Real Weddings: Natasha Thompson

Every month we feature one of our blushing brides! Today we’re delighted to share Natasha Thompson’s story. She and her husband, Ross, are pictured here. Doesn't she look gorgeous in the Priscilla gown?

My name is Natasha and I am a preschool teacher. I met my husband at church. We met when I started going which was in May but he could never remember my name. We went on a youth trip and both had a feeling that we would meet "the one" on the trip but neither of us expected it to be each other. It took us about a month after the trip to start dating as we were so far apart in age. I was 18 at the time and he was 25.

We started dating in August 2009, and I had the ring February 2010. But it wasn't until August of 2011 when he proposed. We went to a restaurant he had never been to for our 2nd year anniversary. I had had a very stressful day at work and when I get stressed I want chocolate. He told me he had another plan for dessert but we would be going somewhere else. We ate dinner and it was about 8:30 or so and he told me we weren't getting dessert because the place closed at 9. I was extremely upset about not getting my chocolate I told him to get the waiter and get the bill so we could try to make it. Instead of bringing the bill the waiter brought a piece of chocolate cake that had Happy 2nd written on the plate with a candle. I was so amazed by the cake and candle I started taking pictures and failed to notice that he had gotten on his knee. When I finally realized that he was on his knee he asked me to marry him.

I heard about SimplyBridal through the aps on the side of Facebook. I was going through the different pages and then came across the competition to win the dress. I was constantly posting on my Facebook, my husband's Facebook and my mom's to get votes. When I found out I had officially won I was so excited. My husband and I paid for most of the wedding ourselves so winning the dress was a true blessing. Now that its all done and over I'm glad that I went with the dress I did.

I had my husband go onto the website and write down the styles that he liked. I finally went with the Priscilla gown and I made alterations to make the dress my own. I started by taking the tulle off the bottom. Then I added sleeves and a blue sash.

The Wedding

The planning process was very chaotic. We finally set the date sometime in mid-May, and the wedding was September 8. I pretty much planned most of it and told my husband what we were going to do. We didn't have an actual reception just cake and punch.

The ceremony was a complete mishap that made it all more perfect. As much as I thought I was in control of my wedding God showed me otherwise. The night before the wedding the basement of the church where we were having the reception flooded. They called in a restoration crew in the morning, but they didn't get there until 11 when the wedding was at 1:30. During the ceremony the pastor called me Tanya at first and then the next time he said my name he called me Nadia. He finally got my name right after that. I started to cry during the ceremony and my husband started making faces at me so I got the giggles really bad and laughed for a good 2-3 minutes. I think the best part about the ceremony was the dress and how I looked. We didn't see each other or talk to each other that day. I came up the stairs and my husband saw me he started to cry, which was what i was hoping for.

Natasha's Advice

If you are planning your wedding now know that everything isn't going to be perfect. Something is going to mess up somewhere. Dont stress about what messes up and take those moments that messed up and aren't perfect as a way of having a special story to tell. I have had so much fun telling everyone the stories of our wonderful mishaps. Also never go to bed angry and always say I love you because you never know what may happen.