There is a severe case of whip lash going on over here. This gorgeous Claremont wedding by Bella Sophia Events made me do a serious double take. The classic touches, the sweet SoCal vibe, the dreamy images by VIS Photography are all completely luxurious. Would you believe me, then, if I told you this romantic beauty was put together with a budget of 10K? I am in total awe of the budget-savvy skills and creativity! See all the picture perfect details in the full gallery!
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From Bella Sophia Events, LLC…Full of classic touches, Victoria and Mario wanted to evoke a classically elegant, vintage feel to their wedding mixed with some current, fresh touches. Since they came to me with a budget that could not go over $10k, I knew we had to get creative in every way possible! Victoria and Mario, both loan officers, were paying for the entire wedding by themselves.Victoria and Mario had already reserved their ceremony location, at the Little Bridges Hall of Music which is located on the Claremont Colleges Campus in Claremont, CA. This is a hidden gem of a ceremony location and when I saw it in person, I could not believe the beauty before me! From the hand-painted cathedral ceilings to the gorgeous outdoor gardens, I was in awe. So, although more than 10% of the budget had already been spent on this location, I quickly forgave the couple!
Their reception location had also already been secured at a Friend of the Family’s private residence not too far away. This helped save on the cost of the reception, and we located a caterer who was willing to work within the small budget to make a beautiful sit-down dinner with all the fixings, including the cake. The Bride, Victoria was really creative in searching for deals to make her vintage dreams a reality. She located alot of the items on Craigslist, and some in local antique stores. Her and the Groom, Mario, also gave their bridal party the attire accent pieces for their gifts; black and white converse tennis shoes and grey “skinny” ties for the groomsmen, and vintage-looking pewter earrings and bracelets for the bridesmaids. Victoria’s wedding band was actually her Grandmother’s and was a very special and emotional part of their ceremony.
A friend of the Bride also was starting a wedding “prop” business and was already accumulating lots of vintage finds, and lent her some of the fantastic items, including the vintage suitcases. The grey potted succulents also doubled as the guests escort cards. We hand painted each pot a matte grey and secured the escort cards on white spray painted bamboo skewers, and then placed the succulents inside the suitcases, which were displayed at the entrance. Each table was adorned with table numbers stuck into wine corks, set in old crystal bottles. Silver lanterns filled with candles illuminated the dance area, and sparkling accents including a chandelier, candle holders, and old silver goblets and lace table linens that added to the look. The guests were invited to sign in on a hand beaded white guest book, placed on a very old milk crate, next to an old vintage typewriter asking them to please sign in and write something for the couple. There was also a vintage record player displayed on the same table which added to the vintage feel.
Wedding Photography: VIS Photography / Flowers: Friend of the Family / Event Design + Planning: Bella Sophia Events, LLC / Ceremony Location: Little Bridges Hall of Music / Reception Location: Private Residence / Catering + Cake: Ambassador Catering / Reception Props: Ribbons and Rust / Officiant: Frank DeMeola