality and exquisite-

ness – or a thousand other words.

Bellagala photographers all understand the power of the picture. That’s why they do what they do.

That’s why they are all continually working to improve and perfect their craft, their art form. That’s

why we are so selective as to who gets to call themselves Bellagala photographers.

Many of you have taken advantage of the artistry of our photographers and use images from wed-

dings that one of them shot at your venue. Thank you! And we encourage you to continue to “go

to the well”. There are plenty more shots where those came from. For those of you that haven’t, we

hope you consider contacting us to see how we can help you choose pictures at your venue that

can tell the story of your reception site better than the words that you would choose.

We look forward to you using our photography to help tell your story. It would be an honor, just

like it is each time we get to work in your venues. Thank you for the hospitality that you always

extend.

We hope to hear from you soon!

The Bellagala Team

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featured event si te

A R I ADYANA & JOSHUA | SEPTEMBER 26 , 2014

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Situated near Downtown Minneapolis in

the historic Warehouse District, Aria is an

urban, one-of-a-kind space. With its ex-

posed brick walls, sky-high 30 ft. ceilings,

unique artwork, and crystal chandeliers,

Aria will not only impress but also inspire

both you and your guests.

Dyana and Joshua’s stunning event was full

of stylish details and timeless beauty. From

the fresh greenery and twinkling candles

to the endless dessert bar, their glamorous

and fun reception stole our hearts.

The old-world elegance and gothic archi-

tecture of Aria acts as a captivating back-

drop for an unforgettable celebration.

Whether you’re planning a smaller occa-

sion or a reception up to 1,000 guests, Aria

provides the wide-open space for dancing

the night away.

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Over the years, the Lafayette Club has rightfully earned the reputation of a sincerely

memorable and jaw-dropping wedding venue. Located on 38 acres of land alongside

Lake Minnetonka, this refined and notable country club offers spectacular year-round

views for any occasion.

For Sonya and Derrick’s spring wedding, the contemporary and elegant style of the

location provided the perfect backdrop for their big day. With a soft and romantic color

palette, the pair decorated their reception flawlessly with vintage touches and fresh

featured event si te

L A FAY E T T E C LU BSONYA & DERRICK | MAY 16 , 2015

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flowers in shades of pink. The reception was filled with dancing, delicious food, and

plenty of laughter and love—it was truly a modern day fairy tale.

The Lafayette Club’s Grand Ballroom has held celebrations for over 100 years, and with

its polished hardwood floors, crystal chandeliers, and enclosed sun-filled veranda, the

historic venue continues to exceed expectations.

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featured event si te

C A M RO S E H I L L F LOW E R FA R M

RACHAEL & ERIK | MAY 22 , 2015

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As far as outdoor venues go, there is nothing quite like Camrose Hill Flower Farm in Stillwa-

ter, Minnesota. What once was an old dairy farm, is now a romantic and dream-like retreat

making it a highly sought after location for summer weddings.

Slightly rustic and oh-so-chic, Rachael and Erik’s wedding day vision was brought to life at

Camrose Hill. Pulling inspiration from the vibrant scenery, the couple used a mix of greens,

navy, and orange for their décor, floral arrangements, and wedding party’s attire. One touch

we especially loved were photographs strung amongst the trees honoring loved ones who

could not be there on their special day.

The Farm is also the home and workshop to Cindie Sinclair, a floral designer known for nat-

ural garden style arrangements. Sinclair has thought of every detail, making the space have

a private and personal appeal. If you are looking for a quaint and picturesque location, look

no further than Camrose Hill.

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[ 3 ]

[ 2 ]

[ 1 ]

[ 1 ]Create a beautiful space where

the bride can hang up and show

off her dress before the ceremony.

Millennium Hotel

[ 2 ]Clear out the reception area be-

fore guests arrive and allow time

for the photographer to capture

all the details.

Sepmle Mansion

[ 3 ]The first look is oftern couple’s

favorite memory of their wedding

day. Designate a private, well-lit

area for the moment that the

photographer can capture easily.

Radisson Blu - Mall of America

[ 4 ]Always invite the photographer

to come tour your venue before

the event. This will allow them to

become more familiar with your

space, and might provide them

inspiration for some unique shots

come wedding day.

Landmark Center

[ 4 ]

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Brides and Grooms spend months and months planning their wedding, and just like that, it passes them in a blink of an eye. That’s

where you and their photographer can step in. Photos can capture every aspect of their special day—especially the tiny details they

might have forgotten to notice. To make things easier, We’ve compiled a list of thirty-five must-have moments to capture.

WEDDING DAY PHOTO CHECKLIST

P R E - W E D D I N G· Wedding dress portrait

· Bridesmaids getting ready

· Groomsmen getting ready

· Bridal portrait

· The first look

· The Bride’s bouquet

· The rings

C E R E M O N Y· Alter backdrop

· Family at the ceremony

· Bride walking down the aisle

· Groom watching the Bride walk down the aisle

· The vows

· Any special ceremony tradition

· First kiss

· Couple walking down the aisle together

FA M I LY & F R I E N D S· The couple with the Bride’s family

· The couple with the Groom’s family

· Bride with her family

· Groom with his family

· Bride with her Bridesmaids

· Groom with his Groomsmen

· The entire wedding party

· Flower girls and Ring Bearer

R E C E P T I O N· Reception location

· Tablescapes

· Décor details

· Cake & dessert table

· Cutting the cake

· The entertainment (DJ, live band, etc.)

· Candid kisses

· Toasts

· Father/Daughter dance

· Couple’s first dance

· The send off

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JESSICA R | ASSOCIATE PHOTOGRAPHER

“Our wedding day would not have worked at all without Jessica. Not

only did she make us feel relaxed during the photo shoot, she kept

the entire day on schedule! She was so calm and confident, I knew

everything would work out fine on the big day. We had worked with

Jessica previously, she did our engagement shoot as well as part of

a Bellagala package. We really felt like she was an old friend and she

made us feel so at ease.”

– Colleen

JAIME R | STUDIO PHOTOGRAPHER“I have to say that our experience with Bellagala was outstanding! Not

only was the company great to work with but we were blessed to work

with such a great photographer in Jaime! She treated us like gold and

made sure that we got all the shots we wanted. Even when a little rain

came down, she was rolling around on the ground just to get a bet-

ter shot! That’s going above and beyond! We can’t recommend Jaime

enough for your next photographer!”

– Nicole

P H OTO G R A P H Y

ARTIST REVIEWS

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KIRSTEN S | ASSOCIATE PHOTOGRAPHER“My first meeting with Kirsten put my mind at ease! She is down

to earth, kind, calm and a great listener. Kirsten was proactive with

communication and always fast to respond to emails. She is very

organized and I always had a clear idea of the plan for my big day in-

cluding a photo schedule that I shared with my wedding party, which

made the day smooth. She helped bustle my gown with my mother

and sister! Kirsten was everything I hoped for and more in my wed-

ding photographer!”

– Jillian

AMBER J | APPRENTICE PHOTOGRAPHER“Amber was great to work with, both leading up to the wedding day

and on the day itself. She gave great advice on what to expect the

day of, and what we could do to make sure our families and wedding

parties were assembled and prepared for photos when the time

came. She listened to what was important to us and provided this

information back to us in notes, which gave me confidence that we

were all on the same page. As a result, things went smoothly on the

day of, and we stayed on schedule all day! Thanks so much, Amber!”

– Kamela

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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.

255 E 6th StreetSt. Paul, MN 55101

bellagala.com | 651.227.1202