<p class="ingestion featured-caption">Niya Merius wore a Dana Harel dress to her wedding. REEM Photography</p><ul class="summary-list"><li>Niya and Jawon Merius got married in Atlanta on May 17, 2024.</li><li>After trying on several ball gowns, Niya fell in love with a mermaid gown from Dana Harel.</li></ul><p>Because Niya Merius married her high school sweetheart, she didn't have much experience dating before she tied the knot.</p><p>But as sure as she was about her <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/met-husband-through-matchmaker-after-trying-dating-apps-2024-8">husband</a>, her experience with wedding dresses was the opposite. She visited eight bridal boutiques throughout the course of her <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bride-solo-bachelorette-trip-saved-money-stress-2024-8">engagement</a>, with no dresses fitting her vision.</p><p>Eventually, Niya found the perfect <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bride-loved-sheer-bejeweled-wedding-dress-at-first-sight-2024-7">wedding dress</a> for her — and it was nothing like she expected it to be.</p>