Thursday, July 22, 2010

Outside the Ballroom: Bella Collina



After weaving and winding through hills and trees we saw a clearing up ahead. As we exited the canopy towards the sunlight, on a hilltop, there in front of us, was a gorgeous venue surrounded by scenery that's not typical of Florida. It was as if we had gone to another country!

Taking back roads in Florida can be exciting as there is so much to explore. One of Florida's secrets is that it has some gorgeous countryside and amazing rolling hills in the middle of it. Two little towns, Montverde and Clermont, are pretty well known for these.



Now I had seen photos of Bella Collina on their website but they just don't do it justice. I was at a total loss for words as Chad pulled off the road to get some quick shots of the venue. I couldn't believe that such a place existed in Florida. I'm so used to all the touristy stuff and little DeLand that finding a gem like this blew my mind!



Bella Collina is a fairly new venue having been constructed just 2 1/2 years ago. It is a Tuscan inspired country club featuring incredible design and stunning views. The main entrance has a gorgeous fountain and stunning view of the lake.

The "lobby" boasts a very intimate seating area for relaxing and a hallway that leads to the main dining room. Something we thought was totally awesome was the pizza oven they have. How much fun would it be to have gourmet pizza at your rehearsal dinner!







The amount of attendees you can have will depend on the site you choose. The grand lawn can accommodate up to 200 guests without a tent (130 with a tent) while other locations such as the valet circle seat about 90. When I say valet circle I do mean the place you go to have your car parked. The cool thing about this location is that the posts can be removed and you're left with a great site for your ceremony that has a gorgeous backdrop. Not only will you have a fountain behind you but also a view of the lake.





You'll also find some intimate seating areas nestled throughout the venue. Some have fire pits while others feature beautiful reflecting ponds.





They have this awesome bell tower that you can ring right after your ceremony. But I must warn you... you've got to be pretty strong to actually get it to ring as it's a lot harder than it looks! Someone who worked there saw Chad getting some shots of it and she tried to ring it for us. After quite a few tugs on the rope she was able to get it to ring... once ;-)



The wine room is perfect for a great rehearsal dinner or small cocktail party. It can accommodate about 20 people but if you want to open up the doors into the hallway you can have about 60 guests.



Bella Collina also has a beautiful on-site spa. The bride and her bridesmaids have the option of using their private rooms upstairs to get ready so that the groom won't get any peeks at the blushing bride. This awesome staircase leads to the private rooms.





What you need to know about this venue:
Location: 16355 Vetta Drive Montverde, FL
Price range: $$$$
Ceremony site: Yes
Reception site: Yes
Outside caterer's allowed: No
Parking Available: Yes
Valet: Yes
Outdoor space: Yes
Capacity (without a dance floor): up to 100 inside. 200 outside.
Styles: Banquet/Reception Hall, Restaurant, Country Club

Outside the Ballroom: This is a series about discovering other amazing venues that exist for weddings and other events, ranging from castles, to traditional antique ballrooms, to bed and breakfasts, to anything that cannot be classified as a modern ballroom or meeting room. We also want to hear from you about the venues you've discovered, so please submit them in the comments or email them to info@pilsterphotography.net with Outside the Ballroom in the subject. For more info you can find it at the Introduction.

2 comments:

Erica Petramala - Occasions said...

Chad! I love this location. I'm super excited because I do have a bride getting married here in November. Good spotlight!

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