Megan Stone tried on about 15 Alfred Angelo gowns – classy to classic, chic to over-the-top fun – on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2012, at Margo's A Wedding Place in Union, Mo.
Later, she realized, the one she had chosen is the dream dress she envisioned years ago.
“I thought I had given up my little-girl dreams. I've always, always wanted a dress shaped like this, cut like this. Throughout the entire process, I have not let anything get to my head and I am still me,” said the contestant from Dittmer on Season 13 of NBC's“The Biggest Loser.” She kept secret her actual choice when she and Michael Leady marry on Sept. 28, 2013.
But heaven knows.
“When I realized that was it, lights were shining, angels were singing. This dress is me, functional and comfortable,” she emphasized. She funneled favorites down to two opposites in style – one classic and one, “yeah, a really fun dress.” The choice was difficult.
“The dress I chose really shows off my body and always will show off my body, whether I lose or I gain. By far, it is the most beautiful in my eyes and regardless it will make me look perfect,” Megan said with conviction about what she called her “hourglass” shape.
On consecutive weeks, Megan and her mother left the TV show which seeks to motivate people toward health and wellness and includes a weight-loss regiment. Continuing her plan, she lost 80 pounds by Christmas. With a busy work schedule at Pony Birds Inc., a residential facility for special needs individuals; pre-nursing studies at Jefferson College in Hillsboro, and helping on the family farm and raising her own animals, her goal of losing another 20 pounds may be caught in a time crunch.
Just maintaining her loss also would be an effective strategy, she felt. Megan appreciated Alfred Angelo designs being offered in all sizes, so she still can wear her dream dress if her size should change.
“After years of being limited to certain sizes and styles in a store, it takes the limitations away for those who are bigger,” Megan said. The wedding design company contacted her soon after she left the show when she and Michael became engaged. The designer will provide gowns for her and several of her 10 bridesmaids, including fellow contestant Conda Britt.
Amanda Sheronas, director of public relations and special events for Alfred Angelo, added photos of the fitting to Megan's blog at http://blog.alfredangelo.com.
“It was impressive that Megan knew different styles that she wanted to try on for her shape. Honesty, every single picture where she was trying on a gown she wanted to see, she looked fantastic in it,” Amanda said.
In three hours, the bride-to-be selected gowns for herself and attendants, several of whom were with her and her mother. Her bridesmaids' gown in far-ranging sizes will reflect autumn forest colors of burnt orange, yellow, maize, espresso, grape and claret, chosen from a 50-color Alfred Angelo palette.
Michael, still her boyfriend when she competed, followed her commitment when she left for the show in Hawaii. Their separation created pangs as well as sparks.
“When I was gone, he decided he would never want to spend another day like that without me. He is such a romantic. He proposed to me on Valentine's Day (2012),” she said of her fiance.
“We did our workouts together, cleaned the house, went horseback riding. After we made dinner together, he had a ring in his hand. He said, 'You are my best friend and I don't want to spend another day without you,'” she said.
Just as she became happy and excited, Michael cried a few tears, showing what she called their complementary personalities.
“I'm short, he's tall. He's a little more reclusive, I am outgoing. He was a city boy from Fenton-Arnold, I was raised on the farm,” she said.
The church they attend will not hold everyone invited, so an anticipated 350 guests will witness their exchange of vows in Fellowship First Baptist Church in High Ridge, then attend a reception at Holiday Inn Route 66 in Sunset Hills.
Megan called Michael her “voice of reason 90 percent of the time.” The elegant Alfred Angelo gown she wears when she meets him at the altar falls into the 10 percent compartment of their relationship.
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