My husband and I have known each other for over 8 years (longer, if you count the first time I met him a year prior, but forgot I existed... even though I was good friends with his brother and sister). I was 11 years old, and we ended up standing next to each other in a Christmas pageant. From then on, we were really great friends. But around the summer of 2009, I started realizing that I kinda really liked this man.
By January 2010, I realized that I loved him, but I kept on in quiet agony for the next 8 months. I waited and waited until August of that year. I felt I would most certainly die if I didn't tell him how I felt RIGHT THEN, but still felt it would be unwise to make the first move. But it all worked out perfectly. Right when I felt that nothing could be done and I couldn't wait any longer, he told me. We went skating with our families (as was common for us to do). During couples skate, he got me alone, and confessed that he liked me. I know it seems all silly and childish, but to us, it was a really big deal. Neither of us had ever dated anyone before, and we certainly had not kissed anyone before. So to us, telling each other we liked each other actually meant, "I love you, and I intend to try and marry you."
So we courted for about two years, when my husband suddenly had to transfer to a college about 500 miles away. The first month was horrible, but I stayed positive. And when he came home, we went on a date to the drive-in, and he proposed.
We intended to wait until 2013 to get married, but after another month of him being gone, I decided I could no longer stand it. We decided two and a half months was PLENTY of time to plan a beautiful, VERY budget wedding... right?
First things first, I had to find a dress. My mom and I had gone and jokingly tried on dresses at a very expensive boutique a month before, but knew none of those would be "the dress." We found the* Brielle and when we went to try it on , it was more than I could have ever dreamed. I had pictured my perfect wedding dress for years, and this dress hit EVERY MARK. The beading was superb, the pickups were EXACTLY what I was looking for, the semi-sweetheart neckline was beautiful, and most importantly, the back was lace-up, which had always been a big "must" for my husband. I tried it on, and every bit of it fit PERFECTLY. When my husband saw me walking down the aisle, his face is something I will never forget. He LOVED the dress. I looked exactly as I have always wanted on my wedding day, which made our very first kiss just that much more special.

* This style has been discontinued. However, we recommend the Ambrosia for similar style features.