Bravo Bride

BravoBride is an online marketplace where brides, newlyweds and wedding vendors buy and sell new and pre-owned wedding items. Shop for designer dresses, jewelry, accessories, decorations, favors and more. Items are FREE to list, get started today!

Great resource for both sellers and buyers. 

Alfred Angelo

See below for details...

Who is Alfred Angelo?

HISTORY

We are the world’s leading maker of wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses and we retain the personal touch of a family owned company. For 75 years, we have been dressing brides and the members of their wedding party in our elegant and affordable designer gowns. Now, at the Alfred Angelo Bridal Stores, you can purchase directly from the designer and manufacturer. Our Stores are located in California, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas. Each carries a wide selection of Alfred Angelo wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, flower girl, special occasion and mother’s dresses.

PHILOSOPHY
Our gowns have made us famous, but it is our people that make the difference. Our goal is to continue to earn our reputation as The Friendliest Bridal Shop in Town. The deeply instilled Alfred Angelo Bridal culture is personified in its employees, people who share a single focus and are inspired to offer quality gowns and great service for those who know and appreciate the difference.


PRODUCT LINES
Our designer, Michael Shettel, dresses brides and their bridal parties in beautiful designer bridal gowns that are individually created and offered at an amazingly affordable price. We offer a broad range of silhouettes, in beautiful fabrics, with exquisite embroidery, beading and lace. Every style is available in sizes 2 to 28W. Michael’s goal is to make your gown just how you dreamed it would be. We meticulously sew each gown for the bride who wears it. We are pleased to accommodate a wide range of customizations to make your gown uniquely yours.

The Alfred Angelo Bridal Stores are also our designer’s showroom. Here you'll also find exclusive styles, straight from our design floor and only available at our stores.

When the time comes to select gowns for bridesmaids, you’ll appreciate that the Alfred Angelo brand is known as America’s Favorite Bridesmaid Dresses and Separates. Our styles are fashionable, affordable, and available in sizes 2 to 28W. Select a Dream in Color dress or separates available in the same 55 colors as our Dream in Color bridal styles, or our taffeta collection with alluring and dramatic silhouettes in 8 royal hues. All Bridal party gowns are carefully cut and sewn from the same fabric for a perfect color match. Most of our designs are also available in junior bridesmaid sizes 8 to 14. For the youngest members of the wedding party, there are many adorable options in our collection for flower girls, sizes toddler to 16.

Register now for your chance to win a gorgeous wedding gown or 4 bridesmaids dresses... GOOD LUCK!

Also, they are kind enough to offer all military couples a 15% discount... YEAH gotta love that!

Add 20+ Assistants To Your Pro-Photographer Staff On Your Wedding Day... Your Guests! OLAPIC Will Show You How.

You probably have already decided to hire a professional photographer for your wedding. But have you thought about how to share all the pictures your guests will be taking? Those fun moments that the professional photographer may not capture? There are plenty of those moments in a wedding: your friends celebrating a little to much, your cousins laughing over your uncles' jokes, embarrassing shots of your parents dancing! Chances are that your guests will bring more than 20 cameras to the celebration so imagine the possibilities. But the last thing you want to have to do after the wedding is chase your guests and figure out a way to get a hold of those candid pictures. It sounds time-consuming and stressful. Well here is your easy solution... Olapic, you set-up an account and in seconds you are ready to invite your guests to share their pictures. After the wedding, start the simple process of collecting hundreds of pictures that you can download, share, and print! Watch this 1-minute video to fully understand how it works."

The first 10 readers to go on Olapic and sign up will receive a $10 discount by submitting the code PRWEDPLAN. Good luck and have fun sharing the priceless memories your guests have captured.

I Heart Iomoi

I found these adorable canvas bags at Iomoi.  They make a fantastic Welcome Bag for your guests who have traveled so far.  Fill them up with a tour guide magazine, water, suntan lotion, towel, flip flops, snacks, itinerary (and/or whatever else you think they would enjoy) and have them waiting at the front desk at check in. They come in two sizes can be custom made to reflect your wedding theme. Check out their site for lots of adorable custom gifts and accessories.  

Design Your Bridesmaid Dress Contest - Bridal Party - In Style Weddings

Design Your Bridesmaid Dress Contest - Bridal Party - In Style Weddings

Have you ever dreamt of designing the perfect bridesmaid dress? Send us your sketch, and if we choose your design, Thread will create it for up to eight bridesmaids and add the style to their collection!

To enter, send your sketch to weddings@instylemag.com or 1271 Avenue of the Americas NY NY 10020 Attn: InStyle Wedding Design Your Bridesmaid Dress Contest.

Click here for complete contest rules.

Click here to learn more about Thread.

Inspiration For Your Bridal Bouquet

Let's talk bridal bouquets.  Such a personal choice, but I am often asked for my opinion. So here is a little inspiration. Anything goes when your having a destination wedding in Puerto Rico.  It can be a formal look, rich deep colors or a whimsical look, loose, colorful or as simple as one large calla lilly with a beautiful ribbon.  It's all in your hands... literally :) Here are a few bouquets for inspiration...

A Little Paradise I Call Home - Palmas Del Mar

Hello future Mr & Mrs,

I am going to blog today about a little paradise I call home... Palmas del Mar. It is a unique enclosed community located on the southeast side of the island. This gorgeous community is full of wonderful, fun amenities such as; 

• 2 award winning golf courses
• Beach Club
• Equestrian Center
• Largest tennis center in all of the Caribbean
• Largest marina in all of the Caribbean 
• 17 restaurants - ranging from Japanese to pizza
• Bike paths
• Casino

If you are looking for a unique destination wedding experience in a self enclosed community offering the best of the best, Palmas del Mar is the site. Your guests won't even have to rent a car, a golf cart will get them around the entire community.  How fun would it be to run into your guests on the golf cart path on the way to the welcome dinner. And most importantly the resort has an array of choices for lodging; private homes, villas and the 4 Points Sheraton Hotel.

I had a meeting with the catering dept at the 4 Points Sheraton and they have come up with a very reasonable, high quality menu.  

The Enchanted Package (min 30 guests): 

$89 pp including gratuity (tax not included)

• Beach or Garden Ceremony Site
• Outdoor or Ballroom Reception Site
• Cocktail Hour - Mimosa or Sangria
• Cocktail Hour - Cold & Hot Hors d'oeuves
• Champagne Toast
• Choice of Soup
• Choice of Salad
• Choice of one of 7 Main Courses
• Choice of Starch
• Choice of Vegetable
• Bread & Butter
• Coffee
• 4 Hour Open Bar (house brands) 
• White Table & Napkin Linen

If you would like more information about marrying in Palmas del Mar, please email me or call.

 

Fun Favor/Escort Card Idea

Brides and I are always looking for unique escort card ideas and fun, useful favors. When you can combine the two it's twice as good.  

Heide & Paul's wedding was full of  lovely, fun, money saving and unique ideas. One that I loved in particular was the favor. Heide & Paul wanted to give their guests a taste of the best rum the world has to offer, Puerto Rico's Bacardi Rum. So off I went to the Bacardi factory for my research (it's a dirty job but someone has to do it) and to pick up Bacardi nips (I must suggest if you are vacationing in Puerto Rico it's a fun tour. It is interesting, they offer two drinks of your choice at the end and best of all it is completely free). She wanted two nips, one dark and one light, for each guest (they also have flavored nips). We attached them to each other with a pretty ribbon and double sided tape. She made adorable tags that said "Some Puerto Rico Spirit" and they were placed at each guests table setting. When the guests arrived to their seat they all commented on how cute the favors were and how wonderful it was not to have to pack one more item in their luggage. Then I thought what a great favor/escort card. Same idea, you would add the table name/number to the tag. Super cute and you eliminate one extra item on your reception list. 

Thanks Heide for the inspiration! 

Note: Another useful favor idea... The fan in the background was placed on the church pews to help guests cool off.  Heide added the peach ribbon and adorable starfish to personalize them. 

Heide & Paul Wedding Slideshow

Click here to see a beautiful slideshow of 

Heide & Paul's Wedding

Courtesy of David Medina

Date: Saturday, October 10, 2009

Ceremony: Cathedral of John the Baptist, Old San Juan Puerto Rico

Reception: El Convento Hotel, Old San Juan Puert Rico Salon Monterell

Stay tuned for many more pictures to come.

Great Advice From An Expert ~ Carey Evans

Hello Brides to be,  

Below is an email I received from a bride I am currently assisting in creating the wedding of her dreams. Her name is Carey Evans and she is the very talented designer and co-host of HGTV's Closet Cases as well as having numerous appearances on My First Place, Freestyle and Don't sweat it with Steve Watson.  She is oh so talented and full of creative ideas that look modern & chic but won't break the bank. I hope to be sharing lots and lots of her ideas with you.  

Check this one out...

... Something for you maybe to blog about... In trying to save money I found that the cost for printing a return address as well as a RSVP address on every envelope would take hours to do by hand or cost money if you were hiring a calligrapher. My printer wanted to charge anywhere from $100-200 more to print my return/rsvp address on my main envelope flap and RSVP envelope. So I choose to get creative and have a stamp made for $18. With shipping it comes out to $23.. but I can have this stamp for as long as I am in this home.

I picked the "Curly" stamp from Paperwink... 

But I saw a ton of them on our favorite site Etsy. Like these cool ones...
Etsy Stamp.

Just tell your brides if they are using them for their RSVPs they should ask to have a larger stamp made... mine are 2.8" x 1.75". But over all these pretty return stamps would be great gifts for newlyweds OR for anyone with a new home... or a new last name!

Thanks Carey!  Love that tip! Keep them coming!

Sneak Peek ~ Heide & Paul ~ El Convento Hotel

Picture courtesy of David Medina.

Jessica & Greg's Wedding Album

Click on Jessica & Greg's Wedding Album 

to see a beautiful slideshow of their wedding day.

courtesy of David Medina

Michelle & Rick's Wedding Album

Click on Michelle & Rick's Wedding Album

 to see a beautiful slideshow of their wedding,

courtesy of David Medina

Ramona & Chris - September 21, 2009

Congratulations

Ramona & Chris

Photos courtesy of Glen Weisgerber of Fotografia Distinta

PR Wedding Planner MUST HAVE!

How Fab is Mandi?  

Mandizzle is an adorable new online boutique with a sassy name.  Mandi specializes in handcrafted & exclusive items handmade by Mandi—from flowers and exclusive jewelry, to gifts, and accessories. She also has charming scarfs that are brand new to her shop, and more treasures for your everyday posh life. Mandi will also create you any color or flower you need to fit your wedding or party style.

Mandi's flowers were are major part of my wedding theme.  With a single flower you can make a Spanish wedding come together!  Whatever your theme might be or flower you have in mind Mandi can help.

Don't you just love how beautiful these flowers are!

Since my wedding, so many people have asked me about Mandi. I wanted to find away to let everyone know just where my flowers came from. Each flower is specially handmade for you, interlocking flower petals that bring a sense of enduring grace and beauty.

In order to purchase her items please visit Mandizzle, check out the boutique, share with Mandi what holiday items you would like to see by leaving a comment.

PS -10% off to Brides plus free shipping through October with code *cocoandbella*

PATA ti NOVIA

Check out the beautiful feature of our wedding at PARA ti NOVIA!  What a wonderful job they did featuring our wedding love story.  We are so excited to share all the details with fellow brides.  When Valerie at PARA ti NOVIA contacted us to do a feature article we were thrilled.  She did a wonderful job!  There are also a few new amazing photo's by Shawna Herring!

Check out the full article: PARA ti NOVIA

All Photo's Shawna Herring!!!

Unique Wedding Keepsake...

If you are the type of bride that feels paying an exuberant amount of money for flowers that will not make it back home is ridiculous and unnecessary.  This post is for you...

Lilly Buds creates heirloom quality, distinctive bridal bouquets, for divinely different bridal parties.

Each piece is tailor-made to suit your chosen style. You can have your bouquet, bridesmaids bouquet, boutonnieres, corsages and table centerpieces made to order.

Designed and created with quality materials including vintage treasures, buttons, paper and feathers, Lillybuds bouquets, buttonholes and accessories are a beautiful keepsakes to mark that special day in your life.

Prices start at around $100.

You can also find her at; 

lillybuds.blogspot

lillybuds.etsy

Destination... Love

A few more destination wedding ideas...

Row 1: Beach Favor Bags, Destination Love Favor Cards, Beach Cake Topper, Destination Wedding Favor Card
Row 2: Cruise Themed Magnet Favor, Miniature Travel Suitcase Container, Miniature Travel Trolley, Honeymoon Beach Attire
Row 3: Shell Place Card Holders, Heart Unity Sand Ceremony Set, Orchid "Just Married" Flip Flops, Seaside Allure Garter Set
Row 4: Palm Tree Favor Boxes, Destination Love Cruise Ship Luggage Tag, Flip Flop Placecard Holders, Sea Shell Spreader Favors

Consider hiring a wedding/event planning service based in your destination wedding location. This is especially handy when considering differences in time zones and possible language barriers. Companies such as PR Wedding Planner will handle all details of your wedding.

Save-the-dates should be sent from 6 to 12 months in advance to allow guests time to plan and budget for attending the destination wedding.

Enclose an itinerary with your wedding invitations so that guests will know what to expect.

Destination wedding guests are typically expected to pay for their airfare and hotel. You can help with the cost by negotiating group rates with hotels and airlines. Make reservations as early as possible as group rates are often based on availability.

Keep guests informed of travel and accomodation options (including prices) and any changes to the itinerary by creating a wedding website. Send an email to guests each time you make changes to the website.

Because the guest list of destination weddings is generally shorter, consider having a small reception once you return home. This will give you the opportunity to celebrate with family and friends who were not able to attend your destination wedding. Choose a decorating scheme that focuses on the location of your destination wedding. Have wedding photos or a DVD of the ceremony/reception available.

Elegant and Classic

One question I get asked a lot is... 

"What would you suggest as a wedding favor? How should we display them?"

I came across this  idea in Martha Stewart Weddings Magazine and fell in love with it. This is perfect for a destination wedding. It is both timeless and new, create a favor cake with buttercream-colored boxes (ivory, white and aqua work nicely too) and a topper of millinery or paper flowers. Inside, nestle Mantecaditos (sugar cookies) which are a delicious, light, traditional cookie in Puerto Rico. They can be flavored with coconut, almond, lemon or amaretto. And guests don't have to pack an extra item in their luggage.  It can be their midnight or breakfast snack after partying all night long. Ask a calligrapher to make a sign with your initials or monogram. Stack boxes in tiers on a square cake plate; add picot ribbon and flowers to top.  Shells and pearls would also add a decorative romantic look.  

Two piece boxes - Sofie's Favors

Calligraphy Resource - Laura Hooper's Calligraphy

Mantecaditos Receipe (almond flavor) - Puerto Rican Cookies

Photo Credit - Martha Stewart Weddings

Top 10 Attractions

There are so many things you can do in Puerto Rico...

Photos by Christina Barreraz

1.  Forts
   
   1. San Felipe "El Morro"
   2. El Castillo de San Cristóbal
   
   
2. BioBays in Fajardo, Lares & Vieques
3. Camuy River Cave Park
4. Arecibo Radio Telescope & Observatory
5. El Yunque
6. Casa Bacardi Rum Distillery
7. Hacienda Buena Vista
8. Gilligan’s Island
9. Luquillo Beach
10. Toro Negro Forest & Lookout Tower