For Ashlei Payne-Dawsey and Tyler Dawsey, their wedding was an intimate and romantic affair. Wed on November 5, 2016 at the Vista West Ranch in Dripping Springs, Texas, you could feel the love in the air as Ashlei confidently walked down the aisle in her romantic gown to marry the man she loves. 

The dress that Ashlei wore on her wedding day was vastly different than what anyone had suspected she would wear. Having tried on some gowns at a few boutiques in Houston, TX but with no success, Ashlei decided that a trip to Kleinfeld Bridal was in order. Since Ashlei was attending school in New York at the time, her mother flew in from Houston to join Ashlei and her friends in their trip to the famous bridal salon. Ashlei entered the boutique looking for a strapless A-line gown that had some tulle worked in for a tiny “baby doll” dress effect. 

After trying on a couple gowns but still not falling in love with anything, Ashlei's mom decided it was time she have a look around the shop. Ashlei's mom wandered into the Pnina Tornai Boutique and came back with a lace sheath gown in hand; a far cry from what Ashlei believed she wanted. Despite the consultant warning Ashlei against trying on the gown for budgetary reasons, Ashlei tried on the gown to please her mother. Not really liking the gown before she tried it on, Ashlei was shocked when she slipped the dress on and realized mother really does know best! It was time for Ashlei to have her own say yes to the dress moment:

“When I walked out in the gown they all started crying,” Ashlei reminisces. “I always thought people were a bit overdramatic when I see them crying on the show, but when you look in the mirror and you are wearing YOUR dress – it's indescribable!”

Blown away by how much she and her gown shopping party loved the gown, Ashlei said yes to a vintage and sensual lace sheath gown with a deep V-neckline and low back. It was nothing like what she thought she would wear on her special day, yet she couldn't help but love everything about the gown. With lace being Ashlei's favorite fabric, the beautiful and intricately designed floral lace that covered her gown made Ashlei's heart jump for joy. Despite the fact that the gown was not strapless as Ashlei originally envisioned, she loved the low back that the dress had. The only adjustment she made was having the illusion corset fully lined, leaving the alluring back and elegant deep V-neckline to speak for themselves.