"It felt like we had a wedding three or four times the budget of what we spent because of Cindy's creativity. And many guests commented that it was the most beautiful wedding they had ever been to." This was one comment of the many happy brides and grooms I received about Cindy and her company, Bella Notte.

When I met her I realized that her clients were right. Using her laptop, she showed me her beautiful wedding designs and all the clever ideas she incorporates into her work. There are wedding pictures shot at the Bay Area's favorite places during the day or at night, enhanced by fabulous lighting. The large kings table in the first picture was one of several at a fabulous wedding in the middle of a vineyard. Cindy told me about the French groom and the multi-course dinner prepared by a French chef. Magnum wine bottles from different, famous French wine regions were placed on the tables and served as clues for the place cards. Potted coleus plants with their colorful leaves, bud vases filled with dahlias, bowls piled high with fruits, and hurricane lamps enhanced the table and blended perfectly with the vineyard's rustic ambience. "This was my floral design," Cindy told me. "I offer table decoration that is not too complicated." In addition to her weddings, I admired her varied place card presentation, her guest book ideas, and how she incorporates ethnic traditions into otherwise not too traditional weddings.
Her laptop is essential in keeping track of the event planning process. Her clients receive a monthly update, and event professionals are constantly kept in the loop. "I usually attend all pre-weddings events, such as fittings, tastings, and helping with contracts. I simply love what I do. It's amazing to be able to spend so much time with couples who are in love and bring their personalities into their weddings, making the event unique, fun, and stylish. Being engaged should be a really happy time for my couples, and their wedding day should be without worries."

Cindy's background couldn't be more in tune for an event coordinator. After leaving her job as fashion buyer in order to follow her husband to Los Angeles, she found work as a coordinator for a well-known catering company. There she learned how to plan and organize red-carpet events, such as award shows and movie premiers, and often served as hostess to greet the guests. It was here in LA where Bella Notte was founded and returned with her to San Francisco when the family moved. "Why Bella Notte?" I asked. "Because it means beautiful night, and that's what a wedding is all about!"