History of America’s Bride

It was a cold winter’s night just about two weeks before Christmas; we had already been running Hampton’s Bride – Hampton’s Bride Magazine… I had left Villa Lombardi’s ( digress – probably the summer before or some time in the fall – I’ll try and remember which holiday I got reamed for.)…by this point and my chips were all in. We were looking to make a little extra holiday money when we came across the flipping book. We were already deeply immersed in Flash and animation. I think that first magazine was 100 pages but I can’t be sure. On the Cover was a Christmas scene with a twinkling lights on the tree, The Bride had a romantic fur accented hood… we started selling the porotype the magazine as a work in progress, I’m honestly not sure how but we landed Kleinfeld in 2004. At the time technology was on our side, we knew more about how to build websites, aesthetically pleasing websites, by this point we’ve been in the industry for 6 years. We produced one of the most elaborate wedding magazines in history. Between the flipping page sounds, the motion of dragging your hand to flip the page, the sound of Christmas music playing in the background, the twinkling lights on Christmas scenes, and a lot more animation the magazine really came alive, when I first pitched Kleinfeld they jumped on board taking permanent residence on the back cover. Samsung was one of my early product reviews with their FIRST touch screen the BEHOLD and sent us other merchandise to review. Gurney’s in Montauk was my original location for the bridal extravaganza. MV Limousine on Long Island allow our kids a memorable trip to Great Adventure in their stretch Hummers. These were my early and true supporters of America’s Bride. America’s Bride was suppose to be a twice a year publication, with 2 supplemental issues a Cake issue and a Honeymoon issue. That worked great the first year…The Cake and the Honeymoon issues should have been published as hard copies if not just for my reference but these are the most memorable issues I worked on. By year 2 I had so much content I just kinda said  to myself what if I just kept going making it a monthly publication… it evolved and readership gained traction as John managed that part at the height of it we had over 100,000 readers a month which doesn’t sound like a lot but it was in 2005,,.     I started bringing on writers – we had topics cover in the hair and make-up department. Edith Gilbert was our Wedding Etiquette advisor. Ron-Ben Israel contributed a column a guest writer from time to time. Mark Kingsdorf gave us fabulous planning topics. There were so many more, at its peak I believe I had 12 monthly columnists.

While making the honeymoon issue – I dreamt of being able to go to the Maldives to experience the over the water bungalows. It’s when I first envisioned Maldives of America.

My sister got married on Martha’s Vineyard on May 19, 2006, she bartered with most of her vendors for discounts which was great but unfortunately it was more for the expose than the advertising… By 2009, I had been doing so much bartering for advertising and not taking in enough advertising money – so trying to hire a salesperson that was also my assistant editor Mia Johnson, wasn’t the answer – then I felt like I was getting swallowed up whole by the Knots ‘accomplishments’ of course they had money to throw around – they could over power everything I did on the website side – huge bruise to the ego when you’re a web designer. We tried to keep up creating Wedding 411 our directory of vendors. We mimicked their website try to give the similar look and feel… When I couldn’t afford Mia, I gave up… I couldn’t find the clients that would advertise. I’m in a similar situation years later with the magazine, but I’ll come back to that….

Then we tried to pivot to see if was the advertising for the Martha’s Vineyard client because it needed to be localized, so we tried to franchise – we gave her some great tools it was the same articles the same issue just with her local the Nassua, New Hampshire… I really wish that would have turned out better for her she stayed on for over a year I want to say but those memories are vague.  Now keeping up with two issues with just different ads with still just me – designing and creating the entire magazine with word documents of the articles. That wasn’t the answer.

Gurney’s had agreed to host my bridal show, back then it was to bring the runway show to the bride, still today is the #1 reason I want to host my Bridal Extravaganza – as the advertising and marketing executive for the Lombardi family on Long Island – official title administrative assistant to the President of Villa Lombardi’s, Filomena Lombardi – that grew from a mom and pop pizza joint in Holbrook, to a massive multi-million dollar Italian-American family owned conglomerate. IYKYK Italian Weddings are feats upon feats; the stunning cocktail alone could have been anyone’s full wedding – but that was just cocktail hour,  there’s a full 5 course sit down meal after that, then you get to work off some of that food and alcohol you’ve consumed on the dance floor. Only a few hrs later fuggaboutit  they don’t do just cake they do a cake cutting ceremony then a full Venetian hour. Anyway, they hold between 6-10 Bridal Showcases a year for the incoming class of brides to taste their food. Because if you’re coming to book your wedding at Villa Lombardi you already know you love their food – it’s just a matter which selections you choosing, so I was very familiar in organizing these shows… My dreams formulated from this concept of what a bridal showcase was… Over the 20 years and since 2023 my spiritual awakening has taken me on this journey but always back to this dream of mine to host a 3 day Bridal Extravaganzas like no other!

I don’t know why I just watch all my dreams go up in smoke literally while I puff puff passed back to myself – back to my bad habits where the product doesn’t last very long at all – because the anxiety and the lack mode just makes me spiral out and want to over consume over and over to make the ‘pain’ go away. Of not being able to make it all work out? And why God still places this dream in my heart?!!!

Anyway, the latest issue is out… Sept 2026 is out even a bit early… I know I didn’t make the huge deposits and I can’t understand why I’m still dreaming but 4 weeks 4 days 8 hours Chuseok Festival is suppose to happen – I don’t know how – I’m ready for my blessings, my answers to my prayers, to JOB for the lessons he learned about humbling himself – finding the Divine within. – know John is still with me in spirit – in love and laughter  – in sickness and in health – til death due us part or in the 5D realm until cords are cut and ties are broken – that love conquers all and wisdom and strength will carry me on this journey. What is meant for me – will be – and sow shall it be. Let it be … Let it bet – Mother Mary will have an answer – Let’s Go….