Ever dream of going on the TLC show Say Yes to The Dress and shopping at the legendary Kleinfeld bridal? Well, that’s exactly what happened to Navy bride Rebecca. Not only did she find an incredible Martina Liana wedding dress with the help of Kleinfeld bridal, but she also got married in Central Park on TV for the Say Yes to The Dress: America season finale!Â
The Proposal
My husband and I had been dating for seven years prior to getting engaged. We met in college and after graduation, he decided to join the US Navy. Hawaii is his first duty station, so before making the big move I went out to visit for a few days. While there, he told me he had stumbled upon this beautiful pond and that he wanted to take me. It truly was a breathtaking spot. We stood on the pier and watched the morning sun reflect off of the gorgeous mountains where Jurassic Park was filmed. He then got down one knee and popped the question. Finally!
Finding the perfect Martina Liana wedding dress
My bridal style is form fitting and flashy! I am very into fitness and work hard in the gym every day, so I definitely wanted something that would show my curves and accentuate my backside!
My dress shopping experience was one of a kind! For Say Yes to The Dress we were split up into groups and went shopping at the legendary Kleinfeld, but there were still about 20 women with their consultants running around the showroom trying to grab their dream dress! It was a bit overwhelming, but my consultant, Shay, was very helpful.Â
After explaining what I wanted, he grabbed a few dresses and we got to work. He must be a genius because the first dress I tried on was it! The very first gown that he pulled for me was a Martina Liana gown that was form-fitting with a deep V neckline and beading. After trying on multiple dresses I was unable to get the first Martina Liana dress out of my head and I knew that it was the one. As if finding the most beautiful dress wasn’t already enough, I even had the honor of meeting Martine Harris, the designer herself!
I decided to put the gown back on. I walked out to show my family the dress a second time. Shay then placed a flower crown on my head, my mother began to cry, and I knew it was the one! I said yes to the dress! I will honestly never forget this day. I have never felt more beautiful in a dress in my entire life.
The wedding details
In addition to the wedding in New York for Say Yes to The Dress, my husband and I also eloped in Hawaii and had a big family ceremony in Texas. Yes, we had THREE weddings! Since the New York wedding was a group ceremony, it was difficult to add a personal touch, but my bouquet had hibiscus flowers to represent Hawaii and my husband wore his military uniform.Â
My wedding was in Central Park for Say Yes to the Dress America was with 51 other couples each representing a state in the United States. I never thought in my wildest dreams I would ever participate in such an event, but I am so happy I did. I met 51 amazing women, some of who I plan on keeping in touch with forever. While the group was very diverse, we all came together untied in love and were married right by Bethesda Fountain!
The Hawaiian elopement was special because it was only my husband, myself, and a pastor on a cliff overlooking the ocean. There was very little planning involved, no real color scheme, and no stress. It was very sentimental and it will always be one of the best days of my entire life.Â
The Texas wedding was our big wedding with all of our family and friends! It was a bohemian theme with multiple colors. The best part about the Texas wedding was the people in attendance, friends, and family who we would not get the opportunity to see very often after the move to Hawaii. Additionally, my dad was finally able to walk me down the aisle and give me away to the man of my dreams!
Photos by Arken Avan