January 16, 2016 marked the grand opening of the Rio Grande Valley’s newest bridal shop. As such, we de-cided to judge for ourselves the quality and uniqueness of a boutique that seeks to provide every bride with the perfect dress. They say first impressions are the most important, and the impression created by this ivory atelier was more than delightful. Upon entering, we were given a warm welcome and greeted with champagne and desserts. However, our palates were not the only ones pleased. The collection of couture dresses glowed throughout the shop and created an environment of delica-cy and timeless elegance. We were also granted the opportunity to meet one of the owners of Love and Ivory Bridal whois very excited to start working with their beautiful brides. She was more than happy to see that, after so many years, this dream was finally pieced together. As she stated, “coming to work with ivory beauties is all I ever wanted.”The dream began once she got married and realized that the brides in the Rio Grande Valley deserved more cou-ture gowns and more options to make their special day truly exceptional. The gorgeous dresses displayed on popular bridal magazines and worn on famous New York wedding runways had to be made obtainable for local brides and as of January 16th, Kitty Chen and Lauren Elaine beauties are available for the first time in the valley. Love and Ivory has managed to become the one and only bridal shop in the state of Texas to carry Lauren Elaine designs as well as one ofthe exclusive retailers of Kitty Chen. So what is it about Love and Ivory Bridal that makes them different? Once again,

their jaw-dropping gowns. Kitty Chen, designer from New York, is all about statement backs. Intricate trains, low backs, and lace are the roots for many of the dresses on display. The owner mentions: “I love Kitty Chen because lace, like black, will never go out of style and most of her gowns have this. Very

sexy, classy meets modern. Her dresses are also designed to appeal and favor all sorts of body sizes and shapes.” Lauren Elaine, designer from California, has a more southern style. These couture gowns are ideal for outdoor and beach wed-

dings, perfect for the valley. They are flowy and carry beautiful detailing and lace; very bohemian chic. Every bridal shop’s goal is to make their future brides feel beautiful. Love and Ivory strives to make their brides feel more. Breathtaking. That is their objective. To make Ivory brides walk down the aisle and leave everyone breathless, in utter and complete awe. When asked to describe the essence of Love and Ivory Bridal, the owner stated that it is “like the valley’s secret boutique; a best kept secret we want people to know about.” And we most definitely agree.Below are some helpful reminders of what to bring to your Love and Ivory appointment.

•Nude underwear •Strapless bra •Hair done (enhances feeling of actual wedding day) •Heels (approximate height of wedding day heels) •Not too much makeup •Special accessories (something blue, borrowed, etc.) •Loving entourage to help make your decision easier aa

(956) 627-0198 loveandivorybridal.com 1414 N 10th St, McAllen, TX 78501

a