Della B.: Work of Art

Mother of: Alex
Venue: Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis
Vibe: Creative black tie 
Dress: Carolina Herrera

Della is not a “clothes person,” but her daughter Alex sure is. “She’s had an intense interest in fashion and design since she was literally a toddler! Color, sparkle, shoes—it all attracted her. She’s able to put looks of all kinds together quickly and beautifully.”

The bride did just that for her August wedding to Ethan, and that included styling her mom. “The overall design for the wedding was modern maximalism,” Della describes, “with Studio 54 disco inspiration, lots of color, and a distinct Lebanese flair.”

Poppies are the national flower of Lebanon and were featured throughout the wedding, from bridal bouquet to centerpieces to decals on the dance floor. So when Alex spotted a designer dress with large poppies embroidered on the the bodice, she knew it was the one for her mom. .

“My daughter sourced everything for me!” Della says. “My only responsibility was to try things on as they arrived.”

The red silk short sleeve column dress by Carolina Herrera came from Los Angeles designer boutique Capitol Brentwood. (It's sold out now, but we found it on Poshmark). Della continued the floral theme with pale green drop earrings in the shape of a blossom from Lizzie Fortunato and wore pointed toe Marion Parke heels, which delivered on their promise of luxe comfort. “They were awesome on the dance floor” Della says. “I cannot recommend those shoes highly enough!”

The Weisman Art Museum—a Frank Gehry designed building perched above the Mississippi River on the University of Minnesota campus—provided the perfect canvas for the celebration of Alex and Ethan. Just 82 guests, lots of bright color, good food, and festive music. Della delighted in the planning process with Alex and Ethan. They worked with Gretchen Culver of Rocket Science Events.

“My advice would be start as early as you’re able,” Della says. “I feel like we started well in advance—10 months—but honestly, a couple more months would have been nice. If it works for one’s budget, having a planner was a godsend and really relieved a huge amount of stress. I was thrilled to have Gretchen expertly handle all of the logistics and nitty-gritty. She is brilliant!"

The wedding culminated with an epic dance party. The bride slipped into a flapper style minidress in a rainbow of shimmery colors that swished and she swayed to the beat. “My favorite memory is of Alex and Ethan on the dance floor,” Della says. “The abandon with which they danced, and the pure joy expressed!”

| Photography by Marit Williams