Local bride voted best in the country

LYDENBURG – A Lydenburg resident is the winner of the annual bride of the year competition organised by Beeld.

Natasha van Aardt walked away with Beeld’s Bride of the Year title at a gala dinner held at Avianto Landgoed in Muldersdrift. Brides from all walks of life participated in the nationwide competition.

According to Natasha her father-in-law encouraged them to enter the competition and she never imagined making it to the final.

“My father-in-law came home one day with the newspaper and he told me that we needed to enter and we did. Honestly I didn’t expect to win. When I went there, I told myself that we are going just to enjoy the experience,” she added.

Finalists were selected throughout the year, and every month a bride was chosen. “I was the winner for September. Twelve brides made it to the finals and each represented each month of the year. Before they announced the winner, we went through interviews in which we were asked basic things about matrimonial life and how we keep the relationship going,” she said.

“My response was that I kept my marriage going because I accepted that I could be weak sometimes and when I reached my point of weakness, my husband became the wind beneath my wings. He helps me to fly so that I can reach my destination. We need to have a relationship in which we both know that it is acceptable to be there for each other and not be too proud,” she explained.

The couple met four years ago and since that day, their love has kept them together. “We have the kind of love that blossoms without water. When we met it was during summer, it was time for the flowers to bloom and so did our love and everyday it gets brighter,” she explained.

The couple won R20 000 in cash, seven nights’ stay in Mauritius, a R3 000 spa voucher, Prestige kitchenware to the value of R5 000 and a queen-size bed valued at R11 000.

“I hope that this motivates other people to participate in competitions. I would like to thank everyone who helped us make it to where we are today. Thank you to our family, friends, my colleagues, the company I work for, my bridesmaids and every single person who voted for us and for all the support.

“We wouldn’t be where we are today if you were not there to support us and thank you for celebrating with us.”