Bella Sala Event Center Wedding, Crystal & Brock
Crystal and Brock’s Bella Sala Event Center Wedding in Tiffin, Iowa is a fan favorite by far! The new money vibes mixed with a classic black and white color scheme always look good- but we took it to a whole other level for Crystal and Brock.
Crystal and Brock's story began on the streets of Maryville, Missouri (literally) on Labor Day weekend of 2013. They both attended college at Northwest Missouri State University, where Crystal played soccer and Brock played football. One evening while walking around town, both of their friend groups crossed paths and discussed where to attend their next party. Crystal started talking to Brock, and they remained inseparable the rest of the night. From then on, they stayed close friends and continued to hang out, attend each other's games, and go to family events. In December 2014, Crystal and Brock started dating. Over the past nine years, they have created countless memories together, from many birthdays, anniversaries, years of long distance, school, career advancements, vacations, and everything in between. They have been each other's best friends since day 1, and on April 22nd, 2023, Brock (FINALLY) asked Crystal to be his wife and best friend forever. After 10+ years, they couldn't be more in love and ready to take on forever together.
Photo By: Rachel Jean Photography
Bella Sala Event Center is a great venue to host a large wedding, or even a smaller one if you prefer to split the room in half. It’s centrally located, yet surrounded by a wooded area that makes you feel secluded, perfect for those intimate outdoor wedding ceremonies! One of my favorite things about this venue, is that no matter your guest count, or how much space you actually plan on using, it doesn’t ever feel “too empty”, which is a concern I’ve heard from many couples. In fact, we’re able to create a floorplan before the big day to make sure every square inch feels like it flows nicely together, making sure there are no empty spaces.
Another feature they have that I like, is that they offer two bridal suites. While most venues only offer one, or they give the groomsmen a ridiculously small room to get ready in, Bella Sala has two very large rooms for both parties. Each room has natural lighting, and offers a very simple yet modern design, perfect for large groups to get ready and take pictures in.
Getting Ready at Bella Sala
Crystal’s wedding morning was the perfect mix of relaxed, stylish, and full of personality. Before slipping into her wedding dress, she spent the morning surrounded by her closest friends, giving everyone time to enjoy those final hours together before the celebration officially began. Getting ready is such a special part of the wedding day, and these quieter moments often become some of our favorites — filled with anticipation, laughter, and plenty of excitement for everything still to come.
Crystal and her wedding party coordinated in sleek black getting-ready outfits, while Crystal stood out in white, creating such a fun contrast for photos. They took it one step further with matching black heart-shaped sunglasses, with Crystal wearing a white pair of her own. The result was playful, a little sassy, and completely photo-worthy! Details like these are such an easy way to bring personality into your wedding morning while also creating memorable photos with your wedding party.
One of the benefits of having a Bella Sala Event Center wedding is being able to thoughtfully plan each part of the day, including those important getting-ready moments before the ceremony. Having a comfortable space where you can spend time with your favorite people helps set the tone for the entire celebration. Instead of feeling like the morning is simply a countdown until the ceremony, it becomes another meaningful part of your wedding-day experience.
As Iowa wedding planners, we always encourage our couples to leave enough room in their wedding-day timeline to actually enjoy getting ready. Those extra moments allow your photographer to capture the fun candid photos alongside all of the traditional wedding details, while giving you time to soak everything in before the day starts moving quickly.
Black and White Wedding Party Inspiration at Bella Sala
Crystal and Brock’s wedding party brought a modern, sophisticated edge to their Bella Sala wedding with an effortlessly chic all-black color palette. Every member of the bridal party wore black, allowing Crystal and Brock to be the only two dressed in white. The contrast was absolutely stunning and made the couple instantly stand out in every group photo.
The bridesmaids wore a mix of black dresses in different silhouettes, giving each person the freedom to choose a style that felt flattering and comfortable while still creating a cohesive look. Paired with simple white bouquets, the black bridesmaid dresses felt timeless rather than overly trendy. On the other side, Brock’s groomsmen kept things classic in black suits with black ties, while Brock stood apart in a crisp white tuxedo jacket, black bow tie, and black pants.
We especially love how intentional the black-and-white wedding color palette looked against the lush greenery surrounding Bella Sala Event Center. The natural backdrop softened the formal attire while making the contrast between the wedding party and the couple even more striking. It created wedding portraits that feel elegant, editorial, and timeless all at once.
For couples planning a Bella Sala Event Center wedding in Tiffin, Iowa, an all-black wedding party is such a beautiful option if you’re looking for a sophisticated and modern wedding aesthetic. Crystal and Brock proved that you don’t need an elaborate mix of colors to make an impact — sometimes keeping the palette simple allows the bride and groom, the florals, and the beauty of the wedding venue to truly shine.
the Wedding Ceremony at Bella Sala Event Center
The Bella Sala ceremony space is stunning on its own with the waterfall and mini pond, but I always love it when my couples spruce up the space even more!
Crystal rented a beautiful black backdrop from the Wedding Trailers, and had her florist Kathryn from Beautifully Bloomed add in white buds to really make things pop!
With our bridal party in all black and our couple in white, they really did stand out not only for the ceremony, but throughout the day as well!
When you first come to tour the ceremony space, you might get worried about the housing develpoments being so close (literally right behind the waterfall), but when everything is in full bloom, you feel completely secluded. That’s one of my favorite features to Bella Sala’s outdoor ceremony area, you just feel so surrounded by nature, you completely forget you’re just outside of Iowa City! Another nice feature Bella Sala offers, is an indoor ceremony option if there’s inclement weather. Since their ballroom can be split in half, it’s easy to setup an indoor ceremony right next to your reception. And the best part? Bella Sala will handle all the chair setup for your ceremony no matter if it’s inside or outside! I’d call that a win win!
Bella sala event center wedding reception
After the ceremony guests headed inside Bella Sala, while the couple took the party bus to a nearby park for more photos. After the coktail hour, Crystal and Brock were introduced into the reception and had their very first dance together as husband and wife!
Following their first dance they had speeches and toasts, cake cutting, and dinner. After which they had parent dances, and officially kicked off the dancing!
A unique feature that Bella Sala offers, is their ability to split their ballroom in half for bigger/smaller guest counts. While Crystal and Brock split their room in half, I’ve had other couples who rented out the entire space for the reception, so you can see the pros and cons of each. Crystal and Brock had a guest count of around 200, so they didn’t need the entire space. We were still able to manage the floorplan to ensure the space flowed nicely, while not having tables feel crammed, or more importantly, having the space feel too empty.
Bella Sala event center wedding reception decor
Crystal and Brock carried their timeless black-and-white wedding aesthetic straight into their reception décor, creating a space that felt modern, romantic, and incredibly elegant. The bright interior of Bella Sala Event Center provided the perfect backdrop for their neutral color palette, allowing the black accents, crisp white florals, warm candlelight, and touches of gold to stand out without overwhelming the room. The overall design was sophisticated while still feeling warm and inviting for their guests.
The reception tables kept things beautifully simple with white linens, black napkins, gold flatware, and an assortment of clear glass vessels filled with single white blooms. Crystal and Brock incorporated varying heights throughout the centerpieces with taper candles, floating candles, votives, and petite crystal lamps. We love using different sources of candlelight in wedding design because it adds dimension to the tables while creating that soft, romantic glow once the sun begins to set. The wooden cross-back chairs also brought just enough warmth into the otherwise black-and-white wedding color palette.
One of the biggest statement pieces of their Bella Sala wedding reception was undoubtedly the head table. Three dramatic black arched stands extended over the table, each suspending sparkling crystal chandeliers above the couple and their wedding party. Paired with abundant white florals, dozens of candles, and crystal-inspired tabletop lighting, the installation immediately drew your eye across the room. It was such a creative way to add height and drama to the reception design without relying solely on large floral arrangements.
Overall I loved getting to help Crystal and Brock plan their big day at Bella Sala Event Center in Tiffin, Iowa. Huge thanks to all the amazing vendors who made the day special!Crystal and Brock’s wedding at Bella Sala Event Center was the perfect combination of modern elegance, timeless details, and plenty of personality. From the moment the wedding party started getting ready to the final moments of the reception, every part of their day felt intentional and true to them. Their classic black-and-white wedding color palette created a cohesive look from beginning to end, while thoughtful details made the celebration feel anything but simple.
One of our favorite things about this Bella Sala wedding was how beautifully Crystal and Brock balanced timeless design with modern elements. The all-black wedding party made the bride and groom stand out effortlessly, while their reception brought the same aesthetic indoors with white florals, black accents, gold details, crystal chandeliers, and an abundance of romantic candlelight. Every element worked together to create a wedding that will still feel elegant and beautiful years from now.
Bella Sala Event Center in Tiffin, Iowa continues to be such a wonderful choice for couples looking for a versatile Iowa wedding venue. Its bright, neutral spaces give couples so much freedom when it comes to wedding design, whether you envision something colorful and romantic or a sophisticated black-and-white celebration like Crystal and Brock’s. We loved watching their vision completely transform the space and seeing all of those carefully planned details come together on the wedding day.
As Iowa wedding planners, there is nothing better than seeing months of planning turn into a celebration where our couples can finally relax, be present, and enjoy everything they created. Crystal and Brock’s Bella Sala Event Center wedding was sophisticated, joyful, and completely their own, and we are so grateful we had the opportunity to play a part in bringing their wedding day to life.
If you’re planning a Bella Sala Event Center wedding or searching for an Iowa wedding planner to help you create a celebration that feels uniquely yours, Elizabeth Bliss Events would love to help bring your vision to life. From wedding design and vendor coordination to timelines, logistics, and all of the little details in between, our goal is to make the planning process just as memorable as the wedding day itself.
Crystal and Brock’s Testimonial
“We hired Lauren for day-of- coordination services and she went above and beyond for our day!!! We could not be more impressed with her organization and constant check-ins throughout our wedding planning process. She coordinated monthly zoom calls for wedding planning updates and was always so helpful when it came to recommendations that we needed to make our day run as smooth as possible. The bride and groom are constantly her priority and we are so glad we hired her!!!! Lauren, you’re an absolute gem!!!”
Crystal Sherman
“Lauren was awesome to work with throughout the whole wedding process. She was super organized and efficient in our planning meetings. On the wedding day Lauren did a great job of keeping everyone and everything on schedule. She also did a wonderful job of taking care of us (bride and groom) throughout the wedding! Would recommend 10/10!”
Brock Sherman
Vendor Team
Venue: Bella Sala Event Center
@bellasalaevents info@bellasalaevents.com
Planner: Elizabeth Bliss Events
@elizabeth_bliss_events elizabethblissevents@gmail.com
Photographer: Rachel Jean
@racheljean.photo racheljeanphoto@gmail.com
Videographer: Legacy Media
@legacy.creative.media sherryandrew20@gmail.com
Caterer: Graze Catering
@grazeiowacity graze@foodguru.com
Bakery: Nothing Bundt Cakes
@nothingbundtcakes coralville-iowacity@nothingbundtcakes.com
Florist: Beautifully Bloomed
@beautifully_bloomed info@beautifullybloomedflowers.com
Makeup: Aurora Blush
@aurorablushbridal hello@aurorablush.com
Hair: The Industry Color Bar
@theindustrycr industrycolorextension@gmail.com
Photo Booth: Pixel Pop Photo Booth
@pixel_pop_photobooth pixelpopevents@gmail.com
Decor: Monarch Events
@monarchevents.co carly@monarcheventsco.com
Live Painter: Kaitlin Grimes
Party Bus: The Night Train
@night_train_party_bus admin@nighttrain-partybus.com
Dress: An Elegant Affair
@anelegantaffairbridal info@anelegantaffairbridal.com
Suit: The Suit Shop
@suitshopofficial info@suitshop.com
Jewelers: Elegance on 5th and Jareds
@jaredjewelers jrworstell77@gmail.com
The Bella Sala Wedding Venue
Address: 205 S Park Rd, Tiffin, IA, United States, Iowa
Phone: 319-545-4255
Email: info@bellasalaevents.com
Capacity of 50 - 650 guests
Cost starts at $4,800 - $6,800 for the 1/2 room (Cascata), $6,000 - $9,500 for the whole space (Bella Sala)
Amenities included: Tables & chairs, table linens, bar setup and staffing, 2 large bridal suites, indoor and outdoor ceremony options, ceremony seating setup.