\u201cGrace, how\u2019s your dress looking?\u201d From downstairs, Jack called<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
\u201cAlmost dressed!\u201d Shouting back, I stroked the cloth with shaky hands.<\/p>\n
My soon-to-be sister-in-law Beth had weeks earlier offered to change my outfit at no charge. Although she had a prior reputation as a talented seamstress, something seemed unnatural about her offer. But because our wedding fund was completely spent, I said yes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI still find it hard to believe Beth is helping you,\u201d Mom had sarcastically said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh my God,\u201d I said to myself as tears started to form.<\/p>\n
Grace, what\u2019s wrong?\u201d Jack inquired from the lower level, sounding worried.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe dress is ruined,\u201d I blurted out while attempting to contain my crying.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you trying to say? I\u2019ll see. He started to climb the stairs, saying, \u201cI want to check it myself.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t, Jack. Seeing the dress before the wedding is unlucky.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you certain? Pausing at the entrance, he urged, \u201cMaybe it\u2019s not as bad as it looks.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, it is. It\u2019s ruined. How did she allow this to occur?\u201d With a broken voice, I spoke.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you sure it wasn\u2019t a mistake?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d I said in a barely audible whisper, both to Jack and to myself. This is not a coincidence. She slaughtered it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jack\u2019s tone became softer. \u201cAlright, let\u2019s sort it out. We must.<\/p>\n
With shaky palms, I dialed Beth. \u201cBeth, what happened to my dress?\u201d<\/p>\n
She seemed to be innocent as she said, \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s ruined. How did you allow this to occur?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease, just relax. It\u2019s probably not that horrible. Perhaps you\u2019re exaggerating.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u2019m not exaggerating. It is not suitable for wearing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLook, I\u2019ll come over and fix it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot at all, Beth. You\u2019ve accomplished enough.<\/p>\n
I hung up, feeling torn between desperation and rage. How was she able to accomplish this? I recalled our tense exchanges and her crude comments. Now everything made clear.<\/p>\n
With trembling in my voice, I added, \u201cI need to call my mom.\u201d<\/p>\n
Through the door came a forceful voice from Jack. Grace, we\u2019ll get through this. She can\u2019t spoil our day, we promise.\u201d<\/p>\n
Not long after, my parents came over, horrified at the condition of the clothing.<\/p>\n
My mother assured me, \u201cWe\u2019ll find a way,\u201d even if her worries were mirrored in mine.<\/p>\n
The following several hours seemed never-ending, a swirl of emotions and frantic attempts to figure out what to do. It was planned that the day after would be the happiest of my life. Rather, it was like a bad dream from which I was unable to awaken.<\/p>\n
The next morning, when dawn rose, I made up my mind to reveal Beth\u2019s deception. This could not get away from her. Not on the day of my nuptials.<\/p>\n
I made the decision to act on my own behalf. This could not spoil my wedding day. I had no alternative but to run to the closest bridal store and get a new outfit. Although it wasn\u2019t my ideal outfit, it would do.<\/p>\n
The planning for the wedding accelerated. Excitement and the aroma of new blossoms filled the air. I felt nervous and determined as I put on my new outfit. It still hurt to think about the damaged outfit, but this was my day.<\/p>\n
When the guests came, they kept glancing at my outfit with curiosity. Among them, I noticed Beth, whose shocked eyes widened. I noticed the flare of fury in her, but she immediately covered it up.<\/p>\n
We gathered for the official pictures while the ceremony went on. My entire family stood in line to take the \u201call-family photograph,\u201d grinning at the camera. With a stiff smile, Beth stood next to me. The photographer set us up and told us not to grin.<\/p>\n
\u201cGrace, why didn\u2019t you wear the dress I altered for you?\u201d Beth never faltered in her smile as she mumbled between gritted teeth. \u201cDo you not appreciate all the hard work I put into it?\u201d<\/p>\n
I maintained a steady grin and a hushed voice. \u201cBeth, you couldn\u2019t wear that dress. It was utterly destroyed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRuined?\u201d With malicious glints in her eyes, Beth muttered. \u201cI worked on the outfit for hours! Clearly, you don\u2019t think my work is worth it.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeth, since you thought the altered dress was so well done, why don\u2019t you wear it to your own wedding?\u201d I asked calmly, despite my insides churning. Think of it as my present to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beth\u2019s cheeks flushed scarlet, but she forced a grin for the camera. After the photographer took the picture, everyone calmed down, and Beth hurried out with her fianc\u00e9, Adam, to find a spot among the spectators.<\/p>\n
I looked over at the wedding videographer who was taking unscripted shots. \u201cCould you film over there?\u201d I asked, gesturing to Adam and Beth. \u201cI want to remember everything about today, even the behind-the-scenes moments.\u201d<\/p>\n
With a nod, the cameraman approached them and took a covert look at his camera. A few minutes later, he casually walked over to Jack and me. He showed us the film on his camera and added, \u201cI think you\u2019ll want to see this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adam could be heard on the video asking Beth, \u201cWhy are you so upset? It\u2019s wonderful news to receive a complimentary $8,000 wedding gown!\u201d<\/p>\n
Beth hissed something low and harsh in return. \u201cNo, I did my best to make it look bad, but she handed it to me, so it\u2019s mine now. With a wedding dress that is destroyed, what should I do?\u201d<\/p>\n
As I absorbed the confession, my pulse raced. Feeling both vindicated and devastated, I turned to face Jack. With support in his eyes, he gave me a squeeze on the hand.<\/p>\n
Jack stated, \u201cWe have to show this to everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the pastor assisting us with the legalities, we made our way to the vestry to sign the marriage record. There were close friends and family members crammed into the cozy, compact space. The tension and expectation in the air seemed heavy.<\/p>\n
Carefully placing himself, the cameraman was prepared to record everything. I inhaled deeply as the clergyman gave me the pen. \u201cThere\u2019s something everyone needs to see before we continue,\u201d I said, maintaining a steady tone and giving the videographer a nod.<\/p>\n
The recording was played by the cameraman. Asking Beth why she was unhappy over receiving a costly outfit for free, Adam\u2019s voice filled the room. With evident displeasure in her voice, she said, \u201cWhat am I supposed to do with a ruined wedding dress?\u201d<\/p>\n
Voices in the vestry gasped. My family was shocked and looked at Beth, their amazement turning to rage. Adam turned away from Beth, a look of bewilderment and shame across his face.<\/p>\n
My mother trembled and cried, \u201cBeth, how could you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Beth\u2019s gaze flew about, but she saw nothing to comfort her. Her confidence slipping, she whispered, \u201cI just\u2026 I wanted a dress as nice as that for myself, but there\u2019s no way in hell my family could afford it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m so sorry, Grace,\u201d my father murmured, guilt weighing heavily in his voice. \u201cWe should have believed you.\u201d<\/p>\n
I said, \u201cIt\u2019s okay, Dad,\u201d with a sense of relief.<\/p>\n
The clergyman cleared his throat, returning us to the present. \u201cShould we go ahead?\u201d he inquired softly.<\/p>\n
We signed the register with a fresh sense of unity. The warmth of our family and friends supporting us removed the weight of Beth\u2019s treachery.<\/p>\n
With her reputation in ruins, Beth stood by herself. I felt a sense of finality when we looked back at her as we headed out of the vestry to carry on the celebration.<\/p>\n
Jack and I had a wonderful wedding day, full of love and support, despite the stress. We were stronger, more resilient because of the experience.<\/p>\n
How would you have responded in the situation?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
My sister-in-law, Beth, had ruined my $8,700 dress, I found out the day before my wedding. My wedding day\u2019s fate hung in the balance when the truth… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":262,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-261","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n