The day before my wedding, I discovered that my $8,700 dress had been damaged by my sister-in-law, Beth. The fate of my wedding day was in jeopardy when, amid the thrill of the ceremony, an unexpected meeting and a secret film revealing Beth’s horrible reason revealed the truth.
I stood in front of the mirror, worry bubbling in my stomach. In the bridal boutique, the wedding gown I had been dreaming about for years looked immaculate. Now, wrapped in a dainty white crepe and hanging on my bedroom door, it seemed weird.
“Grace, how do you like your dress?” Jack called from downstairs.
“Almost ready to wear!” I shouted back, trembling as I ran my hands over the fabric.
A few weeks prior, my soon-to-be sister-in-law Beth had volunteered to change my clothing for me for free. She was known to be a skilled seamstress, but there was something strange about her offer. But I said yes because our entire wedding fund was gone.
Mom had added cynically, “I still find it hard to believe Beth is helping you.”
Trying to keep my suspicions to myself, I had answered, “Yeah, it’s very generous.”
After getting into the dress, I started to zip it up, but something didn’t feel quite right. The bodice’s seams were uneven and had big gaps in them. There were loose threads where the exquisite lace had been carelessly slashed. Fear replaced my joy.
I started crying and thought to myself, “Oh my God.”
“Grace, what is the issue?” Jack, looking concerned, asked from downstairs.
“The dress is ruined,” I said, trying not to cry too much.
“What do you wish to convey? I’ll check. “I want to check it myself,” he said as he began to up the stairs.
“Jack, you can’t. It is unlucky to see the dress before the wedding.
“Are you positive? “Maybe it’s not as bad as it looks,” he suggested, pausing at the door.
Indeed, it is. It’s wrecked. How could she have let this happen? I spoke in a broken voice.
“Are you certain it wasn’t an error?”
In a barely audible murmur, I told Jack and to myself, “No.” This isn’t an isolated incident. She annihilated it.
Jack’s voice grew softer. “Well, let’s resolve this. We have to.
My hands trembling, I dialed Beth. “Whatever happened to my dress, Beth?”
“What do you mean?” she asked, seeming naïve.
It’s wrecked. How did you let this happen?
Just unwind, please. Most likely, it’s not that bad. Maybe you’re overstating things.
I’m not making this up. It is inappropriate to wear.
“See, I’ll come help you fix it.”
Not at all, Beth. You’ve done enough.
Feeling halfway between angry and desperate, I hung up. How did she manage to pull this off? I remembered our heated conversations and her offensive remarks. Everything became evident at this point.
“I need to call my mom,” I said, my voice quivering.
Jack’s harsh voice sounded through the door. Grace, we’re going to overcome this. We swear she can’t ruin our day.
My parents, horrified at the state of the apparel, visited not long after.
Even though my anxieties were exactly the same as hers, my mother reassured me, “We’ll find a way.”
The next few hours felt endless, a whirlwind of feelings and desperate attempts to make sense of what to do. The following day was supposed to be the happiest of my life. Instead, it felt more like a nightmare from which I could not wake up.
When dawn broke the following morning, I resolved to expose Beth’s deceit. She was unable to escape from this. Not the day of the event of mu nuptials.
I decided to take independent action. My wedding day could not be ruined by this. All I could do was dash to the nearest bridal shop and get a new attire. It wasn’t my perfect ensemble, but it would do.
The wedding preparations moved quickly. The air was heavy with the scent of fresh flowers and excitement. I put on my new clothes and felt both anxious and determined. Though thinking about the ruined clothes still hurt, this was my day.
When the guests arrived, they couldn’t stop staring curiously at my attire. I saw Beth among them, and her surprised eyes grew wide. I saw the flash of rage in her, but she hid it right away.
While the ceremony was taking place, we assembled for the official photos. To take the “all-family photograph,” my complete family waited in line and smiled for the picture to be taken. Beth stood beside me and grinned stiffly. When setting us up, the photographer warned us not to smile.
“Grace, could you please wear the dress I made for you?” Beth spoke between tight teeth, but her smile never wavered. “Do you not recognize how much effort I put into it?”
I kept my mouth shut and my smile intact. You couldn’t wear that dress, Beth. It was completely demolished.
“Destroyed?” Beth whispered, her eyes glinting with malice. “I spent hours working on the costume! You obviously don’t think my work is worthwhile.
“Beth, why don’t you wear the altered dress to your own wedding since you thought it was so beautifully done?” Despite my insides churning, I asked quietly. Consider it a gift from me to you.
Beth faked a smile for the camera even though her cheeks were flushed pink. Everyone quieted down when the photographer took the photo, and Beth hurried out to find a place among the onlookers with her fiancé, Adam.
I turned to watch the wedding videographer as he captured spontaneous moments. Could you record that over there? I questioned, pointing at Beth and Adam. “I want to preserve every memory I have of today, including the behind-the-scenes activities.”
The videographer nodded, moved over to them, and sneaked a peek at his camera. After a few minutes, he strolled over to talk to Jack and me informally. “I think you’ll want to see this,” he said after showcasing the movie to us on his camera.
On the video, Adam could be heard enquiring of Beth, “Why are you so upset? Receiving a complimentary $8,000 wedding gown is fantastic news!
In response, Beth gave a low, sharp hiss. “No, even though I tried my hardest to make it appear bad, it’s now mine because she gave it to me.” What should I do with a damaged wedding dress?
My heart raced while I processed the confession. I looked up at Jack, feeling both vindicated and devastated. He gave me a firm squeeze on the hand and had encouragement in his eyes.
“We have to show this to everyone,” Jack said.
We headed to the vestry to sign the marriage record, with the minister helping us with the paperwork. Crammed into the small, intimate room were family members and close friends. There seemed to be a lot of expectation and anxiety in the air.
The cameraman positioned himself carefully, ready to capture it all on film. The clergyman handed me the pen, and I took a big breath. With a firm tone and a gesture toward the videographer, I continued, “There’s something everyone needs to see before we continue.”
The cameraman played the recording. Adam’s voice filled the room as he asked Beth why she was upset over getting a fancy outfit for free. Saying, “What am I supposed to do with a ruined wedding dress?” she sounded clearly annoyed.
The vestry was filled with gasps. My family was stunned and turned to face Beth, their astonishment quickly turning to fury. Adam turned his back on Beth, a confused and ashamed expression on his face.
With trembling, my mother exclaimed, “Beth, how could you?”
Beth’s eyes darted about, but she saw nothing to give her hope. With her self-assurance wavering, she muttered, “I simply… My family could never buy a dress as good as that, even though I desired one for myself.
With a lot of remorse in his voice, my father mumbled, “I’m so sorry, Grace.” “We ought to have trusted you.”
I was relieved as I said, “It’s okay, Dad.”
The minister cleared his throat, bringing us back to the here and now. “Should we move forward?” he said quietly.
We felt united for the first time when we signed the register. The comforting presence of our loved ones and friends lifted the burden of Beth’s betrayal.
Beth was alone, her reputation in shambles. As we turned to leave the vestry to continue the celebration, I had a feeling that this was it.
Despite the stress, Jack and I had a beautiful wedding day, filled with love and support. The experience made us stronger and more resilient.
In that circumstance, how would you have handled things?
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