When Jess and Michael got engaged, her cousin Sarah offered to sew her wedding dress as a gift. But at the final fitting, Jess discovered a shocking problem: the dress was two sizes too small. Would Sarah fix her mistake, or would Jess have to take matters into her own hands?
My cousin Sarah and I always had a bit of a complicated relationship. Sarah, with her outgoing personality and love for attention, often enjoyed the spotlight our family seemed to naturally give her. Over the years, it just felt easier for the rest of us to let her have that attention.
But when Michael and I got engaged after four wonderful years together, it finally felt like it was my time to shine. Surprisingly, Sarah rallied the family, organizing a girls’ night out in my honor. She brought together all our cousins and my close friends for a special celebration.
During the party, Sarah approached me, a champagne glass in her hand, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
“Jess! I have the best idea!” she exclaimed, swaying slightly to the music.
I smiled, feeling a bit intrigued. “What is it?” I asked.
“I want to make your wedding dress!” she announced with a grin.
I was a little surprised and hesitated for a moment. Sarah was indeed a talented seamstress and had created beautiful outfits before, but with our complicated history, I wasn’t sure about accepting her offer. Yet, her excitement seemed so genuine, and the thought of wearing a dress made by family felt touching.
“Really? You’d do that for me?” I asked, feeling a bit moved by her offer.
“Of course! It’ll be perfect!” she replied, beaming. For the rest of the night, we celebrated with laughter, dancing, and the shared excitement about my upcoming wedding.
The following weeks were filled with planning. Sarah and I spent time together choosing the perfect design and fabrics. I trusted her with my vision, and everything seemed to be on track as the big day approached.
Finally, the day for my final fitting arrived. I was so excited to see the dress in all its glory. But when I tried it on, something was terribly wrong. It didn’t fit at all—not even close. The dress was at least two sizes too small; I couldn’t even zip it up.
“Jess, did you gain weight before the wedding?” Sarah asked, her voice filled with fake concern.
I stood there, stunned. I hadn’t gained any weight. If anything, I’d been so stressed that I had lost some.
“No, Sarah,” I said, my heart sinking. “I’ve been under so much pressure that if anything, I’ve lost weight.”
She shrugged casually. “Well, I’ll try to fix it, but I’m swamped with other clients. I can’t promise anything,” she said, sounding like she couldn’t care less.
As I drove home, her dismissive attitude kept replaying in my mind. This wasn’t just an innocent mistake. The way she had spoken, the little smirk on her face—it all clicked. Sarah had done this on purpose.
That night, I confided in Michael, feeling heartbroken.
“I don’t know what to do,” I admitted, my voice filled with worry.
“Let’s take it to Mrs. Lawson,” Michael suggested gently. “She’s a friend of my mom’s, and she’s amazing with alterations.”
The next day, I took the ill-fitting dress to Mrs. Lawson, a retired seamstress known for her ability to fix even the worst fashion disasters.
“Oh, honey,” she said, looking over the dress with a kind smile. “We’ll make this work.”
And work, she did. Together, we transformed the dress into a short, stylish cocktail number—bold, fun, and totally me. It wasn’t anything like the dress Sarah had made, but it was perfect.
On the day of the wedding, as I stood in front of the mirror in my new gown, I felt incredible. When my father saw me, his reaction was priceless.
“You look beautiful,” he said, his eyes shining with pride.
As I walked down the aisle, soft music filled the air, and all eyes turned toward me. I could feel the admiration from everyone, but it was Michael’s face that held my attention. His eyes widened, and his smile grew, showing me he was falling in love with me all over again.
But before I reached him, I glanced at Sarah. Her face had gone pale, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief. She had expected me to be humiliated, stuck in the ill-fitting dress she had sabotaged. Instead, I was glowing with confidence.
The ceremony was perfect, and Michael’s vows brought tears to my eyes. But it was at the reception when Sarah finally approached me.
“Jess, what happened to the dress? Why didn’t you wear my design?” she asked, clearly irritated.
I smiled sweetly, enjoying the moment. “Well, it didn’t fit, remember? So, I took your advice and made it better. Turns out, someone who actually cared about how I looked on my wedding day helped me create something perfect.”
She opened her mouth, ready to argue, but before she could say anything, Michael called me over for our first dance. I turned away from Sarah, feeling lighter than ever, and joined him on the dance floor.
As we twirled under the soft lights, I knew one thing for sure: I had won in the most important way. Surrounded by love and happiness, Sarah’s pettiness couldn’t touch me.
