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PREFERRED

Owner Jodell Egbert of Bella Umbrella has created a unique concept that has achieved high visibility in the bridal industry--renting and selling umbrellas and parasols.

With a collection of over 800 umbrellas from the 30s to 60s in many remarkable styles, and a signature line that Jodell designs and manufactures herself, Bella Umbrella offers a beautiful range of umbrellas from traditional to pagoda-shaped styles, and a variety of curvy and feminine designs--some with ruffles, flirty polka dots, prints, stripes and beads--that come in a wide variety of colors. Her sexy and romantic choices of bridal parasols include the English-styled ones that are white, ivory and beaded, and the double-layered French and Italian umbrellas with one outer layer in a solid color and floral motifs underneath.

“A lot of these styles have jeweled handles with big gemstones, which look beautiful in photographs, “ says Jodell. “For the traditional, there are classic prints and solids. For the whimsical, the fun and the romantic, there are polka-dot umbrellas that are great for taking the bride or the bridesmaids in pin-up girlie shots,” Jodell says.

Fanciful Garden

For the Bridesmaid

Collecting umbrellas is Jodell’s passion. “I started collecting umbrellas just after I was married in 2000. What started it all was my own wedding. I was having an outdoor wedding in October in Washington State and there was a good chance it could rain. I found a gentleman who was selling his umbrella collection and I bought 60 of them to give out to my wedding guests as they arrived, just in case we got a few sprinkles,” she explains.”Luckily, it turned out to be a beautiful fall day, but we handed out the umbrellas anyways as gifts to our guests. To our delight, it was a great conversation starter,” she said.

Jodell has a strong background as a floral designer, which gave her the ability to work with colorful pieces and arrangements and helped her bridge the gap between flowers and umbrellas. “I was mesmerized by their colors, shapes and quality and started to incorporate them into the events I was creating. There is no one else renting vintage umbrellas. I strive to liken Bella Umbrella to the umbrella companies of the Deco era that I admire and inspired me to start collecting in the first place,” Jodell says. “There is something very universal and classic about an umbrella. It is timeless and has an air of whimsical fun to it.”

For Jodell, umbrellas are multi-purpose. People usually use to protect themselves from the rain, but some use them to shield themselves from the sun as well. “An 85-degree sun is exhausting for a bride,” says Jodell. “Rain or shine, umbrellas are weather insurance. Even though most brides use the umbrellas primarily to enhance playful, happy photos with their bridal party, they can also serve as ‘Plan B’ just in case the weather turns. “ All of Bella Umbrella’s products are weather-proof with the exception of the lace twirlers.

Jodell has another unique way of using Bella Umbrella’s parasols. “I’ve had people go down the aisle with the umbrellas, using them in a ceremonial way,” she notes. “I love it when brides come to the studio and pick out their umbrellas in person. They get so excited with all of the choices, especially when they bring a friend and they try to determine which umbrella is the right one,” says Jodell. Guests also enjoy picking out an umbrella that matches their outfit and like to stroll around the grounds with their umbrellas open. There is a very mysterious and playful quality to twirling an umbrella or posing with one.

Bella Umbrella has been featured in Your Wedding Day, Vogue, Martha Stewart Weddings, In Style Weddings and Harpers’ Bazaar and seen in feature films such as Bolden, coming in 2010, and Once More with Feeling, and in the publicity campaigns for Tommy Hilfiger, Kate Spade, Nordstrom and Ann Taylor, encouraging Jodell to design new creative umbrellas. “What inspires me is that I’m creating a business like no other one in the world,” says Jodell.

Alisa Jennifer Kay

Bella Umbrella

Seattle WA
Phone: 206-297-1540 Click for Website This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Directions


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