When my daughter Jane walked down the aisle, she wasn’t in the ivory gown we had spent months on. Instead, she wore a black dress—and the real shock was the reason behind it.
I remember when Jane called to tell me Jack proposed. I knew it was coming; they’d been together for five years. The wedding planning consumed us, and the dress was the first priority. Jane always dreamed of something unique, so we enlisted my best friend, Helen, to design a custom gown. Months of work resulted in the perfect ivory satin dress, and everything seemed set.
But the night before the wedding, Jack seemed off—distant and nervous. The next morning, Helen arrived with the dress, and my heart sank when I saw it was black. I couldn’t understand why. Jane’s calm response was, “I need to do this, Mom.”
As Jane walked down the aisle in the black dress, whispers filled the air. I saw Jack’s panic as he realized what was happening. This wasn’t a joke—it was revenge. Jane wasn’t walking toward a marriage; she was mourning the love she thought she had.
During the vows, Jane said, “With this dress, I bury all my hopes and expectations for this wedding and for us—because real love doesn’t betray you.” Gasps filled the room as she revealed Jack’s infidelity.
Jack dropped to his knees, pleading, but Jane walked away, leaving him behind. Outside, she told me she had discovered the truth just days before. She didn’t want to tell me because she knew people would dismiss it as cold feet. But she knew love shouldn’t betray you.
I held her close, proud of her strength. “One day, I’ll wear white,” she said softly. “For the right man.” And I knew she would.