Budget-Conscious Brides Go Online To Slash Wedding Costs

Economic uncertainty drives popularity of online marketplaces such as Bravobride.com which bring together buyers and sellers of new and gently used designer wedding dresses, jewelry, and other wedding items.

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) November 13, 2008 -- Bravo Bride (http://www.bravobride.com/), a popular online bridal marketplace, announces record growth and site traffic, due in part to budget-conscious consumers worried about the economy. With the average cost of a wedding exceeding $28,000 (Bridal Association of America), many brides are going online to find some financial relief.

BravoBride now attracts 20,000 visitors per month and 50 new items are added daily. This online marketplace (http://www.bravobride.com/GetStarted.php)lets brides-to-be search for designer wedding gowns, jewelry, shoes, party favors, and ceremony items at discounted prices. Sellers post items due to cancelled nuptials, to generate extra income, or to clear out precious closet space.

Current offerings include a designer Reem Acra gown ($7150 retail offered for $4000), a stylish Vera Wang dress (reduced from $6000 to $1000), and a set of never worn platinum bands (http://www.bravobride.com/ItemViewer.php?id=1096). Brides can also find more affordable reception items: from table centerpieces, to wedding cake toppers, to toasting glasses.

Susan Alexander Shapiro, founder of BravoBride explains, "BravoBride is a lot like Craigslist -only it focuses exclusively on helping brides plan their perfect day." Shapiro founded the company after becoming frustrated planning her own wedding and overpaying for many items.

How it Works

BravoBride makes it easy to buy, sell and search for items.

Sellers:

• Pay no listing fees or commissions

• Can post inventory in minutes

• Can upload eight images free of charge

• Can keep listings active for 18 months

• Can enhance listings (by featuring or highlighting items) for a nominal fee

Buyers:

• Pay no listing fees or commissions

• Can use an advanced search feature to search by style, size, designer, or price to find just the right wedding dress, jewelry or shoes

• Can save wedding items and vendors to their 'favorites'

About BravoBride

Susan Alexander Shapiro founded BravoBride after becoming frustrated planning her own wedding and overpaying for many items. BravoBride is a popular online marketplace that brings together buyers and sellers of new and gently used wedding items including designer wedding dresses, jewelry, accessories party favors, and reception items. The company donates a percentage of profits to the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women Campaign. Visit www.bravobride.com.

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