Breathtaking bridal fashions from top European designers soon to debut at new Bianka Bridal

Despite a soft layer of sawdust and the sight of carpenters putting the finishing touches on decorative molding, Rosy Lopiparo paints a detailed verbal vision of the ivory walls, chandeliers, and lux furnishings that will act as backdrop for some of the most gorgeous European-designed dresses a bride has ever dreamed about.

Lopiparo, her daughter Katia Agius, and their friend Maria Cannizzo are the fashion minds behind a new downtown Grand Rapids bridal boutique, Bianka Bridal. The boutique opens January 13, 2014 at 125 Ottawa Ave. NW in the former Minty Keen space.

As Lopiparo walks through the space, she describes the ivory and gold color palette, the comfortable lounge area that will be part of the showroom, and motions upward to where the chandeliers will sparkle overhead. She leads the way out the boutique's "back door," across a hallway in the Ledyard Building adjacent to Preusser Jewelers, and into a daylight-filled room that will become two private bridal suites with lounges, fitting rooms, more chandeliers, and, of course, mirrors.

Lopiparo worked for Mon Cheri Bridal. Her connections in the bridal industry set the stage for the shop to procure designs from Spain, Italy, Istanbul, and London, including Lazaro, St. Pucchi, Tarik Ediz, Mon Cheri Collections, and others.

Agius' passion for fashion led her to graduate from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, and then bring her knowledge and talents to the Grand Rapids market as an entrepreneur, Lopiparo says.

"We will carry bridal gowns, mother of the bride apparel, evening wear, flower girl dresses, and First Communion dresses," Lopiparo says. "We are calling it 'affordable luxury' because our dresses range from $1,200 to $6,000. For private bridal fittings, we will give them the whole bridal experience by sending a limousine to pick up the bridal party, we'll have a photographer on hand or they can use their own, and we'll offer wine, champagne, and hors d'oeuvres."

The women are from a long line of Italian-American entrepreneurs who emigrated to West Michigan in the 1960s and started Fratelli's Pizza (Lopiparo) and Mineo's Pizza (Cannizzo), which those two women now own.

Visit the Bianka Bridal website here.

Writer: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor