Brides of Long Island rallies to help Middle Island couple after devastating fire

When a fire tore through a home in Middle Island Sunday - leaving a couple with just the clothes on their back days before their wedding - the Brides of Long Island community sprang into action.

Christine McGrath

Apr 27, 2022, 11:23 AM

Updated 953 days ago

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When a fire tore through a home in Middle Island Sunday - leaving a couple with just the clothes on their back days before their wedding - the Brides of Long Island community sprang into action.
Amanda Cappiello and her fiancé Nick Ladalia lost their home and their possessions in the fire at the Fairview Artist Lake Community on April 24. All of their wedding items were destroyed, with the exception of Cappiello's dress, flowers and seating chart. Their wedding is April 29.
After hearing of the devastating loss to one of its members, the Brides of Long Island rallied together. Members are making monetary donations to a GoFundMe page set up for the couple, and donating their own wedding decor, clothing for their upcoming honeymoon and even purchasing items off their registry to help them rebuild.
BOLI Founder Heather Cunningham is coordinating the effort to help Cappiello and Ladalia. She spent part of her day running around Long Island getting items such as Cappiello's bridal party outfits and gifts, as well as Ladalia's favorite cologne. She is also collecting all of the members' donations of clothes and decor at her home, which she'll drop off to Cappiello ahead of her wedding. "To bring her day back to what it was envisioned to be was my goal," says Cunningham. "Having a community with almost 18,000 strong that jumps the second help is needed is what keeps me going."
BOLI members are not the only ones helping out Cappiello and Ladalia. Some Long Island wedding vendors have donated their services, such as Bridal Rush, who is offering hair and makeup services for Cappiello's rehearsal dinner, Esquire, who is providing Ladalia with a suit for the rehearsal dinner, and Island and Ivory, who is supplying gift boxes for the bridesmaids. "Vendors that bend over backward for brides that aren't even their clients, to donate their time and services, is what makes the Long Island wedding industry like no other," says Cunningham.
Cappiello is overwhelmed by the love and support of the Brides of Long Island community. "I can't explain how thankful we are for everyone who's even thought about us the last few days," she says. "We really are so blessed for this community."
The couple says they will find another place to live until their condo gets rebuilt.
They say things can only get better.