Wedding and event venue Magnolia Bells rings its 111-year-old bell at the end of every wedding ceremony. “Our culture as a venue is fairytales,” General Manager Sheila Settles said. “It’s helping our families leave with a magical experience.” The 17-acre property features a chapel for wedding ceremonies, a barn for receptions and other events, a bride’s cottage and a cabin with sleeping accommodations for 10 guests. Settles said the property in Magnolia was chosen for its hidden location away from the city. She and the designer of the property wanted to preserve what was on the property—a horse stable and a cabin—and use it to create the venue. “This was the first piece of property we pulled onto. We fell in love with it,” Settles said. “The barn was a tiny horse stable. We embraced it, [and] we used the old wood for the walls. When you go in, you can see where the tack room was and where the stalls were.” Magnolia Bells hosts one event each day, Settles said. The entire property must be rented for weekend events, and customers can rent part of the property during the week. The venue does not offer wedding coordinator services, but additional options include parking attendants, tables and chairs. Settles said the venue was built to accommodate all wedding budgets. “We wanted something that if you wanted grand, you could have grand but also something [for] someone with a moderate budget,” she said. “The chapel and the barn have so much richness and character that they don’t need a lot of decor. It’s a beautiful canvas for whatever the bride’s vision is.” Settles said Magnolia Bells has hosted 39 weddings since the venue opened in March. “It’s hard not to fall in love when you come out here,” she said. “It’s kind of like you’re coming home a little bit when you come to Magnolia Bells. It’s very comforting [and] very intimate.” Magnolia Bells 699 FM 1486, Magnolia 281-900-3930 www.magnoliabells.com Call for appointment.