Elicia, Our Giveaway Winner Week 3

Every week in July we gave away the ultimate wedding day package as part of our biggest giveaway ever! Our 4 lucky brides each won a MWL wedding dress of their choice, a MWL veil and a $250 Petal & Pup voucher. We opened the giveaway up to brides worldwide, giving all of our MWL Girls the opportunity to win the ultimate wedding day package!

Scroll to read our week 3 winner, Elicia, and fiance Evert’s love story…

Your partners name?

My partners name is Evert van Staden.

Where are you located? 

I (almost qualified veterinarian) live in Johannesburg but he (farmer) lives on a farm in the northern parts of South Africa.

How did you and your partner meet?

We both vacation each December at the most beautiful secluded little costal town called Natures Valley (located in the South African Garden route). During the time we met the song “ Call me maybe” was a big hit. While walking on the beach with friends we decided it would be fun to write my number in the sand to see if someone would “call me maybe”, super cringe I know. When we wrote the number we couldn’t see anyone else on the beach so we didn’t think anything would come of it. The next day someone, Evert , messaged me to say ‘hi’ and that he got my number on the beach and was looking for a way to talk to me the whole vacation. Apparently Evert’s cousin saw us writing my number on the beach and, knowing that Evert had been looking for a way to talk to me the whole vacation, he memorised the number and ran to Evert to give it to him. The rest is history and now, almost 9 years later we are finally getting married.

How did you know they were the one?

I know he is the one because he knows me better than I know myself. He knows what upsets me and what makes me laugh. He knows what I want to say when I have no words and what I actually mean when my words are too much. When I realised this, I knew there was no one else for me.

What are your favourite attributes about your partner?

He is the life of any party, he never complains when live gets hard and has the ability to remain positive an any situation. I would honestly go to war with him by my side.

Who proposed and how did it happen?

Evert proposed to me on 29 May 2021 on the farm where the wedding will be and we are going to live.

When is your wedding?

The wedding will be 7 May 2022.

Where is your wedding?

On Evert’s family farm (Neustadt farm), we are having an outdoors wedding in the bushveld under the stars on the farm, a very special place in our hearts.

What are you most looking forward to at your wedding?

I look most forward to celebrating the joyous occasion with all our family and friend until the sun rises. Oh and then obviously wearing the most beautiful MWL gown.

What was your reaction when you found out you had won our giveaway?

So I entered not ever thinking I would actually win. But I mean what do I have to lose? Because of the time difference I was still sleeping when the notification was sent out. I woke up at 04:00 to do my morning cycle. When I opened my phone I saw I had a message from my brother’s fiancé (they live in the USA) saying ‘ OMG Elicia you won a MWL dress, they have the most beautiful dresses!!!!”. They are getting married 27 November and she also has a MWL dress. Needless to say I could not contain my excitement and I definitely phoned a few people awake at 04:00 in the morning.

How did you hear about MWL?

I had been looking around for dresses in South Africa for a while and could not find ANYTHING I liked. After losing a bit of hope that I would ever find a dress I liked my soon-to-be sister-in-law told me that I should follow MWL because they have the most beautiful dresses. Needless to say it was love at first sight.