Astonishing wedding day transformation of bride who was beaten bloody in brutal bachelorette party attack
As Canada Gomez’s wedding day loomed, she was not suffering typical pre-nuptial jitters – she was instead wondering if she would even be able to smile at her groom.
That’s because just weeks before she was set to say ‘I do,’ her dream bachelorette weekend turned into a waking nightmare when she was randomly attacked by a stranger outside a Dallas nightclub on March 23.
The savage blow knocked her unconscious and left her facedown in a pool of blood. She woke up with a broken nose, two black eyes, three shattered teeth, a concussion, and needed eight stitches across her forehead. Her face was so swollen and bruised she barely recognizable.
Th girls weekend was meant to be the celebration of a lifetime. Canada had meticulously arranged every detail – from luxurious boat rides and brunches to a playful pole dancing class and an exciting night out with her closest friends.
But when the bride-to-be and her friends were leaving the club Cash Cow at around 2am and waiting for their Uber, a man suddenly struck her from behind.
Suspect Trevor Woodards, 27, was later arrested for assault on March 28. He had just been released on parole and records show he has a lengthy criminal history, including charges of assaulting a police officer, misdemeanor assault and burglary.
‘My entire right side of my face looks completely different. I don’t even know how to describe it – it’s just a different shape than it used to be. It’s hard to tell if it’s just swelling or if there’s more damage underneath,’ Canada told the Daily Mail days after the attack.
Canada Gomez was violently attacked during her bachelorette weekend in Dallas on March 23 by a stranger, Trevor Woodards, leaving her with severe facial injuries
Injuries included a broken nose, two black eyes, three broken teeth, eight stitches on her forehead and a concussion. She’s pictured above before the attack on her bachelorette weekend
Pictured: Canada getting ready for her wedding just weeks after getting randomly attacked on her bachelorette trip
Despite the damage, she made a remarkable recovery in time for her April 26 wedding, requiring only light makeup and no Photoshop. Pictured above on the happy day
‘She was covered in blood – there was a puddle on the street, and we couldn’t even tell where the blood was coming from because it was everywhere,’ her 23-year-old sister, Brieanna Rinaldi, who witnessed the attack, told the Daily Mail.
‘At first, it seemed like he was reaching for her cowboy hat, but he swung his arm back and struck her. She collapsed on the concrete, face down,’ Brieanna recalled.
Despite the terrifying experience and severe injuries, Canada’s recovery process proved remarkable. Within weeks, she was already healing better than expected.
‘My nose healed straight, so I didn’t have to do anything else [to it], which was a huge relief for me,’ she told Daily Mail in a follow-up interview this week. ‘Everything else healed pretty quickly.’
The speedy recovery was a significant relief, as Canada was determined to move forward with her wedding plans set for April 26 – just a month after the attack.
On the big day, she walked down the aisle looking radiant, the physical marks of her ordeal were barely visible.
Canada revealed that contrary to her initial worries, no significant photo editing work was needed to hide scars from the attack. Instead, she used only minimal makeup to cover lingering blemishes.
The ceremony took place at the Wild Sage Ranch in Hugoton, Kansas. She married her longtime love, Brandon Gomez, with whom she shares two sons.
‘It was really good – we had a great turnout. All of our family and friends were there, and it was a perfect day. Everything went smoothly,’ Canada shared joyfully.
The attack left her unconscious in the street
The incident was captured on Uber dashcam footage, revealing the attacker lurking before striking
She is still undergoing dental treatment, including crowns and fillings for damaged teeth
Her wedding day was a celebration of resilience and love. Surrounded by family and friends, she felt immense support and comfort.
‘It was really inspiring,’ her older sister and bridesmaid Tina Rinaldi, 29, told the Daily Mail. ‘I really didn’t think it was going to happen, because she had put so much into it, and previously she said she felt like it was kind of ruined. So seeing her happy again really made everything she went through worth it.’
The emotional impact of the assault remained, but she didn’t allow it to dominate the day.
Instead, her bridesmaids – several of whom had witnessed the traumatic incident – created a heartfelt video celebrating their bond, strength and friendship.
Although touching on the hardships they had faced together, the attack itself was not openly addressed during the wedding festivities.
‘It was easier not to talk about it there,’ Canada admitted, finding solace instead in reconnecting with loved ones who were eager to see her and ensure she was doing well. ‘Seeing everyone who came to support me was incredibly uplifting.’
Canada’s ongoing recovery includes dental treatments to repair damage from the attack.
‘I had three broken teeth,’ she said. ‘The two in the front just needed to be smoothed down and slightly filled, nothing major. But one tooth in the back cracked in half, so I currently have a temporary crown and will get a permanent one next week. While they were placing the temporary crown, they found another broken tooth, so we need to fix that too.’
Still, Canada described her overall physical recovery as minor – she didn’t need major surgical interventions.
She is pressing charges against Woodards and is registered to receive custody updates
Canada is seen above with her husband on their wedding day. ‘The wedding was perfect,’ she said. ‘Everything went smoothly’
Her dream celebration turned traumatic, despite months of meticulous planning involving brunches, boat rides and a pole dancing class
Addressing potential legal action against her attacker, Canada confirmed, ‘I’m pressing charges.
‘Once he was captured, authorities told me the prosecutor’s office would reach out when ready. It might take some time, but I’ve signed up for notifications if he’s released or transferred.’
When asked what message she would have for her attacker if she faces him in court, Canada responded thoughtfully, ‘I don’t really know if I would say much to him. I just hope he receives the consequences he deserves. He shouldn’t have been out in the first place. The system failed not only me but him as well. I genuinely hope he learns from this.’
Reflecting on her experience, Canada emphasized the importance of focusing on life’s precious moments.
‘The wedding was perfect,’ she concluded with heartfelt relief. ‘Everything went smoothly. It was exactly the day I had dreamed of. I refuse to let what happened overshadow my happiness.’
