Trends to Try

Bridal Portraits

Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life and you will definitely want to capture how beautiful you will look on that momentous occasion! Whether you consider yourself to be traditional, artistic, contemporary or modern-- the portraits should be uniquely you. Play around with posed and natural shots to get the best of both worlds!

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Persian Wedding Traditions

Persian weddings typically happen in 2 stages. The first being the "Aghd" which is considered the ceremony where the bride and groom sign a marriage contract. The second stage is the reception called the "Jashn-e Aroosi' where a celebration and feasts take place which can last several days. Some of the traditions are featured below:

A scarf or shawl is held over the bride and groom's head throughout the ceremony by happily married female relatives.

The Sofreh-ye Aghd is a table on which many items are placed to represent many good things for the couple and to guard them from harm. Most notably is the mirror that is always placed on the table. The mirror which represents fate should be the way in which the groom sees his bride's face for the first time after she takes off her veil.

A bowl of gold coins representing health and prosperity is set out on the "Sofreh-ye Aghd".

A tray of multi-colored herbs and spices ( Sini-ye Aatel-O-Baatel) is also set out on the "Sofreh-ye Aghd" to guard the couple from evil. The seven herbs and spices are poppy seeds, wild rice, angelica, salt, nigella seeds, black tea and frankincense.

A copy of the couple's Holy Book is placed on the table as well to symbolize God's blessing for the couple.

A decorated flatbread adorned with nigella seeds symbolizes prosperity for the couple's life from there on out.

An assortment of sweets and pastries including the Persian staple Baklava is shared with the guests after the ceremony.

A basket of pomegranates and apples are placed on the table representing the hope for a joyous future.

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Cake Alternatives

Usually a wedding cake is a staple at most wedding receptions, but lately we have been seeing a trend of having different wedding deserts. The most common alternative to a wedding cake are cupcakes; they're easy to eat and can be easily arranged into a shape of a cake. Other alternatives include cheesecake, tiramisu, parfaits and a variety of assorted goodies! Here are a few photos of our favorite cake alternatives.

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Golf/Country Club Wedding Photography

Golf/Country Clubs are ideal locations for weddings and receptions because of their versatility. You can decide to have an outdoor wedding on the greens or an indoor reception in the club itself. One thing that is a must: wedding photos on the fairway with it's sloping hills and abundance of greenery. Here are a few of our favorite photos taken at Golf/Country Club weddings!

Find out if Bella Pictures is available to shoot your engagement session or wedding!

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Engagement Session in Dallas, TX | DeLauren & Joe

DeLauren and Joe had a cowboy-themed engagement shoot in Dallas complete with a cowboy hat, boots and a lasso! They also took a few romantic shots in the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens letting their lush surroundings play a supporting role in their photographs. Visit our planning section to see other ideal spots for engagement photography is Dallas!

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Creative Wedding Cake Toppers

The topper for your cake is a great way to express who you are as a couple in style and personality. Finding the perfect mini-representation of you and your fiance is very easy nowadays with the variety of options out there now ranging from the traditional to the comical. Here are a few of our favorite cake toppers over the past couple of years we found to be unique and portray the couple very well!

Find out if Bella Pictures is available to shoot your engagement session or wedding!

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From Sea to Shining Sea | West Coast

We end our journey across this great country with the West coast! We bring you some of our favorite wedding portraits from Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Seattle. Check out the beaches of California and the lush greenery of Washington state. Wherever you live, we hope you have a Happy 4th of July weekend!

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Wedding Shoes Photography

Aside from your dress, your wedding shoes are the best way to express your personality on your big day. You can opt to go the traditional route of matching white shoes, or you can be more daring and add a splash of color to make a bold statement. Whatever you choose, you are sure to find something that it uniquely you! Here are a few photos of our favorite traditional and non-traditional wedding shoes.

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Winery Wedding Photography

Winery weddings are very romantic and can lend themselves to some beautiful photography (and an ample amount of wine!). The usual rolling hills and lush greenery of wine country provides the perfect backdrop for a dream wedding ceremony. You can take the reception inside and celebrate among the many barrels of wine where you can practice the adage to "eat, drink and be merry". Be sure to visit our planning article on wine country weddings!

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Father & Daughter Wedding Portraits

In honor of Father's Day this coming Sunday, we have compiled a few of our favorite father and daughter wedding portraits. The Father of the Bride usually has two major roles in the wedding: walking his daughter down the aisle and giving her away to the groom (which can be a bit emotional for dads), and the Father/Daughter dance.

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Bridal Fashion Week 2012: Ideas For Your Wedding

This past weekend was Bridal Week in New York and the dresses that appeared on the runways were stunning! Bella Pictures has rounded up some of our favorite wedding photographs highlighting trends from Bridal Fashion Week and are excited to show you how to add a little bit of couture to your wedding.

Wedding dresses ranged from lacey sheaths with high necklines and plunging backs to frilly ball gowns. The emerging trends are a combination of stylish, classic and playful – we saw lots of ribbon bows and belts, lace on lace, feathers and delicate flower details.

Vera Wang, the queen of bridal, went against convention and showed spectacular red dresses. While we know that wearing a deep crimson or bright red wedding dress isn’t necessarily a trend most brides want to follow, you can still take a page from the fashion magazines and add that pop of color to your wedding photography in other details, such as with your flowers or even your bridesmaid dresses.

Jenny Packham's designs were all about the Gatsby-inspired deco details: 1920's chic, flapper style beading - soft lines and a loose structure. We love this low-key, yet elegant, look which is easy to achieve with a straight silhouette.

Oscar de la Renta sent a show-stopping ball gown in chiffon, lace and organza down the runway, as well as traditional Spanish style lace gowns and strapless trumpet dresses.

Red wasn’t the only color we were seeing this weekend. Lilac and purples, as well as various shades of grey, were also popular with the designers. Use these as accent colors to add a touch of elegance and trendiness to your wedding without going overboard.

Overall, it’s a great time to be a bride – the styles and trends are so classic and beautiful, it will be easy to incorporate one or more elements into your wedding. Whether it’s your dress or inspiration for other areas of your wedding, we look forward to seeing the final results. Share with us in the comments or on Bella Picture's Facebook page your wedding details and if any of this year’s trends have made their way into your Big Day.

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Birdcage Veils: Bridal Headpieces for the Modern Bride

Not into the traditional wedding look? Take a tip from these trendy brides. They opted for an eye-catching birdcage veil - a short, lightweight and stylized alternative to the usual fabric veil and train.

Bridal headpieces come in all shapes and sizes, and birdcage veils (also known as visor veils) are no exception. These modern pieces hint at a vintage feel while still being cutting edge and can feature feathers, embroidery, flowers, and other embellishments. Some brides choose all-white birdcage veils to go with their wedding dress, while others add flare to their ensemble with color accents. Whatever bridal headpiece fits your style, you're sure to wow the crowd walking down the aisle.

To view other wedding photos by Bella Pictures, visit our Portfolio.

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Bridal Session | Amy

Along with wedding photography, engagement photography and wedding videography, Bella also offers bridal sessions. The bridal session is a photography shoot with the bride alone. It typically takes place a few months before the wedding. The purpose of the bridal session is to illustrate the elegance and beauty of the bride, in a private, relaxed setting. Many brides choose to wear their gowns for this session and use the session as a "test run" to verify that the accessories, hairstyle and makeup that they've chosen complement their dresses. Check out Amy's bridal session below! You can also check out Amy and Graham's wedding photos!

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Bridal Session Photography | Bianca

Along with wedding photography, engagement photography and wedding videography, Bella also offers bridal sessions. The bridal session is a photography shoot with the bride alone. It typically takes place a few months before the wedding. The purpose of the bridal session is to illustrate the elegance and beauty of the bride, in a private, relaxed setting. Many brides choose to wear their gowns for this session and use the session as a "test run" to verify that the accessories, hairstyle and makeup that they've chosen complement their dresses. Check out Bianca's bridal session below! Also check to see if Bella is available to shoot your bridal session!

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Wedding Table Setting Photography

Table settings endow your wedding theme with utmost exquisiteness. Elaborate table settings may compliment your wedding theme and colors, or may be set up to make a statement in and of itself. With so many color, crystal, and china combinations to choose from, its easy to make a table setting your own. Here are some of our favorite table setting photos!

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VH1's Bridal Bootcamp Winner | Amberly

The winner of VH1's Bridal Bootcamp was recently revealed and we would like to congratulate Amberly! For being the winner, Amberly won her dream wedding which included wedding photography by Bella Pictures. Check out what Amberly had to say about her experience with Bridal Bootcamp and what is was like working with Bella Pictures!

About bridal Bootcamp:

How was your experience with Bridal Bootcamp?

Bridal Bootcamp was the biggest challenge of my life and also one of the most rewarding. I grew a lot as a person from the experience.

Was there a moment when you thought about quitting the show?

There were several moments when I wanted to quit throughout the show but I just kept thinking about my fiance, family and friends and knew that I had to keep going.

About the wedding:

Number of guests: 125

Wedding dress: Alvina Valenta

Bridesmaids dresses: Davids Bridal

Florist: ProFlowers

Cake: Ranch Catering

Hair and makeup: Rock-A-Betties Beauty Salon (El Cajon, CA)

Why did you choose the venue?

The El Cortez is a historical San Diego venue where the stars used to gather for dinner and drinks. It fit the "Old Hollywood" theme.

How did you and Ed meet?

We met at a "The Blvd", a local bar that I worked at at the time. He was a regular and I was the bartender.

How did Ed propose?

He proposed before going to dinner on our three year anniversary.

How was it working with Bella Pictures?

The pictures of the wedding were gorgeous and very artistic. I couldn't have imagined a more beautiful wedding album.

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Fall Weddings

Autumn heralds the changing of the seasons with bold colors and in many places, a definite nip in the air – unless you’re getting married in Hawaii in which case you can still pull off a tropical-themed wedding! But not everyone is so lucky, so what’s a bride to do if you’re tying the knot in the continental U.S.? Well, as always it depends on location – an October wedding on the West coast could easily be an all-outdoor affair, but if you’re in Maine, staging your ceremony and reception inside is by far the safest bet. Here are some traditional elements to accentuate your fall wedding and make it a sublime and delightful affair. Continue reading "Fall Weddings"

Weddings That Sparkle

Using sparklers at your wedding are becoming an increasingly popular trend. Along with birdseed and bubbles, sparklers are a great way to celebrate the "spark" between the newlyweds. When you think of sparklers, you probably think of Fourth of July and celebrating America when you were a kid, but why not bring that sense of fun and excitement to one of the most important days of your life? They also make for some fun photographs!

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Theme Wedding | Soccer

The World Cup kicks off today and no matter what team you are rooting for, I think we can all agree that soccer (or futbol) is an exciting sport with die-hard fans. In honor of The World Cup, here is a soccer-themed wedding where both the bride and groom have a love for the game!

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Indian Wedding Photography

Here at Bella, we shoot a lof of gorgeous weddings steeped in Indian traditions from Hindu to Bengali ceremonies. Here are a few of our favorite photos of Indian weddings from the past couple of years. Visit our planning section to read more about Indian weddings traditions!

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Wedding Transportation Photography

Getting to and from your wedding can be a stylish affair. It can range from the traditional limousine to the non-traditional speedboat! Here are a few of our favorite shots of fun and unique modes of transportation. Check out our planning section for more ideas for wedding transportation! Head over to our Facebook page and let us know the mode of transportation you are planning to use for your wedding day!

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Fall Weddings

Autumn heralds the changing of the seasons with bold colors and in many places, a definite nip in the air – unless you’re getting married in Hawaii in which case you can still pull off a tropical-themed wedding! But not everyone is so lucky, so what’s a bride to do if you’re tying the knot in the continental U.S.? Well, as always it depends on location – an October wedding on the West coast could easily be an all-outdoor affair, but if you’re in Maine, staging your ceremony and reception inside is by far the safest bet. Here are some traditional elements to accentuate your fall wedding and make it a sublime and delightful affair. Continue reading "Fall Weddings"

Military Wedding Traditions

A Military Wedding is in many respects just like any other wedding in the U.S., but what sets this ceremony apart are some traditions, rituals and attire that aren’t common in civilian weddings. Rich in pomp and circumstance and often filled with patriotism and pageantry, a military wedding is a most sophisticated affair and can provide a treasure trove of wonderful memories captured in captivating, classy and timeless images. Continue reading "Military Wedding Traditions"

Beach Wedding Photography

Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial start of summer for a lot of people. The long weekend lends itself for a perfect getaway to your favorite beach. In honor of this weekend, here are a few of our favorite beach wedding portraits!

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Getting Ready For Your Wedding Day | Groom's Edition

Although it generally takes far less time for a groom to get ready than his bride, it is still a very important part of the Big Day. It is a time for the groom to bond with his groomsman and maybe have a drink to calm the nerves! He can always count on his Best Man to help him with that tricky tie and his mom to pin the boutineer just right. Make sure you plan enough time to capture both the bride and the groom getting ready, which is where a second photographer comes in handy. Check out the Bride's Edition!

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Wedding Jewelry

There are many things to consider when choosing the jewelry you'll wear for your wedding with number one being the style of your dress. You definitely want to find something that compliments it well and doesn't outshine the dress. When choosing a necklace be aware of your neckline as some dress styles don't warrant a necklace. Another thing to consider are the colors in your wedding. Brides are increasingly stepping away from the traditional pearl or diamond jewelry and opting for colored stones that match their wedding colors. Whatever jewelry you choose to adorn yourself with, rest assured that you'll at least have your something old, something new, something borrowed or something blue!

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Asian Wedding Traditions

In honor of Asian Pacific Heritage Month, here are a few of our favorite photos from weddings with Asian traditions; ranging from Chinese Tea Ceremonies to Thai Blessings. The majority of our Asian tradition photography comes from Chinese weddings, visit our planning section to read more about those traditions.

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Wedding Ring Photography

When planning your wedding day shot list with your photographer, make sure to let them know all of the details you want remembered, including your wedding rings! Here are a few creative ways to have your wedding rings photographed. Bright colors, textures and fun patterns in the background always help to capture your perfect ring shot. Check out our planning section for other must-have shots!

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Military Wedding Photography

Here are some great photos from military weddings we have done over the past few years! If you happen to be planning a military themed wedding, be sure to check out our military wedding photography itinerary!

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Industrial Wedding Portraits

Here are some of our favorite wedding portraits that have a distinctly industrial and urban feel to them. The metal, wood and brick backdrops are a great juxtaposition to the elegance of their big day! Having your portraits done in an industrial style? Check out some of our tips!

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Getting Ready For Your Wedding Day | Bride's Edition

Getting ready for your wedding is a very important part of your Big Day and should be photographed as such! See more tips on must-have Getting Ready shots!

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Classic Black & White Wedding Portraits

We recommend having some of your portraits in black and white to achieve a timeless and classic look that will outlast all wedding photography trends!

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Engagement Photography in Millennium Park | Chicago, IL

The Lurie Garden | This beautiful spot in the heart of Millennium Park is great for colorful photos and perfect for spring engagements.

Cloud Gate | One of Chicago's most visited sites, this amazing structure is bound to offer you some great pictures and a fish eye view of the chicago skyline!

The Jay Pritzker Pavilion | This outdoor concert venue designed by Frank Gehry is a perfect place if you want photos with an industrial and modern feel to them.

See more Chicago Engagement Session ideas!

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Real Wedding in Los Angeles, CA | Andrea & Robert

Andrea and Robert had a vintage style wedding at home in Los Angeles, so we gave their photos a vintage look as well. Visit our planning section to see how you can plan a home wedding!

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Real Wedding in Riverside, CA | Kristi & Brandon

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