Bride Of The Week: Jensen Merrill
Written By Kaileah Searcy
Our wedding has been almost 8 years in the making. My now husband, Daniel, and I met in high school and ever since the moment we met, we knew it was going to be forever. We met as lab partners in chemistry class but didn’t start dating until about a year later when we were seniors in high school. At that time, we had already decided where we were going for college. I had committed to Arizona State to be a member of the dance team and he was on his way to the University of San Diego. Most people thought we weren’t going to last because of the distance. But the distance didn’t matter to us. Through lots of trust, support, and love we graduated 4 years later. Then just as we thought we would be going back to live in the same state again, I had the opportunity to move to Dallas for my dream job. I auditioned for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders straight out of college and made it. Now we knew it was going to be another few years of long distance as his job kept him in San Diego.
Then just as we thought we would be going back to live in the same state again, I had the opportunity to move to Dallas for my dream job. I auditioned for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders straight out of college and made it. Now we knew it was going to be another few years of long distance as his job kept him in San Diego. But at the end of my rookie season in 2021, he got down on one knee and proposed.
The one thing I was most excited about in the planning process was dress shopping. And after obsessing over Galia Lahav dresses, I knew it had to be my first stop. My two saved dresses were the Veronica and the Denise. I tried on the Veronica first as I thought that was going to be the one. I loved it. We kept going as I tried on some different fits and styles. Every dress is special at Galia, but the last one I happened to try on was Denise. I walked out, looked at the dress, and was in complete awe. It was everything I wanted in my wedding dress and more. And it wasn’t just about the way I looked, but how I felt. Once we put on the veil too, it was immediate waterworks. I didn’t have to try on anything else. I knew no other dress was going to fit as perfectly as the Denise. And that was when I said yes to the dress.
On May 25, 2024, I married my husband on a perfect Arizona night. We got married at Blackstone Country Club in Peoria. I had the most amazing team by my side. Our whole day was planned by Audrey Wood of Audrey Wood Events.
The day was full of butterflies and anxiousness leading up to the ceremony. We got to the venue, finished getting ready, and then put our dresses on. Many of my bridesmaids, along with my dad and grandpa, had not seen my dress so I was very excited to do the big reveal. All of their guesses pretty much added up to exactly what it looked like, but they were all still blown away. As I was the last child to get married in my family, my dad was particularly emotional to see me in my dress. After all the reveals and pictures, it was time to get ready for the ceremony. My nerves were at an all-time high. But as soon as I walked down the aisle and put my hands in Daniel’s I felt at peace. I knew I was in the exact moment I was supposed to be. I was so excited to be marrying the man I had been with for the last 7 years. We finally could say “We made it”
Our friends and family were so thrilled and emotional to watch us walk out as husband & wife. Going into reception, we wanted to set the tone right away. We got our bridesmaids and groomsmen on the floor with us and started the dance party right away. Then on to dinner, which was the best Mexican food buffet ever, and on to some heartfelt and hilarious speeches. Followed by our first dance. We chose “Can’t Take My Eyes off You” by Frankie Valli as it really just tells the story of how much we love to be together. We also did the traditional parent dances and then I did another performance with my teammates.
As a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, it is our tradition to do our signature pregame performance all together. We do it at every wedding and every time the guests are so thrilled to see a front-row performance of the DCC. We all love doing it together for the guests and it is a moment that makes everyone smile. From there, it was an open dance floor till the end of the night with gelato, pizza, and a Photo Booth of course.
The day was perfect. Every moment in between was so special. Our wedding day was beyond our wildest dreams… we’re already wishing we could relieve it all over again!!
All credit for photography goes to Nicole Ivanov @nicoleivanovphoto