Real Brides: Dayna

I met Matt at a local beach bar in Margate NJ called Maynard’s. It was a holiday weekend... meaning 3-day weekend! On the first night of the weekend Matt’s eyes locked with mine from afar and he approached me. We had a great conversation, and so much in common. We left it at that and went our separate ways. Two days later we both happened to return to the same beach bar. Halfway into the night Matt came up to me and introduced himself. I said to him... “I met you the other night!” He may have had a bit to drink two nights prior, thanks to his good friend Jameson. After a second conversation I decided to give him another chance. He got my number, we went on our first date, and the rest is history! Before shopping for my wedding dress, I started looking online. I continuously gravitated toward the dresses with beautiful embellishments: lace, beading, buttons, etc. As I walked into Unveiled in Philadelphia with my mom, mother-in-law, and sister, I told myself that there was no way I was going to find a dress that had EVERYTHING I liked... and that I'd be lucky with a beautiful dress with just lace, or just beading. As I began to sift through the dresses, one caught everyone's attention. We continued to look and pulled about 15 magnificent dresses. As I walked back into the dressing room, the consultant said to me, "Which dress do you want to try on first?" I took a quick glance through the 15 or so dresses, and pointed to a dress and said "That one." "I think that's the one." As I slipped into this dress, words can't describe the magic I felt. The consultant zipped me up, and I opened the curtains to reveal the dress to all the women that know me best. My mom started crying and my sister and mother-in-law's jaws dropped to the floor. I thought to myself: this is the one. I went back to try on a few others, but nothing compared. I kept thinking about the first dress I tried on. It had beautiful layers of lace, beading, low back with buttons down the back, and a stunning sweetheart neckline. It hugged my body so well and had an unbelievable train. Everything I wanted in a dream dress. It was fun and glam, but also classic! The dress was and still is SO ME. Photo by Philip Gabriel Photography

Bride Dayna wore a Val Stefani Bridal style.