There’s something about sharing a meal that brings people closer together – Weddings are one of those special occasions where family and friends of the bride and groom get to experience this special moment with them and enjoy some food/drinks!
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From destination weddings to riding into a venue on horses or elephants, this is your moment. Why conform to the status quo? A wedding is simply a celebration of love to share alongside your loved ones, it doesn’t mean suit and tie is mandatory. While not every unconventional option is going to be accessible for you or your guests, there’s still things you can do to make this day memorable with some creativity. New non-traditional trends and quirks are gaining a lot of popularity and we’re here to share some of the best ones with you!
The bride does not have to be in white dress. While black wedding dresses have been a big trend as well, you can dress as colorful or neutral as you want! Your dress should make you feel beautiful. Whether that means sticking with a more traditional color and style or stepping outside of the norms, all you have to do is make sure it does it’s main job, which is to make you smile.
While kids make really cute ring bearers, dogs make even better ones. Have your furry friend deliver your rings at the altar and wait for the on cue “awe” as they waddle by everyone. This isn’t limited to just dogs, whatever your pet of choice may be, just train them to be the greatest delivery man!
Cultural weddings aren’t technically considered ‘non-traditional’ to their specific culture. Though, not everyone is connected enough to their roots to pursue a wedding outside the standard norm. No matter your background, incorporating traditions outside a white dress and a suit and tie can be a beautiful thing and serve as a mix of your American and native culture.
Surprise weddings are a growing trend that have recently gained popularity within unconventional traditions. Basically, this is inviting your friends and family over to an event but upon arrival, they realize they’re actually attending your wedding! If you’re sporadic and love a good surprise, this is for you.
Like we said, not everyone can afford to take both sides of the family to an expensive island wedding, but a venue can take place anywhere. You can attend a music festival, dressed in white and some sneakers! Have a tent wedding in a spacious piece of land near nature and fill with possible decorative surprises inside. You can even host your wedding at your favorite cafe or restaurant. Anything is possible, don’t let traditional standards hold you back from considering certain places.
While we’d love to host you in our beautiful Sanger Mansion, currently our work in progress is only open to the public for styled shoots. The mansion is free to use, just sign up to confirm availability!
Spring time is officially among us! Spring is considered the best time to have an outdoor wedding. It is synonymous with “new beginnings” as the blooming flowers and beautiful colors are renewed around this season. The scenery, adequate attire, and color palettes that are used during Spring can create the perfect setting for your wedding. Your new beginning towards the rest of your life can start with a gorgeous Spring wedding.
We’ve compiled some of our best tips towards planning your event:
As you set the date for your spring wedding, there’s a couple of holidays to keep in mind during this season:
Do your best to plan your wedding around these holidays. Many of your guests may be avid celebrators of these events and it may conflict with your wedding attendance if planned on the same date.
The spring season is known to have unpredictable weather. Sunny days may be followed by periods of rain and extreme weather changes. You should be prepared and consider incorporating a tent into your wedding venue in case of rain or any unforeseen circumstances.
Spring marks the transition from winter to summer colors. Color schemes around this time of year usually revolve around light, airy, and pastel colors. Your color palette can range outside the ones we’ve provided but feel free to use any of these neutral, pink, or yellow based color schemes we have selected for your inspiration!
The definition of Spring is encased in light colors and flowers. One of the best ways to see spring colors brought to life is through your cake. Whether you choose vibrant colors or a more neutral palette, your cake should represent you and your personal spring theme.
Spring weddings usually involve everything floral. Flowers around this time of year are exceptionally fragrant and vibrant, so keep this in mind as it can be concerning to some guests. However, a strong fragrance can also help embody the true essence of a spring themed wedding. Always choose what is best for you and your guests. Make sure to research which flowers are in season and available around your wedding date. Consult with your floral designer to get the perfect floral vision for your wedding.
Though our beautiful Sanger Mansion is currently under construction, it makes the perfect location for a Spring themed style shoot. From artistically styled to romantic and floral themed shoots, our property is free to use! All we ask is to let us post some of your pictures to our website and social media. Use the link below to book a date and time!
If you’re newly engaged and you have just started the wedding planning process, you’ll soon find that one of the biggest and hardest decisions you’ll have to make is where you’re going to host the big day.
Finding the perfect venue isn’t easy. The venue you choose can set the entire tone for your wedding. With so many options and things to consider, choosing the right wedding venue can quickly become stressful.
Many factors go into deciding on a venue, and we are happy to help you narrow them down. We want to help make your wedding venue dreams a reality, so we’ve created a list of the five most important factors to consider when looking at different venues.
First things first, the budget.
Before stepping foot in any venues, you should have an idea of your overall budget and how much your vision and design would cost to execute. Divide your budget by categorizing wedding aspects and rank them by priority. Consider how many people you have to hire, decor, price per plate, etc. We recommend prioritizing vendors and staff first, prioritizing venues is going to lead to you spending more than you allocated for because you will still have other funds to consider afterward. \
Having a ballpark number for the amount of people you are expecting will help determine the type and size of venue you should be looking for. As you are visiting venues, envision the layout of your reception and how or if your guests would fit comfortably within that venue. Having a good idea of your guest list will also aid in organizing your budget because many costs are dependent on the amount of people attending.
It is important to stay authentic to your individual style and stick to your wedding vision. Many brides can be easily influenced by the influx of wedding styles they see online, but it is important to remember that while a venue may look amazing with a certain theme, it may not be a good fit for your specific style or theme.
Whether you’re looking at having a hometown or destination wedding, location and accessibility are important factors to consider when choosing a wedding venue. If you have out of town guests coming in, or your wedding is held in an unfamiliar area, you want to make sure that accommodations and accessibility to the destination are facilitated. These factors alongside with the location itself will be deciding factors into your budget as well.
“Save the Date” are three words that every bride wants to share. Ultimately, you need to determine what you find more important, your dream venue or getting married at a particular time of year. Regardless of what you prioritize, we recommend you pick out a few dates before venue hunting. Have dates in mind that you find work with what you want and dates you know you would like to avoid because of conflicting events or holidays. Usually, finding a date depends on venue availability.
Even when finally securing a venue, you have to worry about the little details like where you will get ready, if that is in a different location, how will you get there? The moving pieces that fall on your shoulders when the big day comes are things not all venues include.
Bella Mansions on the other hand, offers you an all-inclusive luxury wedding experience that includes everything from bridal suites to a photographer. Our team is committed to helping you throughout the entire wedding planning process.
The newly renovated Sanger Mansion is expected to be done by 2023 and can be the place where you hold your dream wedding. For more information and updates about the Sanger Mansion Venue please visit online and sign up for our email list!
We can’t think of a better way to make your big day shine than with a luxury wedding estate that is elegant, extravagant, and everything you’ve ever dreamed of.
Texas offers a wide range of wedding venues from grand chapels to antique mansions and we’ve rounded up our top 5 picture-perfect picks for your dream wedding destination!
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Just north of San Antonio, you will find Canyon Lake and a 170-acre ranch and wildlife preservation called The Preserve. The Preserve is located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, and it is surrounded by towering hillsides, tall trees, beautiful lakes, and more. If you’re looking to get married surrounded by breathtaking scenery and spectacular views, The Preserve is your perfect spot.
Dripping Springs, Texas, is home to Dripping Springs Distilling and now a brand new wedding and events venue, Distillers Bar and Hall. Distillers Hall is a finely detailed facility that offers a range of options to accommodate weddings and parties of all sizes, from something small and intimate to something more grand and extravagant. The venue blends the best of upscale contemporary Hill Country styled with the artisanal craftsmanship that is behind the Dripping Springs Distilling brand.
As the largest city in Texas, Houston has no shortage of dreamy wedding venues. If you’ve always dreamed of a royal wedding, you can enjoy a fairytale experience unlike any other at the Chateau Cocomar. The castle consists of a green garden, a grand foyer, a beautiful bridal suite, and two grand ballrooms. If you want to feel like a true princess on your wedding day, this is the place for you.
Nestled between San Antonio and Austin, you will find Le San Michele, a luxurious 12-acre country estate in Buda, Texas. Le San Michele features an elegant two-story limestone house inspired by original European architecture and styles. You can even party under the stars when you take the festivities outside to dance on the terrace, patio, or lawn.
For 30 years, an abandoned mansion sat hidden away in the beautiful Texas landscapes of a quaint town called Sanger. The 27,000 square foot mansion showcases a 3-story floating staircase in the middle of the house, which makes for the perfect grand entrance and photos. The Sanger Mansion also features captivating landscapes for outdoor weddings and a beautiful vineyard where you will have full access to the ripest grapes.
While the mansion is not currently open for bookings just yet, it is open for artistically styled photoshoots! Contact us today to learn more or to schedule a date.
We also invite you to follow along and watch our progress towards becoming one of the top luxury wedding estates in Texas. You can sign up for our monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all things Bella Mansions.
Photographs have a way of capturing a feeling at a moment in time without using any words. Photography is an art form that can awaken deep emotions and truly connect people by telling a story through images.
As with any art form, getting started is usually the hardest part. It’s easy to get a creative block that keeps you from trying out new ideas or honing your craft. Don’t get caught up worrying about capturing the perfect photo or having the most original idea, just get started and go from there. If you need a little inspiration for your next photoshoot, try using these questions to get your creative juices flowing.
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Using a book or movie as a theme is an excellent way to inspire imaginative ideas for a fun, styled shoot. For example, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler is a classic children’s book about a couple of kids who run away from home and live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The book draws on themes of adventure and childhood fantasy. If you wanted to create a photoshoot around this book, you could opt for a museum setting or a vintage New York feel for your wardrobe.
Other possibilities include Pride and Prejudice for a romantic and elegant style or Stranger Things for an edgy and cool 80s vibe. The options are endless! Have fun scouring through pop culture for a spark of inspiration.
Car windows rolled down, the wind blowing through your hair, music blasting from the speakers…you know that feeling. Maybe the joy of a carefree summer day is the emotion that you want to communicate in your photos. Capture your images at a lake or carnival. You could choose light, flowy dresses for your model’s clothing.
Other feelings that could be captured in interesting ways through photography include loneliness, romance, or even rebellion. Feel free to explore a variety of emotions and decide which would make the most compelling photos that could truly speak volumes.
It’s hard to find anywhere as breathtaking as Mother Nature herself. Majestic mountains, gorgeous beaches, and mystical forests all make for exquisite backdrops for photographs. Base your photoshoot on the patch of sunflowers that brightens your morning when you drive by on the way to work. Put your model in an outfit that compliments the colors of the flowers.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to location scouting. Each location creates a different mood for your shoot. Although the Sanger Mansion has not yet finished its remodel and isn’t ready for weddings, it provides the perfect setting for an artistic shoot in its current state. Wear a bold black dress or bring a ballerina as your model. There are endless ways to create captivating, artistic, and compelling photos with an alluring unfinished mansion as the backdrop.
Whether it’s a wedding photo or a fashion editorial, photography is in its essence storytelling. If you want to flex your creative muscles and try an artistic shoot, you can find inspiration everywhere you look. Let Bella Mansions be part of the story you tell and schedule a shoot at the Sanger Mansion today.
Nothing is more elegant or romantic than an outdoor summer wedding with the gorgeous green scenery, sweet-smelling flowers, and flowy dresses. Unfortunately, odds are that without proper wedding preparation, your day will also include bug swatting, flower wilting, and lots of sweating.
If you are dreaming of holding your wedding in the sunshine, we have a few simple tricks to help you beat the heat and make your day absolutely magical.
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Although that silk dress may be stunning, warm weather can easily damage the delicate fabric. Organza, linen, and cotton are all excellent summer-friendly alternatives for your gown and the bridesmaids’ dresses. These fabrics are lighter, allow you to stay cooler and avoid the dreaded sweat stains.
In the summer months, you can guarantee the intrusion of bugs at your outside venue. Kill two birds with one stone by opting for citronella candles to keep the mosquitos at bay while setting the mood. Candles also add romance to any situation, and they make for lovely wedding table centerpieces.
Another simple way to keep the heat at bay is to choose an elegant updo for your wedding day hairstyle. Stunning braided updos or gorgeous low buns are a classic and stylish look to enhance the romance of your wedding while keeping your neck free from an extra layer of heat. We also recommend adding flowers or other hairpieces to accessorize.
Those beautiful bouquets you paid an arm and a leg for? Unfortunately, they’re not a big fan of the heat, either. In order to keep your flowers fresh for as long as possible, leave them in a cool and dark location until right before the guests arrive. This will ensure that they are wilt-free and everyone can enjoy the lovely floral arrangements.
It’s easy to forget to hydrate when you are in a flurry of preparation for your big day. But it’s absolutely essential that you and your guests drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration in the sizzling summer sun. Make sure to set up cold water stations at the entrance of your wedding venue, and infuse the water with fruit slices to double as a pretty decoration.
When you are prepared to beat the heat, outdoor summer weddings are what dreams are made of. Bella Mansions provides the perfect outdoor all-inclusive wedding venue for a lovely day that you’ll look back on for years to come.
See what else makes us the premier wedding venue in the Dallas area.
Summer weddings are right around the corner, and it has become one of the most popular seasons to say your “I do’s”. With so many weddings going on, you’ll want yours to stand out.
We’re here to deliver some summer wedding inspo that will help you make the most of the time of the year, and embrace the season on your big day.
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Summer weddings are a prime time for gorgeous, bright, blooming flowers. No matter the vibe you’re going for, there’s sure to be flowers in bloom that perfectly match your aesthetic.
Hydrangeas
While hydrangeas can be found in traditional white and blue wedding hues, we also love to see them in stunning shades of pinks and purples. Hydrangeas offer a soft, lovely scent to any room, and it is truly and elegant addition to any arrangement.
Cosmos
Cosmos add a bold, and beautiful touch to any summer wedding. Cosmos are meant to be a bright and fun touch of color and pop of drama.
*Pro Tip* Cosmos are quick to droop in high temperatures. Try to keep them as cool as possible.
If you’re planning a warm weather wedding, a light summer dress is of the utmost importance. These are just a couple of our favorite summer style favorites.
Flowy Fabric
Summer weddings come with soaring temperatures, so it’s important that you select a dress that can help keep you cool. Chiffon and tulle are lighter than air, and they create gorgeous flowy movement as you stroll down the aisle and glide across the dance floor.
Airy Gown
Want a bold statement dress, but are afraid of the summer heat? An airy ball gown made with light fabrics keeps a voluminous silhouette cool and comfortable on the hottest of summer days.
There’s nothing like a cool summer cocktail to help you and your wedding guests beat the heat. Mingling at a summer reception is a breeze with any of these cool concoctions.
Mixed Berry Mojito
Try out this rum-based cocktail made with delicious crushed berries. You can add fruit and mint leaves for a sweet and earthy finish.
Blushing Bride Sangria
Take advantage of seasonal fruits like oranges, grapefruit, raspberries, and strawberries and mix it with some white wine to make a delicious Blushing Bride Sangria.
Are you looking for an all-inclusive venue to host your summer 2023 wedding?
The Sanger Mansion is currently undergoing extensive construction and renovations to become a stunning venue for all kinds of summer weddings. The Sanger Mansion will be complete with 3 floors dedicated to your wedding party.
We recently planted our orchard so that all of our beautiful Bella Brides can take a stroll down lover’s lane on their big day.
We invite you to grow in love with us and sign up for our newsletter to watch the Sanger Mansion come to life.
Earth Day is coming up, and it has us thinking about our favorite green wedding ideas.
Did you know that the average wedding in the United States produces 400 pounds of garbage and 63 tons of CO2?
The pressure to put on a picture-perfect day comes with the impulse to buy plenty of smaller items to make your wedding more beautiful. These extra purchases usually mean that paper goods are tossed, extra food is thrown away, and wilted flowers are dumped in the garbage after a few hours of wedding day fun.
By no means are we saying you should skip out on the gorgeous wedding details you’ve always dreamed of, we have a few minor changes and suggestions that can ultimately make a big difference to how your wedding impacts the environment.
Planning a green wedding does not have to be more difficult than planning a normal wedding. There are plenty of different eco-friendly wedding choices, and these are a few of our favorites!
Harvesting diamonds and mining for metal can be harmful to the environment. Eco-friendly engagement rings are manufactured with a low impact on the ecosystem and do not violate any human rights, rules, or regulations. If you’re a socially conscious couple, an ethically sourced engagement ring is perfect for you.
The True Gem is a sustainable jeweler located in Dallas, Texas that recycles gemstones and metals to create stunning sparklers.
It’s common to use disposable products for pre and post-wedding events like bridal showers and brunches; however, we’ve found that most of these items eventually end up in a landfill. We recommend renting dishes and linens instead to help reduce that waste. Check out the extensive linen collection at BBJ Linen, located in Dallas, Texas.
You can also try requesting sustainable, compostable, or reusable dishware from your catering company.
At the end of a wedding day, the leftover food and flowers are often thrown away into a landfill. Try talking with your caterer about what will happen to your leftover food and make a plan to have it donated or composted.
Floral centerpieces are beautiful no doubt; however, fresh-cut plants aren’t always the best thing for the environment. Your flowers can be composted with your food or donated to someone who can still make use of them. You may also want to consider potted flowers and things that can be reused at homes such as orchids, plants, herbs, and trees.
You can create some of the most gorgeous wedding invitations on recycled paper, or other alternative materials like upcycled fabrics, leather, or even wood. If you’re looking for something that is extra earth-friendly, you might want to consider printing your invitations, menus, and programs on seed paper. Seed paper is biodegradable and will sprout into beautiful blooming flowers once planted in a pot of soil.
Are you looking for a venue to host your sustainable wedding? We’re saving dates at the Sanger Mansion today! We have both an indoor and outdoor venue that can accommodate up to 300 guests.
We’re here to bring your wedding vision to life with our in-house photographer, florist, wedding planner, bridal suite, and so much more! Once we finish transforming the mansion, our indoor venue will have three floors with guest rooms to accommodate both your bridal party and family and our outdoor venue will be complete with a blooming vineyard.
All-inclusive wedding venues are the future of wedding planning. By booking with this special kind of venue, a bride and her guests are guaranteed a list of hand-selected perks to help her not only plan the wedding but enjoy it too.
Take off the stress of planning your big day by spending time beforehand in our luxurious on-location spa fit for a bride and her wedding party. Feel pampered while enjoying a nice glass of champagne.
Choose a venue that provides a hand-picked list of photographer/videographer for you, who will capture your wedding day and special moments perfectly.
. Whether it’s desert or winter-themed, it’s important to top off any wedding with coordinating flowers to match. All-Inclusive venues work with their hand-selected florists to coordinate color schemes and set up on the day of.
Feed your guests with delicious foods that will leave them wanting more. By working exclusively with certain caterers, all-inclusive wedding venues can provide and more diverse flavor menu for the big day.
Once the night is over, enjoy a nice stay in the private honeymoon suite. After a long day of making memories that will last a lifetime, feel comfort in knowing that your nighttime destination is only a few steps away.
Every love is special and we believe every wedding should be too. We are proud to be an all-inclusive wedding venue that can customize our perks to any bride. Our team of experts will help bring your vision to life so that you can celebrate your special day. Be the first to set your wedding date by subscribing to our newsletter.
(Disclaimer: The Sanger Mansion all-inclusive experience is subject to change as more vendor information is developed and renovation continues.)
