Mother's Day at Bella Collina
Celebrate Mom at home this year with Bella Collina Mother’s Day Brunch to Go! Every order will receive a complimentary decorated cookie for Mom! Also, we’re making it easy this year for one stop shopping by offering beautiful Mother’s Day Bouquets.
Mother’s Day is one of our biggest and best events at Bella Collina. While things are different this year, we are pleased to offer Bella Collina Brunch ToGo. Chef Leo worked hard to put together a menu that allows you to celebrate Mom at home this year with family style dining. Every order includes a complimentary decorated cookie for Mom (provided by Sugar Blossom Bakery in San Clemente) and we are excited to offer Mother’s Day Bouquets for $25 (provided by The Flower Stand in Laguna Beach). Orders must be received by 2:00pm on Friday, May 8th and pick up times are available on Mother’s Day between 10:00am - 2:00pm.
Flower Bouquets are limited to the first 30 orders and are provided by The Flower Stand in Laguna Beach.
Bella Collina Club Update
Throughout this recent COVID-19 crisis and government imposed restrictions, we have taken steps to ensure your healthy and safety, as well as the health and safety of our staff.
Dear Bella Members,
Throughout this recent COVID-19 crisis and government imposed restrictions, we have taken steps to ensure your healthy and safety, as well as the health and safety of our staff. However, due to recent government restrictions imposed on our business and our members, we must now close Bella Collina.
At the close of business today 03/22/20, we will be suspending all club activity until further notice.
We appreciate your understanding during this difficult time and look forward to serving you again soon.
Should you have any personal belongings here at the club, we encourage you to stop by and retrieve them. At this time there are many questions with unknown answers, rest assured we are working tirelessly to put together additional information to ease all of your concerns.
Should you need assistance during working hours, call (949) 333-4830.
Sincerely,
Jay Pesicka
General Manager
Because it's National Donut Day...
Donuts are always a good idea and they have quickly become a favorite addition to to traditional wedding cake. Many brides and grooms are choosing to serve fun and easy to grab desserts to go along with, or in place of, a traditional wedding cake. In honor of National Donut day, here are some unique and beautiful ways to display your favorite donuts on the big day!
Six Unique Ways to Incorporate Donuts on Your Wedding Day (or Your Event)
by Avalon Wade
Donuts are always a good idea and they have quickly become a favorite addition to to traditional wedding cake. Many brides and grooms are choosing to serve fun and easy to grab desserts to go along with, or in place of, a traditional wedding cake. In honor of National Donut day, here are some unique and beautiful ways to display your favorite donuts on the big day!
Geometric Donut Shelves
This unique display is a beautiful and modern way to display donuts or any other sweet treats for your wedding guests. This is an eye-catching piece that your guests will not be able to pass by, so there’s no excuse for them to miss out on dessert!
HOLY MATRIMONY
Holy Matrimony, donut mind if I do! The Donut wall is another creative and beautiful way to display donuts for your wedding guests. It can be made to stand on a table or all on its own, whatever fits your wedding day vibe best.
DONUT CANDLESTICK STACKS
These donut stacks are a great way to fit as many donuts as possible onto a small or cramped dessert table- because let’s be honest, it’s too hard to resist a second donut (your wedding guests will thank you!)
DONUT HOLE SKEWERS
Instead of displaying donut holes in a boring bowl, spice things up by setting out a platter of donut hole skewers. These are easy for guests to grab as they’re making their way out onto the dance floor.
DONUT TREE
This donut tree is another creative way to display your desserts. This beauty can hold its own all alone, or would add some fun height to your dessert table. Learn how to make your own HERE via HandmadeCharlotte.
DONUT TOWER
Create another beautiful donut display with a tiered tray, make sure to have your florist decorate with some of their extra flowers or greenery to wow all your guests!
Happy Donut Day!
Wedding Fail: Thinking a Venue Coordinator and Wedding Planner are the Same Thing
What’s the difference between a Venue Coordinator and a Wedding Planner? Understanding the difference between a wedding venue coordinator and a wedding coordinator (or wedding planner) can help you avoid a lot of unnecessary frustration.
What’s the difference between a Venue Coordinator & Wedding Coordinator?
Understanding the difference between a wedding venue coordinator and a wedding coordinator (or wedding planner) can help you avoid a lot of unnecessary frustration. Because the names of the two roles sound very similar, you’ll be forgiven for assuming that they perform the same function. It’s an easy mistake to make. And a common one, too. In fact, many brides mistakenly think that if their wedding venue offers a free on site coordinator, they don’t need the services of wedding coordinator at all. You might be tempted to do the same, especially to save on costs. But there’s a good chance that you could end up frustrated and stressed out on your wedding day when the venue coordinator fails to “perform”.
In short, the venue coordinator is coordinating between yourself and the venue staff only. Unfortunately it is often mistakenly assumed that the poor venue coordinator is going to help set up your decor, liaise between your third-party vendors and act as a general overseer on the day. When this doesn’t happen, the coordinator ends up getting a bad rap, being blamed for not performing duties that were actually not part of her responsibilities at all. And the bride spends her wedding day freaking out because nothing is happening as it “should”. Sadly, it happens.
But how does this happen? Maybe you hear the venue coordinator say: “Of course I’ll be there to assist on the day should you need anything.” But what you think she means is: “I will plan and take full ownership of making sure that each and every detail falls perfectly into place for your wedding day, and will take responsibility for all third party vendors too.” Although your venue coordinator will offer her assistance with emergencies should you need it, that is quite a different thing from taking responsibility for the running of the entire wedding. This is commonly misunderstood and can be quite confusing for you when you mistakenly and innocently infer additional responsibility over and above what is explicitly stated in the contract.
What a Wedding Venue Coordinator does:
Here’s what you can expect from your venue coordinator in most cases:
Your venue coordinator essentially works for the venue. He or she is there to be the point of contact between the bride and the venue staff. She is there to make sure that basic venue facilities, as agreed upon explicitly and contractually, are available to you and your guests. This could include the parts of the venue being hired for your wedding, the overnight rooms you booked for yourself and your guests (ONLY if on property), catering (if part of the venue package) and basic reception room set up (ONLY if tables and chairs are included in the venue package).
Your venue coordinator might be working on multiple weddings that day. A super important fact to bear in mind is that if you are getting married at a venue that hosts multiple weddings over a weekend, or even multiple weddings in a day, the venue coordinator is not going to be focused solely on you until all other weddings at the venue have ended. That means that if you’re having an evening reception at a venue which is hosting a morning wedding too, your venue coordinator is going to be on-site overseeing the first morning wedding until its reception ends, possibly mid-afternoon. He or she will likely NOT be available for questions or assistance until then, and you might become super stressed wondering why your decor has not yet been unpacked or, even worse still, when the morning wedding is vacating the ballroom you booked so that you can access it!
Your venue coordinator is there to protect the interests of the venue and honor your contact. This includes making sure you receive all the above-mentioned deliverables according to your agreement, and that you, in turn, adhere to the contract guidelines too. If the venue is also the caterer and bar provider, the venue coordinator will be there to make sure that the food is served at the time agreed upon in your contract, and that any pre-arranged drinks limit is not exceeded at the bar.
They also make sure that no outside suppliers or vendors break the venue’s rules. They look at where, how and when these vendors may set up additional lighting, where they may or may not hang drapery or suspended decor, make sure that anything attached to ceilings or the building’s exterior causes no damage, and ensure that the parameters of any additional outdoor dance floors, bars, marquee tents, or scaffolding being sourced externally by yourself meet the venues requirements, causing no damage to the property. They are there to make sure that the DJ’s sound system is set at an acceptable level, but not to make sure that the correct playlist is adhered to.
They are not there to coordinate between your florist and your lighting people to ensure that any approved lighting is set according to your requirements, or to double check that the peony arrangements on the table are in rose gold vases instead of blush.
What a Wedding Venue Coordinator does not do:
These are the things that your venue coordinator is most likely not going to oversee:
The venue coordinator is not going to set up your wedding decor. They might make a room available for you to store your decor, but they’re not going to make your tables look beautiful or add your ruffled chair covers or even place the cute favors you painstakingly decided upon at each place setting. They’re not going to be responsible for anything other than making sure the actual tables, chairs and dinnerware are set. They’re not going to set up your flowers, name cards, or even place your table numbers on the tables. This would be the job of a wedding planner to oversee, or something you would need to take care of personally.
The venue coordinator is not going to oversee that outside vendors do their job. Even though you might have shared your color scheme and flower choices with your venue coordinator, they are not going to check that the tablecloths you arranged with a third party hiring company are the correct fabric or shade upon arrival. They are not going to make sure that bouquets you ordered are the correct size or contain the correct flowers. They are not going to make sure that the DJ plays the requested song as you enter the reception hall, or that the DJ even arrives on time at all. All of these functions would be overseen by a wedding planner who has been working with you, or by yourself.
The venue coordinator is not going to assist you with your dress fittings, hair, make-up selection and bridesmaids attire. Dress fittings, sourcing of bridesmaid dresses and fabrics, coordination of accessories, and the finding of a professional, talented hair and make-up artist all fall way outside the realm of a venue coordinator’s responsibilities. If you want guidance and help in this area, you’ll absolutely need a wedding planner. Possibly even a wedding stylist, if you’re feeling extra fancy! Of course, you could also totally handle this yourself, if you have the time to research, plan and interview vendors making a day of coordinator the more reasonable option. The important thing is that you at least know what you’re getting and aren’t surprised when you realize that your venue coordinator isn’t going to be there for these parts.
The venue coordinator is not going to make sure that your carefully plotted wedding timeline is adhered to. With the exception of deliverables that the venue is explicitly providing, such as serving of meals and access to the agreed upon areas, the venue coordinator is not obligated to make sure that things are happening smoothly and according to schedule. Is hair and make-up taking longer than expected? Are one of the bridesmaids missing in action looking for the flower girl who’s mom is late? Is the ceremony decor set-up running way behind schedule? Are the first look photographs taking too long? Here a wedding planner or day of coordinator is pretty much a life saver, acting as a behind the scenes director, making sure that all the players know their parts, and that they are on cue, too. If you have a super organized Maid of Honor, she could step in here too, however she might not have the experience and you might want her by your side during these precious moments instead of running around trying to fix things all day.
The venue coordinator is not going to help with unforeseen issues that arise on the day. Did the lace of your gown get caught in the zipper and tear? Has a relative had too much champagne, making a scene at the reception? Did you remember to bring your bouquet to the reception hall for the bouquet toss? Is your maid of honor feeling ill? Is the DJ playing an explicit rap song that you forgot to have excluded from the playlist? There are so many things that are non-venue related that can go wrong. Having a wedding planner or day of coordinator there by your side can help take the stress out of these moments if you need them to. Of course, in the bigger scheme of things, these events generally turn out to be some of the funniest memories of the day, and as long as you and your fiancee both wind up married at the end of it all, you’re okay. Mission accomplished!
Wedding Venue Coordinator Checklist:
DOES
· Show you around the venue
· Arrange menu tastings if the venue provides catering
· Act as point of call between yourself and the venue staff
· Ensure basic setup of tables and chairs is fulfilled if included in contract
· Ensure on-site food and drinks are served correctly and as agreed, if catering is included in contract
· Ensure there is no damage to the venues property by yourself or third party vendors you bring in
DOES NOT
· Does not set up third party decor.
· Does not set up third party dessert stands or cake stands.
· Does not stay till end of wedding reception. Leaves after meals have been served.
· May not be available the entire day, if overseeing multiple weddings that weekend
· Does not liase between your third party vendors to ensure that things run smoothly
· Does not manage your wedding day timeline (getting ready, photographs, timely decor set up, etc)
Of course each situation and venue offering will be unique, so you’ll absolutely need to have a very detailed conversation with your vendors to determine what will be handled by whom. By making sure you’re familiar with the general responsibilities of an onsite venue coordinator VS a wedding planner or day of coordinator, you can avoid quite a bit of frustration and unmet expectations, and be in a position to have an informed discussion with your vendors. While having a wedding planner or day of coordinator is not a must for every bride out there, understanding what to expect if you did want the full wedding planning service is super important to ensure you get what you’re hoping for!
Interested in more information about Bella Collina’s Day of Coordinating Services?
Best Wedding Gifts for Mom
Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 12th and we are celebrating by sharing 12 of our favorite gifts for Mom on your wedding day (she will actually use). Happy Mother’s Day! XO
12 Best Wedding Gifts for Mom
Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 12th and we are celebrating by sharing 12 of our favorite gifts for Mom on your wedding day (she will actually use). Happy Mother’s Day! XO
MOTHER OF BRIDE & MOTHER OF GROOM RING DISH
FIRST MY MOTHER, FOREVER MY FRIEND ROSE GOLD BRACELET
PERSONALIZED MOTHER-DAUGHTER PRINT
MOTHER OF BRIDE & MOTHER OF GROOM PAJAMAS
MOTHER OF BRIDE & MOTHER OF GROOM COFFEE MUGS
FOREVER YOUR LITTLE GIRL CUSTOM PHOTO FRAME
Happy Planning and Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mom’s out there! We love you!
May the 4th (Force) be With You
21 Ways to Subtly (or Not So Subtly) Share Your Love for Star Wars on Your Wedding Day
21 Ways to Subtly (or Not So Subtly) Share Your Love for Star Wars on Your Wedding Day
ALL THINGS DESSERT
Modern Star Wars Inspired Cake
Hand Painted Macaroons
“I Love You / I Know” Cake Topper
Galaxy Goodies Candy Bar
HIS ACCESSORIES
Star Wars Character Boutonniere
STANCE Star Wars Socks
HER ACCESSORIES
Princess Leia Inspired Wedding Dress
Light Saber Bridal Bouquet
Custom Painted Dancing Shoes
Via Tidewater and Tulle / Shoes: Etsy-Brinkadoodle
May the Force Be With You Garter
RECEPTION STAPLES
Death Star Guest Book
Death Star Floral Centerpiece
I Love You / I Know Champagne Glasses
May the S’mores Be With You Favors
LEGO Storm Trooper Place Card Holders
Character Vintage Table Names
Light Saber Cake Knife Set
Light Saber Dance Party / Grand Exit
… OR JUST INVITE SOME STORM TROOPERS
Via Popsugar / Photos by Cacá Santoro Photography via Green Wedding Shoes
Happy Planning!
Rebecca + Dan
Rebecca and Dan’s wedding reception was the first of the year for us and it definitely started our year off right!
Rebecca and Dan’s wedding reception was the first of the year for us and it definitely started our year off right! First off - they were the absolute cutest with one another! They had so much fun together, so much love for the other, and it was just so great to be a part of their wedding day.
Their big day started with each party getting ready at separate homes the morning of with their best girls and best guys and then heading to St. Edwards Catholic Church where the couple exchanged their vows. After their “I Do’s” the couple and their guests headed over to Bella Collina to kick off the celebration.
THE WELCOME
Guests were greeted in our lobby by a guest book with their engagement photos scattered throughout which then led them farther into our clubhouse. Guests then found a gorgeous pair of barn wood doors that had their table assignments beautifully strung across which led them into Cocktail Hour where catching up and conversation flowed along side the drinks.
THE RECEPTION
Once it was time, guests were invited into the ballroom where they’d find their names placed next to sprigs of greenery that complimented the neutral and elegant centerpieces that dressed up the tables oh-so perfectly. Market lights were strung adding a touch of charm while the center chandelier covered in greenery added to the rooms overall romantic feeling.
THE ROMANTICS
Jonathan Yacoub did such an amazing job capturing this couple and their authentic selves and happiness. Their smiles and laughter was contagious! And does anyone else love their “If I’m a Bird, You’re a Bird” moment as much as we are?!
THE PARTY
The Reception kicked off with the Bridal Party making their Grand Entrance followed by Rebecca and Dan’s First Dance as a married couple - which then broke out into a choreographed surprise for their guests. It was so fun!
Dinner followed, toasts were given, and then the dancing begun which was then accompanied by performances by Dan and his best friends, who actually used to play in a band together professionally for years. We later found out it had actually been years since they played together (some had moved out of state) so this was actually a reunion - the band was back together again!
CONGRATULATIONS REBECCA + DAN
It was an absolute gorgeous day and we wish you two all the love in the world! <3
THE TEAM // Venue + Catering: Bella Collina San Clemente // Coordinator: Bella Collina San Clemente // Photographer: Jonathan Yacoub Photography // Videographer: Love is Cinema // DJ: Divel Entertainment // Florist: The Bloom of Time // Cake: Plumeria Cake Studio
THE VIDEO
Videographer: Love is Cinema
10 Ways to Plan an Eco-Friendly Wedding
With Earth Day right around the corner, we wanted to do our part by sharing 10 Ways to plan an Eco-Friendly Wedding.
With Earth Day right around the corner, we wanted to do our part by sharing 10 Ways to plan an Eco-Friendly Wedding.
Protecting the environment is increasingly important, but luckily, it's also increasingly easy. With new technologies and innovations in science, eco-friendly finds are now more accessible than ever. If you and your soon-to-be-spouse plan to host an earth-loving celebration, you'll be pleased to know that there are plenty of ways to do so. Biodegradable materials and reusable decor can help your wedding be waste-free, while natural and sustainable foods, venues, and flowers can keep things even more ecologically responsible. From reducing electricity and fuel to re-purposing and giving back, we've got tips for every aspect of your big day, because there's no reason your dream wedding can't be a green wedding, too. Here, a few favorite ideas for executing an environmentally- and socially-conscious event.
1. Choose an Ethical Ring
Green wedding planning can begin as early as ring shopping. Choose an antique diamond, or go to a dealer who is committed to obtaining precious metals and gemstones in ways that are socially and environmentally responsible. Tiffany & Co., Ash Hilton, Brilliant Earth, Cred Jewellery, Dogeared, Leber Jeweler, and Ingle & Rhode are all great resources.
2. Use Recycled Paper
Save-the-dates, invitations, programs, menus, and thank-you cards can quickly add up to a whole lot of paper. Look for recycled paper options and when possible, post information such as directions on your wedding website instead of using an additional piece of paper.
3. PICKING A SUSTAINABLE WEDDING VENUE
Get the best of both worlds by saying your "I do"s in a wedding venue who does their part in be sustainable. Here at Bella Collina San Clemente, for example, grows some of our produce in our on-site garden. You can also opt for venues that are beautiful on their own, requiring less décor to be added to turn them into your celebration spot.
4. Get Thrifty
Scour flea markets and thrift stores for forgotten treasures and give them a second life as wedding décor. Textiles, glasses, and candles are great options! Another option is to use what you already have. For example, this couple cut birchwood from a tree that had fallen by their home to use as part of their centerpieces.
5. Decorate with Double-Duty Items
Make your place cards or centerpieces work as wedding favors. Here, succulents planted in small concrete pots serve as both escort cards and tokens of thanks.
6. OPT FOR BIODEGRADABLE ITEMS
Using biodegradable items offer an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional disposable items. Opt for dried flower petals toss versus the traditional confetti.
This Thimblepress's dried flower confetti is an eco-friendly and no less dazzling way to celebrate. Even better? The label is letterpressed on seed paper, which you can plant under soil and watch grow to remember the special day!
7. Go Local
Cut down on your carbon footprint by hiring local vendors, and buying local and in-season flowers and food. Bonus: Regional touches serve double-duty to bring together the theme of your party.
8. Recycle Your Wedding Flowers
Let your arrangements live beyond the wedding day by donating them to local hospitals, nursing home, or shelters.
Ask your Bella Collina Coordinator how we can arrange for your flowers to be donated after your wedding!
9. Get Charitable
Purchase products from organizations that give back, such as vino from ONEHOPE Wine.
Other couples get involved with charities that are close to their heart and in leui of favors, simply present a note explaining that a donation was made in the guests’ honor.
10. Register Responsibly
For your wedding registry, choose products made with sustainable materials, and support companies that are doing good. Bambeco is an online store offering only reclaimed, repurposed, renewable, recycled, natural, or organic items. Or, for couples that have everything, consider setting up a charity registry through organizations like the I Do Foundation for a cause close to your heart.
With these easy ideas, creating a wedding with more eco-friendly options is easier than ever!
Happy planning!
Bella Collina Wedding Checklist
There are so many wedding checklists out there! Some of them are really great, but they are all generalized to make it effective for every bride out there. There isn’t anything wrong with that, but once you know your venue, it’d be nice to have something a little more customized to where you are getting married, right? We thought so too!
Before “I DO” Checklist
There are so many wedding checklists out there! Some of them are really great, but they are all generalized to make it effective for every bride out there. There isn’t anything wrong with that, but once you know your venue, it’d be nice to have something a little more customized to where you are getting married, right? We thought so too!
So with that in mind, we put together a checklist for our Bella Collina couples that includes everything from most checklists with added items that pertain to your wedding at Bella Collina. So enjoy and we hope this is helpful in your wedding planning!
As always, let us know if you have any questions! We are here to help!
Happy planning!
Wedding Blog is Finally Here!
I can't believe we are finally here! This blog has been a long time coming but kept getting put on the back burner the last couple years. At the beginning of this year, this was at the top of our list.
Our Wedding Blog is Finally Here!
I can't believe we are finally here! This blog has been a long time coming but honestly, it just kept getting put on the back burner. At the beginning of this year, this was at the top of our list. With social media taking over the event world, it was important for us to make sure that we were up to speed and we were able to provide that same type of insight to you about us; who we are, what we do, the exciting things we get to take part in and our overall love for this entire experience.
More importantly, our goal is to provide a sense of community. We take pride in being able to connect with our clients beyond signing a contract. Most of you become friends and family through the process so to be able to keep that going is huge for us! We love all of you and we are so excited to start this journey with you, so whether you were a past client, a current client, or a prospective - we want you to feel part of the Bella Collina family!
We plan to share past weddings, ideas and inspiration, and some planning essentials to help you through the planning process. If there is anything else you want to see, please reach out and let us know! We always welcome more ideas and want to make sure we do our part in being there for you!
So welcome! Say hello anytime! Happy reading!
Super Bowl LIII Photo Booth
Just a little bit on fun in the Super Bowl LIII photo booth!
Just a little bit of fun in the Super Bowl LIII photo booth!
Super Bowl LIII
The rain may have put a damper on our golf game, but it didn’t stop the party for our most popular event of the year!
Super Bowl LIII
The rain may have put a damper on our golf game, but it didn’t stop the party for our most popular event of the year!
Bella Collina San Clemente Receives Distinction in the 11th Annual WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards®
2019 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards®
Bella Collina San Clemente Receives Distinction in the 11th Annual WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards®
San Clemente, January 18, 2019. -- Bella Collina San Clemente was announced a winner of the renowned WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Awards® in San Clemente.
WeddingWire, Inc., a leading global online wedding marketplace, annually celebrates the top wedding professionals on WeddingWire across more than 20 service categories, from venues and caterers to florists and photographers. These distinguished vendors exhibit superior professionalism, responsiveness, service, and quality when interacting with the five million monthly consumers who turn to WeddingWire to help ease their wedding planning process.
Bella Collina San Clemente received this esteemed award based on their outstanding experience working with real newlyweds. WeddingWire features more than three million reviews, and these notable vendors all received prompt, reliable, and quality feedback.
"We are celebrating our 11th annual Couples’ Choice Awards, where we honor our vendors who help make millions of couples’ big day one to remember," said Timothy Chi, CEO, WeddingWire. "Not only are these hardworking and distinguished wedding professionals, such as Bella Collina San Clemente, a fundamental part of the wedding planning process for engaged couples, but they help make WeddingWire a trusted source for wedding planning. We congratulate everyone on this well-deserved achievement."
Bella Collina San Clemente is honored to be one of the top wedding businesses in San Clemente on WeddingWire.com.
For more information about Bella Collina San Clemente, please visit us on WeddingWire. To learn more about the WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards®, please visit www.weddingwire.com/couples-choice-awards.
About WeddingWire, Inc.
WeddingWire, Inc. is a leading global online marketplace connecting consumers with local wedding professionals and a suite of comprehensive tools that make wedding planning easier. Operating within a $250 billion industry, WeddingWire helps 16 million users every month find the right team of wedding professionals to personalize and pull off their special day. Consumers around the world are able to read more than 5 million vendor reviews and search, compare and book from a directory of over 500,000 vendors local to them. Founded in 2007, the WeddingWire portfolio serves couples and wedding professionals across 15 countries in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia. The company has more than 950 employees and is headquartered in Washington, DC, with international headquarters in Barcelona, Spain.
Halloween: Nightmare on La Pata
The Goblins and Gouls were out in full force during our Annual Nightmare on La Pata Spooktacular!
The Goblins and Gouls were out in full force during our Annual Nightmare on La Pata Spooktacular!
Our FALL Dinner Menu is here!
We're excited to debut a new dinner menu curated by our Executive Chef Leo Villamil.
We're excited to debut a new dinner menu curated by our Executive Chef Leo Villamil.
The new menu is officially available beginning tomorrow evening during Thursday Night Dinner, but here's a taste of what you can look forward to:
The Dinner Menu is available weekly on Thursday and Friday nights in the lounge form 5:00pm-9:00pm. For reservations, call: 949-498-6604.
Chelsea + Ryan
This was a fun one for us! It was one of heartwarming stories you feel like you only hear in the movies - This couple actually knew each other since they were in diapers! (Wowzers!).
Chelsea + Ryan
This was a fun one for us! It was one of heartwarming stories you feel like you only hear in the movies - This couple actually knew each other since they were in diapers! (Wowzers!). Before our bride and groom were born, their parents lived in the same neighborhood and became close friends. They ended up having kids around the same time (two of them being our bride and groom) and grew up hanging out in the neighborhood together. As they grew older, they went to different schools, did their own thing - only to reconnect years later, start dating, and then earlier this year - get married! How cute is that?!
PERSONAL DETAILS // This wedding was full of personal touches created by the Bride and Groom. We see a lot of different types of decor throughout weddings, but our favorite are ones that are personal to the bride and groom - like this memory table with those loved ones who they wanted to make sure they knew were with them on this special day. One of the fun details from their ceremony included these wood signs that listed out who was part of their special day and photos (so fun to look at!) Once guests followed the path down to the ceremony, they were greeted by this gorgeous arch by Florals by Jenny that tied in so well with all of our greenery surrounding the ceremony site. Isn’t a stunner?!
CLEAN & CRISP // Their reception was simple but flawless! With soft shades of greys and white, with touches of greenery brought out by the flowers, the look was simple, but so crisp and elegant all at the same time. As the sun set, the chandelier dimmed, the candles glowed, and the twinkle lights around the room added that extra touch of ambience that gave this room a romantic feel. (Soft lighting and candles are everything!)
RECEPTION FUN // The fun definitely took place at this couple’s reception! Remember I said personal touches? If you look closely - this couple had a cake topper customized with their little dog right next to them! Isn’t that so cute?! Along with a fun (and gorgeous) cake, the couple brought in a photobooth, which is always a crowd pleaser, and then had the sweetest send off gift for their guests on their way out - S’MORES!
(The tags read “Sending you S’MORE love”) - So cute!
LOVE NOTES
“Words can’t express what I feel when I think about our wedding day. It was beyond perfect and everything we wanted. Bella Collina is magical and all of our guests complimented the venue, the food and service. Everyone had such a good time! It made my heart happy to see everyone out on the dance floor or chatting enjoying their drinks by the bar. Karen and Elisa went above and beyond for us. Karen even ran to Target for me for sticky tape to make sure I didn’t fall out of my wedding dress. And Elisa literally put so much work into making our day perfect. I trusted her from Day 1. She’s so organized and on top of everything. We had a large bridal party of 18 people and all of them with lively personalities and the face Elisa was able to wrangle them she deserves and award. Bella Collina was the best decision I made for our wedding. I wouldn’t change a thing. I highly recommend Bella Collina and Elisa as the coordinator for a wedding or any event.” - Chelsea (Source: Yelp.com)
THE TEAM // Photographer & Videographer: Prince Productions // Venue: Bella Collina San Clemente, San Clemente, CA // Coordination: Bella Collina San Clemente - Elisa Victa // Catering: Bella Collina San Clemente // Florals + Arch: Florals by Jenny // Cake: French Pastries // DJ: Battleson Entertainment // Linen + Chair Covers: GBS Linen
Whimsical Romance
HELLO GORGEOUS! This wedding gave us ALL the feels! Honestly, it was so hard to pick just a few photos to share with you because their entire wedding was an absolute dream!
ERIN + KHALEN
HELLO GORGEOUS! This wedding gave us ALL the feels! Honestly, it was so hard to pick just a few photos to share with you because their entire wedding was an absolute dream and Gabe and Britt Photography did an amazing job capturing the beauty of their day! We won’t blame you if you can’t stop scrolling through their photos repeatedly! We still do!
Enjoy! XO
PAMPAS // These pampas feathers were everything! With the light coastal breeze passing through our valley - the added texture and dimension of these feathers swayed ever so lightly and brought all the attention to the spot these two said “I DO!” Add their colored florals by Beautiful Savage, it was the perfect amount of pop to their romantic setting.
And just the way he looks at her! (heart melting)
THE DETAILS // After the ceremony, the beauty continued throughout their reception. The continuation of the same pops of colors from their ceremony led us right into their reception with their gorgeous centerpieces, geometric shaped mirrors, the simplicity and elegance of their cake, their custom laser engraved name plates for the bride and groom, and the list goes on and on…
LOVE NOTES
“Elisa, Thank you so much for all you have helped me with for my wedding. You helped take my stress away and make everything beautiful! It’s been a pleasure meeting and working with you!” - Erin
THE TEAM // Photographer: Gabe and Britt Photography // Venue: Bella Collina San Clemente, San Clemente, CA // Coordination: Bella Collina San Clemente - Elisa Victa // Catering: Bella Collina San Clemente // Florals: Beautiful Savage // Cake: Plumeria // Videography: Prince Productions // DJ: Let’s Party LA // Arch: OC Gazebos // Chargers: Signature Party Rentals // Linen: Luxe Linen // Chiavari Chairs: Irene’s Rentals
Havana Nights Charity Gala - 70 Years of Giving
Since 1948, the San Clemente Junior Woman’s Club has been giving back through volunteerism and financial support to it’s community and held their Annual Charity Gala at Bella Collina this past April and, boy, it was a success!
San Clemente Junior Woman’s Club: Havana Nights Charity Gala - 70 Years of Giving
Since 1948, the San Clemente Junior Woman’s Club has been giving back through volunteerism and financial support to it’s community and held their Annual Charity Gala at Bella Collina this past April and, boy, it was a success! It being their 70th Anniversary, the San Clemente Junior Woman’s Club wanted to celebrate big and they accomplished all of that and more!
Guests were in for a fun filled night as they showed up dressed the part for their Havana Nights themed evening. Men in their linen dress shirts and women in colorful dresses were greeted with classic cars that lined the entrance into the clubhouse to find tray passed cuban inspired appetizers, latin music, and signature mojitos at the bar.
The evening started off with appetizers, drinks, and a silent auction, and then followed by a three course dinner, live auction, and dancing. By the end of the evening, after all the generous contributions and donors, the San Clemente Junior Woman’s club raised $50,000.00!!!
Proceeds
With proceeds going to programs that help the San Clemente community, the San Clemente Junior Woman’s Club also chose a local organization to fund during their live auction as their fund-a-need beneficiary. COA (Community Outreach Alliance), is a local non-profit organization in San Clemente whose goal is to offer fun and healthy activities to our community that has been deeply affected by the drug and addiction epidemic. The funds raised from this evening will help fund COA’s new program ‘Thrive Alive’; a seven week education, prevention, rescue course for teens which will support the middle school and high school students in our community. The program will educate students on the current culture that can draw them into making unhealthy choices with the goal to teach them to make the right ones and feel respected, appreciated, and valued.
Thank you’s!
Bella Collina was so honored to been a part of such an incredible event that benefited the lives of so many and we know the San Clemente Junior Woman’s Club is so thankful to their sponsors, donors, community, friends, and families who made this possible!
SPONSORS & DONORS:
Adventure City • Agostino's By The Sea • Amen Jewelry • American Limousine • Angels Baseball • Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach • Artifex Brewery • The Arts Project of Orange County • Audi Mission Viejo • Avid Mortgage Solutions • Ballpark Pizza San Clemente • Barnoa Wine Bar & Restaurant • Barre 3 • Beach Fire Restaurant • Bella Collina San Clemente • Big Bear Cabin - Conrad Real Estate • Bob's Fine Wine • Brainy Actz • Butterfli Me Make Up and Lash Studio • Burke Williams Spa • Cabrillo Playhouse • Captain Dave's Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari • Captain Mauri's • Carly Street Studio Photography • Ciao Pasta • Circus Trix OC • Club Pilates San Clemente • Coffee Importers Dana Point • Dana Point Marina Inn • Dana Wharf Fishing • Das Gud Spice Company • Discovery Cube • Dog Family SC • Dope Hair Studio • Em & Tess Boutique • Epic Yoga - San Clemente • Farmers & Merchant Banks San Clemente • Fired Up San Clemente • Firehouse Ribs & More • First Team Real Estate San Clemente • Gemmell's Restaurant • Habit Burger • Hannah Reed Swimwear • Hapa J's Restaurant • Hard Rock San Diego • Humphry's • Inka Mamas San Clemente • Jophiel's Light & Skincare • Jump 'n Jammin • Just B'Cuz Boutique • Kendra Scott Jewelry • Laguna Playhouse • Lake Forest Limousines • Laser Quest, Mission Viejo • Libre Tequila Spirits • Lu + Elle Clutches • Luciana's Ristorante • MAGIC CASTLE • Malibu Wine Safari • Medieval Times in Buena Park, CA • Melrose in the OC • Memories of Me Photography • Missy's On Del Mar Boutique • Monarch Beach Resorts Spa • MRK PUBLIC RESTAURANT • Murder Mystery Scavenger Hunt • Murf Electric Bikes • Nation Manufacturing • New Native Custom Baby Carrier • Nomads Hotel • Nomads Restaurant • OC TAVERN SPORTS AND BAR • OC Indoor Golf • Orange Theory Fitness • Oriental Trading Company • Paws Pet Resort • Pier Pride • Perfect Ten Nail Salon • Pinot's Palette in Aliso Viejo • Poke + Roll 808 Restaurant • Proud Mary's • PRP Wine International • Rainbow Sandals • Rascals Boutique • Regency Real Estate • Ring Home Security System • Sally Lawrence • Salon Serenity in Dana Point • San Clemente Dental Care • San Clemente Surf Soccer Club • San Clemente Wine Company • SC Gymanstics • Schmid's of San Clemente • SC Wine Company • Seaside Skincare Basket • Sender City Anaheim, CA. • SoCal K9 Training • Social Dry Lounge in Irvine • Sugar Blossom Bake Shop • Sundried Tomato American Bistro • Surf & Sand Hotel: Splashes Restaurant • Susie Cakes in Laguna Hills, CA • South Swell Ice Cream • South Of Nick's Mexican Kitchen & Bar • Sustany Capital • The Cellar • Tina & Vince's Delicatesen • Tito's Vodka • Total Wine & More Laguna Niguel • The Ranch at Laguna Beach • Unleashed by Petco • V's Barbershop • Walmart • Waterbabies • Waves Beyond Skin Care • Wildflower Florist in SC • Wind & Sea Restaurant
LOVE NOTES
“Hands down, Bella Collina is AMAZING! We just finished planning and executing a 10 month long charity event for the San Clemente Junior Woman's Club, a local non-profit all volunteer woman's organization (scjwc.org). We held the charity gala at Bella Collina Towne & Golf Club this past Saturday. WOW-ZA is all we can say...Bella Collina from start to finish was truly exceptional. Their talented team of event planners, starting with Karen and Elisa, handled every detail to perfection making the planning process smooth and easy. Second, Chef Leo made an amazing Latin dish to tie back to our Havana Nights theme. We are not exaggerating when we say that each and every plate was consumed entirely (Cuban chicken, cilantro lime rice, fried plantains and sautéed green beans, cherry on top: cinnamon churros con chocolate!). Chef Leo is creative, highly skilled and a pleasure to work with on every level. You rock Chef Leo, the food was delicious! Third, the staff was also top-notch delivering the meal timely and professionally. We simply cannot express our gratitude enough as our organization had a fantastic event. We also had a silent and live auction, along with a fund-a-need for an amazing local non-profit Community Outreach Alliance who is changing for the better the lives of teens, with the support of a wonderful, funny and extremely talented benefit auctioneer, Kenny Shirey Jr. from California Coast Auctions under Zack Krone's leadership/guidance. These guys are in a league of their own. Hands down, Kenny rocked the house and inspired a night of generous giving exceeding our fundraising goals. Lastly, VOX DJ Deeran and DJ Jenny got the entire crowd dancing up a storm. VOX DJ were easy to work with and we highly recommend their talented team. We also had a Latin guitar duo Kimera that added a nice accompaniment to our silent auction with their acoustic guitars and lovely vibe. The night was MAGICAL and Bella Collina you have outdone yourself - Happy 30th Anniversary to you!!! Thank you for being you.” - Stephanie S. / Source: Yelp.com
NEW! Summer Lunch Menu
Try these new items on Bella Collina’s Summer 2018 Lunch Menu
Chef Leonel just announced new items added to the Summer Lunch Menu! Come in and try out one of our new dishes Tuesday to Saturday from 11:00am - 4:00pm and Sundays from 10:00am - 4:00pm. Check out the entire lunch menu here.
Avocado on Toast - ½ Avocado over Rustic Multigrain with Fresh Lemon, Cashew Kale Pesto, Micro Greens & Our Signature “Everything” Seasoning. Add Smoked Salmon or Poached Egg for a small up charge.
4 Cheese “Bianca” Flatbread - With Fresh Mozzarella, Bleu Cheese, Brie, Parmesan, Arugula and Crispy Prosciutto.
Italian Prosciutto Ham Sandwich - Warm Pressed Focaccia Bread with Genoa Salami, Melted Buffalo Mozzarella, Heirloom Tomatoes, Arugula and Dijon Mayo.
Beer Battered Fish 'n Chips - Alaskan Cod fried to a crisp. Served with Fries, Coleslaw and Tartar Sauce.
Panzanella Tomato Salad - Heirloom Tomatoes, Baby Greens, Rustic Croutons, Greek Olives, Cucumbers & Red Wine Vinaigrette.
What's Growing in Bella Gardens
When Bella Collina put the call out for volunteers to help manage the newly built Bella Gardens, longtime member Don Echelberger stepped up to the plate. Check out what’s growing in Bella Gardens this summer!
When Bella Collina put the call out for volunteers to help manage the newly built Bella Gardens, longtime member Don Echelberger stepped up to the plate. Don met with Chef Leonel to see what kinds of vegetables could be used in the kitchen and began taking horticulture classes at Saddleback college to further his learning.
Bella Collina's summer vegetable garden boasts Jalapenos, Carmen Peppers, Green Beans, Yellow Bell Peppers, Sweet Corn, Red Onions, Radishes, Cherry Tomatoes, Tomatoes, Tomatillos, Red Bell Peppers, Zucchini Squash, Garlic, Summer Squash, Cayenne Peppers, and Banana Peppers. What doesn't get used in the kitchen is usually set out in a basket for members to enjoy at home.
Strategy in Design:
As Don learned in his horticulture classes, there is a strategy to designing a good vegetable garden. Planting Marigolds near your tomatoes has shown to repel nematodes , slugs, tomato horn worms and other garden pests. Sunflowers provide dramatic and cheerful flair to Bella Collina's vegetable garden. They also serve a very practical purpose. Sunflowers attract pollinators, provide shade, act as a living trellis and can even assist in the cleaning of contaminated soil. Next time you're in the area, stop by Bella Gardens and say hi to Don: You might be able to pick up a few pointers for your vegetable garden at home!