I was on ‘Say Yes to the Dress.’ Here are 5 things that surprised me about being on the show.

In 2016, I was on a special episode of TLC’s “Say Yes to the Dress,” (season 15, episode six).

I planned to get married earlier that year, but when my Louisiana home flooded and my gown was destroyed, it looked like my dream wedding was ruined. As my fiancé and I considered pushing the date back, “Say Yes to the Dress” posted an online request for brides-to-be who were affected by the flood.

A friend nominated me and I was selected to be on the show. Here are five surprising things I learned from my “Say Yes to the Dress” episode.

I may be the only bride who received a free dress on the show

TLC

Normally, the “Say Yes to the Dress” team starts by breaking down your budget, but because my original wedding gown was destroyed, I received a free dress.

My episode highlighted the tragedy of the flood that took most of my belongings and I was offered the best care by bridal designer Randy Fenoli and his team. “Say Yes” flew my husband and me to New York, where we stayed in a lavish hotel right by Times Square.

My family lost everything in the flood, so it was a huge contrast to go from watching all of our stuff wash away to wearing a Mark Zunino gown, Jimmy Choo shoes, and Kleinfield’s own collection of jewelry.

Fenoli really is an angel and we even shared a personal connection

TLC

As we filmed, I could feel Fenoli had a strong bondwith the people who he worked with to tell my story. I’m still so grateful to have been chosen to share my experience about planning a wedding that felt as if it would never happen and I cannot thank that team enough for helping me feel the most beautiful and cared for.

During the process, I learned that Fenoli actually grew up in Louisiana and he’s also dealt with natural disaster. He was trapped in a two-story apartment in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

I think my experience touched him because it was a story that was so close to home.

I still talk to Fenoli to this day and he featured my story in a special season-17 episode where he discussed his most memorable brides.

The show is not scripted

The crew captured my genuine reactions.

And if I said something funny, cute, or cool, I quickly learned to expect to see that footage over and over again.