On October 19, 2013, Bridgette Bartlett and Anthony Royall said “I Do” in one of the year’s most anticipated wedding ceremonies. As the founder of BlackBridalBliss.com, Bridgette has made it her mission to showcase content for Black brides (a group that has largely been ignored) and their nuptials. So, when Bridgette announced that she was getting married after their September 2012 proposal, we couldn’t have been more happy for her.
How They Met
After being introduced by a mutual friend, the Royalls developed their friendship-turned-relationship by phone. Although both lived in New York City, the two talked by phone for a month before ever meeting in person. Bridgette found Anthony to be cute, funny, down-to-earth and ambitious: all the traits she wanted in a boyfriend. For her, the chemistry was instant. “We would talk on the phone for hours as though we had known each other for years,” she says. “Early on I felt like I could be myself around him and that doesn’t happen often. I was also impressed by the strong relationship he had with his mother.” Anthony was more inclined to foster a friendship. He shares, “For several reasons, I didn’t think a relationship would be able to develop into a marriage. But Bridgette’s family values, ambition, and general curiosity about life kept my attention the first few years. Frequently eating her mother’s cooking was another reason I stuck around.”
Their Journey to the Alter
Bridgette and Anthony spent their whirlwind courtship reminiscing about growing up in Jamaica, Queens, discussing how to navigate their careers, and just spending quality time together. The duo genuinely enjoyed each other’s company and dated on and off for years. But their relationship was not without challenges. “When things were good they were great, but we had lots of starts and stops,” Bridgette explains. They experienced job losses, cheating, and illness to name a few. At one point, Anthony also became the temporary guardian of his niece (with no financial assistance). That act of generosity was a game changer for Bridgette and revealed another layer of Anthony’s character. She scored a stand-up guy. “Anthony quietly does for others and he loves hard,” Bridgette explains.
BMWK – Follow this link to read more about their love story, to see more pics from their beautiful wedding, and to read Bridgette’s 5 Budget-Friendly Tips for Brides-to-be that she picked up from planning her own wedding: THE ROYALL UNION (BRIDGETTE AND ANTHONY’S BLISS-PART TWO)