Lindsay Varcoe & Ben Wagoner

Lindsay wanted to add a few more details...one of her bridesmaids nominated her SO she just wanted to make sure we had all of the story!!

How we met:
Friday, May 2, 2008. We both got to O'Hare early for our afternoon flight to Vegas. Ben was meeting his friends there for a friend's bachelor party. I was meeting some law school friends for the weekend. My flight was delayed and I tried unsuccessfully to fly stand by for an earlier flight. I went back to the original gate and waited to board. I started talking to some older couples about Vegas.
While talking, I saw a tall guy with a shaved head approach and stand
behind the couples with his arms crossed. When there was a break in
the conversation, this younger guy opened with the clutch line of, "So, you were in the stand by line right?" This led to a short conversation where Ben and I found out we would be on the same return flight as well. We briefly talked about Vegas, who we were going with and why, and then boarded the flight, never exchanging information.

I met my friends at the Venetian and told them all about this really nice guy I met at O'Hare. One friend even said, "I can't wait to read how you met on your wedding website!"

Sunday, May 4, 2008. After a very fun weekend, my flight home to Chicago was delayed again. I was really nervous about seeing Ben again, so I called my friend Emily and made her talk to me so I could avoid talking to this new guy. Ben found me once I was off the phone and this time we talked for a couple of hours until we were supposed to board. The gate agent announced boarding would begin shortly and Ben asked me where I was sitting and I answered, "35 C." Ben laughed, put his head down and said, "I'm 35 D." So, much to the annoyance of the other passengers on board, we spent the four hour flight getting to know each other, basically me laughing for four hours straight.
Ben asked me out while we flew over Nebraska and we had our first date on Thursday of that week. I knew this had to be something good after seeing Ben's perfect reaction to me spilling my entire dinner all over myself on that first date.

Proposal details:
Also, after he proposed along the lake, we walked back to my house making several giddy phone calls along the way. He surprised me again with flowers, reservations for my favorite restaurant in Chicago for lunch, tickets to the Cubs game that night and an amazing journal he kept for the past few months leading up to the big day. He had pictures of us, receipts from our first few dates, emails from my parents about how and when he would propose and finally, detailed versions of different ways he was going to propose. It was the perfect day and the book is such a fun way to relive those moments over and over again.

TRUNK SHOWS!!! Kicking off this football season with a new spin on spirit!!

Come Join us for the debut of our Hawkeye apparel and jewelry line next week!!

Cedar Rapids Show: Tuesday, September 1 5-7pm

Papa Juan's (located off of the Blairsferry Rd exit on I380 next to Hy-Vee)
5505 Center Point Rd
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402

We will have margaritas and hors devours while supplies last!


Coralville Show: Friday, September 4 5-7pm

Muddy Creek Wine Company (located north of Brown Deer Golf Course off of 1st Ave)
100 East Oakdale Blvd Ste 300
Coralville, IA 52241

Enjoy a glass of wine at one of Coralville's hottest spots!

We would love to see you all there!! Check out Facebook for one of the invitations under "XOXO Trunk Shows" in the events application!

Lindsay Varcoe & Ben Wagoner

I asked Lindsay to marry me on May 28th, 2009. The proposal was but a brief moment in the 6 months or so of preparation leading up to finding myself down on one knee. That 6 month period began with fun little day dreams of what married life with her would be like. I talked with guy friends, both single and married, learned a lot and kept on day dreaming. Those day dreams eventually evolved into how I would actually propose and what Lindsay’s ring would look like. Reality soon set in and I realized that I had to begin saving for a ring and, more importantly, learning something about diamonds if I wanted to find a ring she would love. I also realized that I couldn't just day dream about proposing; I needed to make an actual plan of what I was going to do. And let’s not forget about asking Lindsay’s dad for his blessing! Some serious planning was needed for that little endeavor. Like many of my plans, my idea for how to propose changed drastically over the weeks and months. I actually changed the proposal location about 30 minutes before I got down on one knee! This just goes to show that things may not always go exactly according to plan, but in the end, on the shore of Lake Michigan, the love of my life proved that everything works out exactly like it should.

Hooray for our first story!!! Please remember to send your entries to info@bellasalaevents.com!! More information to come regarding XOXO's new hawkeye apparel and jewelry, stay tuned!

ATTENTION ALL ENGAGED COUPLES!!!

We will be reminding all of you over the course of the next month about our giveaway!! Pass on the info to any and all brides you know!!!!

Engaged??

Think your engagement story is the most romantic you’ve ever encountered?

Email into bella sala telling us how you were

proposed to and you could have the opportunity to win:

-free use of grounds for engagement pictures
-free rental of our lounge for rehearsal dinner
-Up to $100 off of bar tab at rehearsal
-$500 off of rental of facility of your choice
-Custom Bridal Earrings and Consultation
exclusively for you by link lust.
www.linklustjewelry.com

Entries must be submitted by September 30, 2009.
Applicant’s stories will be featured on our blog.
A winner will be chosen October 5, 2009.
Winner must choose a
Thursday-Friday combination for scheduled event
www.bellasalaevents.com * info@bellasalaevents.com

http://www.press-citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009908160313

Check out our newest article in the Press Citizen!! Thank-you to everyone who has helped spread the word about bella sala and XOXO!!

Hi Everybody!!

Do you know anyone who has recently been engaged or planning a wedding next year??? bella sala is hosting a sweepstakes for the most romantic engagement story! All you have to do is email us how you were proposed to at info@bellasalaevents.com. You can find a really easy link at our website to send this as well. Pass the word, the sweepstakes will end September 30, 2009!

You may see our flyer at local businesses!

We are happy to be giving away:

-free use of grounds for engagement pictures
-free rental of our lounge for rehearsal dinner
-Up to $100 off of bar tab at rehearsal
-$500 off of rental of facility of your choice
-Custom Bridal Earrings and Consultation
exclusively for you by link lust.
www.linklustjewelry.com

Details include:

Entries must be submitted by September 30, 2009.
Applicant’s stories will be featured on our blog.
A winner will be chosen October 5, 2009.
Winner must choose a
Thursday-Friday combination for scheduled event
www.bellasalaevents.com * info@bellasalaevents.com

Link Lust Trunk Show

Kelli Weber had her trunk show tonight which she graciously allowed me to attend to promote the new line of bridal jewelry she has created for XOXO. I know I've said it a million times to everyone I know, but she is amazingly talented! Check out our website for online ordering of these incredible pieces!

On another note, the building materials have been steadily coming in the past few days and we should be under way to putting up a structure out on the site here by the end of the week!!! Pray for no rain! I will get some pics up of construction as soon as they start!

I also wanted to post a huge shout out to Samantha Bender for all of her help through this journey, she is also one talented individual! www.samanthabender.com if you are in need of a photographer or are just interested in seeing some amazing pictures...check her out!! Not only is she a wonderful photographer, she is a real sweetheart as well :)

August 4, 2009

Hi Everybody!!! We finally have our blog established so keep yourself current with the progress of our building and the different lines we will be selling through the boutique online!

On that note, I am sooo excited to announce our exclusive line of bridal jewelry courtesy of link lust, www.linklustjewelry.com. It is absolutely stunning and not like anything in the area! Check out the designers web page AND if you happen to be in the Cedar Rapids area tomorrow, she has a trunk show going on at Java Creek Cafe off of Boyson Road from 5-9pm!! I will post more information and pictures soon!

Also, this blog will support both bella sala and XOXO Hugs and Kisses Bridal Boutique, so if you need updates on either, you've come to the right place!!!!