Thank you to all of our brides, bridesmaids, mothers, prom, homecoming, beauty walk, and pageant girls who have made the first year in our new location special! We are looking forward to a great 2012!
Bella’s is excited to say our new stock of beauty walk, prom dresses, and jewelry have arrived. Purchase your gown early since we register dresses–one style per school.
In Hispanic culture, when a girl turns 15, a celebration is held called the quinceanera, symbolizing the girl’s passage to womanhood. While a quinceanera has religious and historical origins, in modern American society, it has evolved to a large social affair for presenting a young woman to society for the first time. The quinceanera is an important event similar to a sweet sixteen party, meant to honor the girl and surround her with family and friends.
The quinceanera holds religious and cultural significance to people in Central America and South America, and Hispanic Catholics in the United States. The main event of a quinceanera is a religious Mass, with readings from the Bible and the Eucharist, as in other Masses. During the prayers in this Mass, the young woman makes a commitment to follow the teachings and lessons of God and the Blessed Virgin throughout her entire life. The honoree is accompanied by 14 young women (making the total number 15) as well as her own escort. Dress styles have evolved over time, but the honoree will wear something that distinguishes her from the rest, whether a traditional wedding-type dress or a ball gown. She also wears a headpiece. During the Mass, her grandparents give the girl a crown and remove the headpiece. The crown symbolizes a princess, and during the Mass she is given a cross that signifies she is ready to become an adult.
Although the history is unclear, some historians believe that Spanish conquistadors introduced the quinceanera to the Meso-American tribes. However, there was also an Aztec coming-of-age ceremony, which would have occurred before the conquistadors arrived. The Spanish explorers most likely would have altered the celebration to fit their Christian beliefs. Since then, the practice has been passed through generations and cultures.
Many young women choose to have a reception with all of their family and friends. When the young woman enters the reception she wears flat shoes, which will be replaced with high heels by her father, another symbol of her entrance to womanhood. During the reception there is a banquet and a dance. In Mexico, girls are not supposed to dance in public if they are younger than 15, so this signifies the first time they are permitted to do so. The young woman dances with her godfathers and other father figures to a special song, which is traditionally a waltz. She receives a variety of gifts, including earrings that remind her to listen to God and a bracelet symbolic of the circle of life.
The young woman receives her last childhood toy, usually a porcelain doll. This doll is often wearing a dress identical to the girl’s dress. The doll holds ribbons with the girl’s name and the date of the quinceanera written on them, which are given as party souvenirs. Occasionally, the doll is given as a gift to a younger girl in the family, but often the doll is kept as a memento from the party.
Bella’s has a large selection of quinceanera dresses in solids and prints. Let us make your daughter’s quinceanera a day she will cherish forever.
The date 11-11-11 happens just once in a lifetime, and many Birmingham couples want to get married on this special date in hopes that it will be the start to a lucky marriage. It will also be an anniversary date no couple will forget. Wedding bells will be ringing all over the world today, 11/11/11. Many potential brides and grooms were thinking about 11/11/11 many months in advance, and wedding venues have been booked for months. Wedding planners said the last time there was so much interest in getting married on a particular date was 7-7-07. Although the next special wedding date, 12-12-12, falls on a Wednesday, wedding planners said they still anticipate a lot of bookings. Wedding chapels in Las Vegas are also hitting the jackpot on the special date. Officials said they’ve sold thousands of wedding packages for Friday. The buzz has been the same at Bella’s Bridal. We have sold more dresses than usual for a Friday wedding date. Good luck to our Bella’s Brides marrying on this unforgettable date.
Selecting your bridesmaid dresses may be one of the most challenging tasks to achieve for your wedding. There are many styles, sizes, budgets, colors, etc. to consider. Hopefully these hints will help:
For a modern, but still put-together look-pick the color and fabric, but consider letting your bridesmaids choose the neckline and silhouette.
When shopping, bring one or two bridesmaids–maybe the bridesmaid who has the body or coloring that is most similar to the rest of the bridal party or the bridesmaid who is the most difficult to fit.
Ask for your bridesmaids’ advice but make the final decision yourself. You are the one who knows the big picture including the overall look and everyone’s budget best.
The bridesmaids should try to place their orders at the same time to ensure that the dresses will be made from the same dye lot.
Allow four months for delivery and alteration time for the dresses.
Do not forget the extras. Should the bridesmaids all have the same shoes, jewelry, hairstyles, handbags or wraps? Communicate your desires clearly to your bridesmaids and have fun shopping.
Our newest arrival from Casablanca is a stunning sheath gown with a zippered slit front. This lovely gown is beaded and has embroidered lace appliqués sewn onto netting over a satin lining with an organza band accenting the sweetheart neckline and train. This gown is perfect for your destination wedding.
If you are looking for a great shoe to wear on your wedding day. Check out this sexy stiletto from Johnathan Kayne Footwear. Inspired by the “Sex in the City” movie, this four inch heel is accented with a beautiful peacock feather and is perfect to wear as your “something blue”. Bella’s has a great selection of shoes by Liz Rene’ Couture of Benjamin Walk, Touch Ups, Dyeables, Helens Heart, and Johnathan Kane.
Essense of Australia – Style No. 1237
