For Stephanie Matthews, it was love at first date.
“I knew right away I was going to marry him,” says the Orem bride of her now-hubby Dane Thomas. “I called my mom and told her he was the one.”
And when you know, you know.
So after three months of dating, the pair spent their happiest moment in the happiest place on earth.
“We got engaged at Disneyland,” Stephanie says. “But he tricked me! When we were walking out of Club 33 restaurant, the waiter came out and said I forgot something. I thought it was my inhaler, but when I turned around, there was Dane on his knee with a ring.”
With a July 1 wedding date, the next step was planning, planning, planning.
First up? A gorgeous gown — with no cookie cutters in sight.
“I found a Monique Lhuillier dress I loved with a Queen Anne neckline and lace, so I took that raw idea to dressmaker Shawna Schauers who made me a beautiful dress that was all my own,” Stephanie says. “It was so perfect and unique. She ended up using more than 30 yards of fabric!”
With the help of her photographer, McKenzie Deakins, Stephanie planned the rest of her wedding with ease — which led to a perfectly perfect day.
“We got sealed early in the morning, and it was absolutely my favorite part of the day,” Stephanie says. “I’m a convert (to the LDS Church), so my parents weren’t able to attend the ceremony. But coming out of the temple and giving my parents the biggest hug was a moment I’ll never forget.”
So first came love, then came marriage, and then comes … well, you know the rest!
“Our pregnancy was a surprise, to say the least,” Stephanie says. “But we couldn’t be happier about it.”
