Charleston Multicultural Bridal and Events Association
Jun 122014
 

Bridgette Bartlett-Royall headshotRecently we at CMBEA had the pleasure of meeting Bridgette Bartlett, founder of Black Bridal Bliss, the ultimate online destination for black brides. We tremendously enjoyed getting to know Bridgette, a newlywed herself who married Anthony Royall in Charlotte, N.C. in October 2013. During our two hour interview, we learned a lot about her, and Triple B, as she affectionately calls Black Bridal Bliss. We encourage everyone to check out this valuable resource for the destination black bride who wants a big day that is both fabulous and budget friendly.

An award winning columnist, Bartlett-Royall has an impressive resume. She has served as writer/editor for Essence, Juicy and People magazines. Moreover, she worked for over eight years as an editor at Essence Communications, expanding their coverage of real life weddings and weddings of celebrities, such as basketball player Chris Paul. Bartlett-Royall has interviewed a wide range of well known celebrities such as Alicia Keys, LeBron James, Heidi Klum, Patti LaBelle, Steve Harvey, and Rachel Zoe. She was also the featured guest on an episode of TLC’s bridal reality show Something Borrowed, Something New.

Her website Black Bridal Bliss, which just celebrated four year of existence in June 2014, is a portal with 12,000 unique site views per month. Some of the features of the site include “Tie the Knot Tuesdays” (which showcase real life weddings and engagements), destination wedding planning, bachelorette party location suggestions, celebrity interviews, and “Bridgette’s Picks,” which feature Bridgette’s wonderful fashion and style picks for brides to be. One aspect that makes Bridgette’s site unique is its focus not just on the glitter and glamour of wedding planning, but also the hurdles that couples face during their first years of marriage and the joys of single mothers finding love and matrimony.

We came to meet Bridgette when her husband surprised her with a post honeymoon trip to Charleston, S.C. They enjoyed visiting local tourist sites downtown and in the surrounding areas. Bridgette, not surprisingly, could not resist checking out the Charleston wedding scene, which she loved, and hopes to develop further collaborations with CMBEA and its vendors. We look forward to welcoming her back to the lowcountry in the near future. Contact info@cmbea.com for more information.

Be sure to check out http://blackbridalbliss.com/

Jan 262014
 

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o Remember to bring a nice hanger or stylish garment bag to display your gorgeous wedding dress to best advantage.

o Consider having a long, trailing veil or stunning jewelry or accessories to make for dramatic pictures of a sure to be exquisite bride.

o Consider a first look before the ceremony, either between bride and groom, or to add a new twist, between father and daughter. These pictures make for some of the most heartwarming and they allow for a special, quiet moment between loved ones before the hustle and bustle of the rest of the day.

o Try for a long slow kiss or several kisses and embraces once the officiant pronounces you husband and wife, so that your photographers can capture this most special of moments and you have a kaleidoscope of images of the first moments of your life as a married couple.

o Let your photographers know if you have a special first dance, dip, or special entrance into the reception planned, so that every moment can be recorded and stored away for future memories, without skipping a beat.

o Remember to fake toss your bouquet at least once before you really throw it to your adoring single lady friends. It ups the ante in terms of the excitement and anticipation of the crowd, and the wonderful expressions on the bride’s face are not to be missed.

o Be sure to think about what kind of exit you would like from your wedding. It could be the couple leaving with friends and family showering them with a spray of bubbles or rose petals, the couple rushing underneath a military Saber Arch, a London bridge, or sparklers. Or the crowd could be cheering as bride and groom exit for a carriage or yacht ride. As an old school throwback, the couple can leave the reception and drive off in style with bottles or cans tied to the getaway car. Whatever your exit is, just make it memorable and heart felt.

o Don’t forget to include your photographers in your reception meal count, so they don’t have to leave the premises for an hour or more and lose valuable shooting time.

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