Bradford Shellhammer & Georgi Balinov

[reviews_and_ramblings]

Fab was founded in February 2010 by Jason Goldberg (entrepreneur) (formerly of XING AG and Jobster) and chief designer Bradford Shellhammer. The site was originally created as a social network for gay men and their friends before pivoting on June 9, 2011 into its model of daily design inspirations and sales.

Bradford Shellhammer (born 1977) grew up with his own version of the "running-away-to-the-circus" fantasy, but it wasn't until he met his fiance Georgi Balinov (born 1983) at an Equinox gym in New York that he realized that he could fulfill his fantasy on his wedding night on April 12, 2013.

“It’s not the first wedding I’ve planned," Shellhammer explained, not at all sheepishly. "When I met my current boyfriend, I was getting married, invitations were getting sent, everything was done, and then I met Georgi and fell in love. I met him and a month later, I called off my wedding."

The wedding took place in the baroque fantasy of the Russian Tea Room, all red brocade and gilded eagles, and as close an approximation as could be found of Balinov's native Bulgaria.


Fab was founded in February 2010 by Jason Goldberg and chief designer Bradford Shellhammer. The site was originally created as a social network for gay men and their friends before pivoting on June 9, 2011 into its model of daily design inspirations and sales. Bradford Shellhammer grew up with his own version of the "running-away-to-the-circus" fantasy, but it wasn't until he met his fiance Georgi Balinov at an Equinox gym in New York that he realized that he could fulfill his fantasy on his wedding night on April 12, 2013.



“I’ve always wanted to be in the circus but I never had the talent, so here’s my chance to have my own circus—one night only," he explained. "I’m a colorful guy, and I wanted a wedding that matched my personality."

Once estimated at a worth of over 1 billion dollars, in November 2014, Fab.com was rumored to be in talks to sell for 15 million. In March 2015, PCH International acquired Fab for an undisclosed sum.

It grew from 175,000 members in June 2011, to over 10 million as of December 2012. As of April 30, 2013, Fab has disclosed that it receives 6 million unique visitors per month and have sold over 7 million products since launch. Fab is headquartered in Manhattan and operates a warehouse in Keasbey, New Jersey. The company has office locations in NYC, Pune (India), and Berlin.

www.out.com/out-exclusives/wedding-guide/vows/2013/04/12/bradford-shellhammer-georgi-balinov