{TOTALLY YOU VENUES} Campus Weddings

Contributed by: Chloe Mark

Choosing one location that fulfills each requirement on your checklist for both your wedding ceremony and reception can be daunting - especially when every new couple seems to be creating new standards for a beautiful wedding setting. You and your partner debate: Do you say yes to an outdoor wedding, risking bad weather? And no to two different locations for reception and ceremony, not wanting your guests to have to drive the distance? Yes to a more creative location, even though you have always wanted to get married in a traditional church? The variety of viable venue options goes on and on until you feel quite undecided...

Our resolution for this predicament? A campus wedding. 

     University of Minnesota Engagement, Jim Woolsey Photography

1) Many Variations: Yes, we know it’s been done before, yet the variations on this venue are vast! You can get married in a grand historic church and still have your reception a short walk away in a stunning modern dining venue overlooking the city (as is the case with Campus Club at the University of Minnesota). Likewise, you can welcome your guests to explore the numerous facets of the campus during the gap between your ceremony and dinner - directing them to the campus library, historic campus landmarks or surrounding nature - and still be a quick walking distance from the reception. Regardless of whether or not your love story took place on that campus, once you choose this venue, you can use it to your full advantage in a plethora of wonderful ways. 

     Christ Chapel, Gustavus Adophus College, St. Peter, MN, Brovado Weddings

     Campus Club, University of Minnesota, campusclubumn.org

    Arboretum, University of Minnesota, arboretum.umn.edu

    The Weisman Art Museum, University of Minnesota, weisman.umn.edu

2) Inspirational Platform: With a college as your base, you have extra sources of inspiration for your wedding’s theme. You can play off of the school’s themes, your personal “how we met” story, or the sites of the charming surrounding town.

     Minnesota Twins Wedding Cake Topper

     University of Minnesota Garter, etsy.com

    TCF Bank Stadium, University of Minnesota

3) Picture-Perfect Scenes: The sweet spots for picture perfect moments are endless when you have a campus from which to work. Kate and Jacob tromped all around both their campus of St. Olaf and the surrounding town of Northfield to capture fun photos that convey their love story. They found little ways to incorporate their love story into their wedding and photos. 

 

       St. Olaf College Wedding, Northfield, MN, Exposed to Light Photography

4) Plentiful in Resources: Many times when working with a college, a partnership with a catering service is already established so you can have fine dining without all the research and extra expense. They also would be equipped with any furniture, linens or decor you may need. 

Great Hall Bon Appetite Catering Services, Carleton College, Northfield, MN, Bellagala.com

5) Planting Romance in the Mundane: We all need a little romance added to an otherwise academic setting - don’t hesitate to spice up the college campus by being that adorable couple we all admire from behind our books.

     1) Burton Dormitory 2) Campus Welcome Sign - Carleton College, Northfield, MN, Bellagala.com

Belle Noelle Welcomes Chloe!

Meet Chloe, my new awesome intern!

She is helping me this summer (and beyond) with all sorts of projects...and let me tell you, the help is MUCH needed with my new little man around.

Welcome Chloe; I am MORE than excited to have you on board!  

Make sure to watch for her contributions on the blog.

Read more about her here :

"I’m Chloe Mark, a rising senior Studio Art major from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. I’m highly interested in venturing into the event planning world for my career and feel so fortunate that Casey from Belle Noelle is taking me under her wing this summer. I have always been rather obsessed with weddings and other such parties so the idea of spending my work day with others to coordinate an event sounds ideal. I love taking my artistic eye and abilities and combining them with my interpersonal and organizational skills to make someone’s vision come alive. 

When I’m not studying or working I love to stay active outdoors, dance, attend bible studies, spend time in coffee shops, travel (as cheaply as possible), read, stare at pictures of weddings, hang out with my friends, my grandma and my dogs. I recently returned from a study abroad trip to Italy studying religion and history as well as the many ways Italians know how to throw a party (mainly beautiful weddings in front of gorgeous Basilicas). 

I look forward to learning and growing, taking on any opportunity I can get as I start this internship. I feel lucky to have a chance to write about the world of weddings and events and help you all plan in any way I can. I especially love a good deal, neat D.I.Y. feature, or a sweet story to share."  

Back to Business!

Hello lovely people!

It's been an insanely long time since I have posted anything on my blog...and why such a long break?  Well, Belle Noelle had a baby - our first!  His name is Gates, and my husband and I are GAGA over him.  Here is my little man at 2 weeks old:

and now at 4 1/2 months old:

He is an active, happy, funny baby and the love of our lives.

Now that this Mama is more used to parenthood it's BACK TO BUSINESS time for Belle Noelle Events & Design.  Stay tuned for much more to come!  There are so many exciting things we have lined up, and I can't wait to share them with you all.

Peace and Love ~ Casey Noelle Bahl

10 Valentine's Day Gift Ideas for Your Gal

In my search for creative and meaningful gifts for my man, I couldn't help but stumble across more than a few gift ideas that I myself would love to receive...so I decided to make a guide for all you guys out there that don't have a clue what to do or get your gal for Valentine's Day.

I encourage you to go beyond the chocolate and roses, and let this list serve as inspiration...your lady will appreciate something that shows you know and love her personality.

Enjoy, and good luck guys ;)

Personalized Mother's Necklace - Calla Lily Charm - $56

"Design your own beautiful and unique personalized necklace. Three highly detailed calla lily charms are engraved and accented with the gemstone of your choice. Makes a lovely gift to celebrate your little ones!"
Click here to purchase

Bracelet made out of your first house key - DIY

What a unique and meaningful gift for the woman you love and share a home with!  This is a DIY project from the heart; however if you are not a DIY man - check out a local jeweler for assistance in creating something beautiful and custom!

Colt 45 Bullet Earrings in Gold Rush - $19.99

"Winchester Colt 45 brass bullet casings approximately 1/2 inch in diameter feature large 6mm Swarovski Crystal Elements.  The Brass Bullet Casings are real and have been cleaned and lightly polished."

Do you and your sweetie go to the range or hunting together?  This gift will celebrate your shared love of this activity while still appealing to her girly side!  
Click here to purchase

Personalized Brass Initial Ring - $20

"This personalized ring can hold two initials and be adjusted to fit your finger as you wish.  Wear your initials or those of someone you love, the initials are custom!" 

Click here to purchase

True Love Hammered Ring - $25
"This wonderful ring starts with a beautiful hammered band that is paired with a sweet domed heart (8x10mm) that can be left blank or stamped. A beautiful reminder of the true love in your life! Entirely sterling silver."
Click here to purchase

The Clutch for iPad - $89.99

For the chic geek girl in your life..."stylish lamb-skin iPad purse with pleated front and optional shoulder strap, comes in Red or Black"

Click here to purchase

Kate Spade "Whistle While You Work" iPad Case - $50

"A whimsical script styles a cushioned case designed to protect the Apple iPad or other e-readers."
Click here to purchase

Tory Burch 'Robinson' Smartphone Wallet - $155

"Saffiano texture brings scratch-resistant finish to a tidy wallet furnished with a compartment that fits just about any style of smartphone. A wrist strap provides an added element of carrying security."
Click here to purchase

Luxe 1080p HD Camcorder - $80

"Take a chic shot with this dream camcorder. It boasts 1080p HD technology, features a 3" swivel HDMI touch-screen interface for easy programming, and captures up to 12-megapixel pictures as well as cinema-quality video. When you're finished shooting, replay your memories on any HDTV with the included HDMI cable."
Click here to order

Bodum Eileen French Press - $30

"We developed the EILEEN French press coffee maker not only in honor of the great Irish designer Eileen Gray (1879 – 1976), but for all the coffee connoisseurs who frequent the bistros and cafés of Paris - Gray’s adopted city. It’s specifically designed to withstand the exacting conditions of busy café and restaurant use."
Click here to purchase

Wedding Picture with Lyrics to Your First Song - Price Varies

Pick your favorite picture from your wedding, and send it to GeeZees Custom Art Gallery to be printed on a canvas in your choice of size with lyrics to your first dance...she is SURE to absolutely love the thought put into this.  Caution...may be a tear-jerker:)

Click here to order

10 Valentine's Day Gifts For Your Man

Valentine's Day is quickly approaching, and it's time for us ladies to ask ourselves...what in the WORLD do I get for my man?  Searching "Valentine's gift for men" via google may produce generic and/or cheesy suggestions.  For example, during my initial search the first item that came up was a gift basket of Sweet and Salty Chocolate Balls (This is no joke).  Um...not only is this wildly inappropriate, but incredibly impersonal for the person whom I have spent the last 8 years with.

So - I made it my mission to compile a list of gift items "for him" that are unique, funny, useful, or just plain cool.  And most importantly...gifts I would actually give to my own man.

Enjoy, and feel free to add additional gift suggestions in the comments area below!

Latitude Longitude Keychain $32

"A personalized keychain in hammered copper, hand stamped with the latitude and longitude coordinates of your choosing. The perfect gift to mark the special location of...your first kiss, proposal, wedding, anniversary, birth of a baby, first home...anywhere on the globe that is special to you and yours. "

Click here to purchase

Acoustic iPhone 5 dock in Curly Maple $39.50

"Precision crafted out of beautiful North West curly maple, typically used for instruments like guitars, this dock is specifically designed for iPhone 5.  The most EXCITING feature is the pockets for the speaker and the mike. The pockets are acoustically connected with your iPhone 5 speaker and microphone so that your music is louder and clearer." 

Click here to purchase

Sardina and Flash Grand Cru Camera $109

"Instead of champagne for Valentine's Day (or in addition?) consider the champagne-themed line of cameras like the La Sardinia and Flash Grand Cru. It's finished with metallic paint and actual cork, plus a super powerful flash for indoor, wide angle shooting."

There are a wide range of colors and patterns to choose from too!

Click here to purchase

1965 Playboy Pair $40

If he is a Playboy reader (or a "looker" shall we say?) he may enjoy a pair of vintage Playboy magazines.  These are the September 1965 and October 1965 issues. 

Click here to purchase

Story of How You Met - DIY

"Everyone has a story of the exact moment they met the BIG LOVE of their life – I bet you're smiling just thinking about it, aren't you? What a sweet moment for a happy a couple to hang on their wall."

This personalized print can be purchased on Etsy, or would be a great meaningful DIY gift for your special man!

Click here to purchase

Warby Parker x The Standard Sunglasses - $95

"The charitable and on-trend team at Warby Parker have partnered with The Standard hotel to create a limited edition pair of their Winston shades in a classic striped ale colorway."

They are a mix of 60's style and modern; perfect for the on-trend guy.

Click here to purchase

Ticket Stub Diary - $12.99

"If you have a box full of ticket stubs that could use some organizational attention, this is the perfect scrapbook for you! Like a photo album for your old tickets, this book is filled with 22 acid-free pages with clear pockets ideal for displaying those little pieces of your personal history."

Great gift for the concert going guy in your life!

Click here to purchase

Personalized Magnetic Capcatcher - $38.90

"The classic Magnetic Capcatcher measures 3" x 10", and comes with our Mega Magnet.  Easily attaches to a refrigerator (door or side), or any metal surface that will take a magnet."

This is perfect for the bar in the man cave!

Click here to purchase

Lightsaber Icepop Maker - $20

For the Star Wars geek in your life - this is not the most romantic gift, but it's certainly funny!

Click here to purchase

Anthony Bourdain's Les Halles Cookbook - $40

"In this long-awaited cookbook, Anthony Bourdain brings you a cookbook like no other: candid, funny, audacious, full of his signature charm and bravado. Inside, he teaches you everything you need to know to prepare classic French bistro fare."

Perfect for the man who cooks - and ladies, it's beneficial for you too! 

Click here to purchase

I hope this list helped - at the very least inspired you - to think about more creative options than a salty-ball filled gift basket :)  

Happy Valentine's Day to you all, and remember to keep it creative!

Casey Noelle Bahl

Belle Noelle Events & Design

Belle Noelle's DIY Custom Coasters

Holiday gift giving can be so much fun (or stressful depending on how you look at it!), and a time to put your creative mind to work for the ones you love.  However, when the presents are all bought and wrapped up beautifully under the tree you realize it can take quite a toll out of your pocketbook.  

This year my mother in law mentioned they needed new coasters for their living room and bar area, so being the gift-researcher that I am I found some beautiful options for custom coasters...for about $40 per set!  It seemed to be something that could turn into a fun DIY project that would save us money at the same time, so I decided to give it a shot.

Here is the process I used to make these fun and inexpensive coasters!

1.  Find 4x4 distressed looking tumbled tiles - I prefer Chiaro Tumbled Tiles. You can get them at Home Depot or Lowes; 9 in a box for around $4.00. 

2.  Wipe the tile off with a wet paper towel and let dry before you start.

3.  Cut out a small 1/2" square from a post-it from the sticky end, and stick on the middle of the tile.  (Mine has some ink from previous coasters I stamped).

4.  Using any stamp that you like (I used a chevron pattern for my coasters; $12 Michaels), stamp the image using StazOn or Archival Ink over the post-it.  StazOn ink around $7, bigger Archival Ink around $12.

5.  Now take the post-it piece off.  You will be left with a perfect spot to stamp on the initial of your choice!  

I used Recollections stamps from Michaels; $14.95.

6.  Let ink dry for about an hour or so.

7.  After ink is dry, use a sponge (a clean dish sponge cut into a small square will do) to apply a coat of Modge Podge to the tile.  This will seal your design, and prevent any moisture from affecting the ink.  I used a matte finish.

8.  Let the tiles sit out overnight so the Modge Podge dries completely.  To use as coasters be sure to put sticky felt rounds or cork squares on the bottom corners so they do not scratch any tabletop surface.

9.  Finally, you have a set of beautiful handmade custom coasters!  They make wonderful gifts for the holidays, as a housewarming gift, birthdays, or even as favors at a party.  Get creative with it, and have fun!

Original Photos by: Casey Noelle Bahl of Belle Noelle

Materials Needed:

• Rubber stamp(s) of your choice
• Tumbled 4x4 tiles (I used Chiaro Tumbled)
• StazOn, Brilliance, Archival or Hybrid Palette ink pads 
• Mod Podge
• Sponges
• Cork or sticky felt rounds