Shelby Swink was left 5 days before her wedding by the man she loved for three years. Gladly, she found a great way to cope. “A pity party was the farthest thing from what I wanted or needed,” she said. However, the wedding photographer thought of a great idea to have a “trash the dress” photoshoot on the wedding day.
Not only Shelby completely ruined her wedding dress, but her friends and family did the same thing for their formal outfits too. The day when the bride was supposed to cry over her unfullfilled dreams turned into an awesome play-date with her family and friends, filled with laughter and excitement.
“I can’t even describe how liberating and cathartic the experience was for me,” she said on Offbeatbride. “The moment the first bit of paint hit my dress I was free.”
Way to go, girl! We wish Shelby all the best and sincerely believe she will never have to deal with such heartbreak again.
More info: offbeatbride.com | elizabethhoardphotography.com (h/t: buzzfeed)
Shelby Swink met her ex-fiancé in college back in 2011. They were engaged to be happily married on November 1st, 2014.
Just one week before the big event Shelby’s fiancé told her he doesn’t love her anymore, and called off the wedding.
“Bam. My dreams of marrying and having kids with what I thought was the man I would spend the rest of my life with vanished,” she said on Offbeatbride.
“Nov. 1 was supposed to be a fun and happy day surrounded by friends and family who loved me. I decided that I would not let my ex-fiancé’s mistake of letting me go take that away from me.”
The wedding photographer suggested to have a “trash the dress” photoshoot on the day of the wedding, instead of crying over lost dreams.
“The moment the paint hit my dress… I was free. All the disappointment, all the hurt… I just felt it leave me”, said Shelby.
“My bridesmaids supported the idea 100% and even joined me in their own dresses”
Even her parents joined the photoshoot
Shelby’s mom was the one who paid for the dress, so she was nervous as to how her parents would react. “But both of them were 100% supportive and wanted to be there for me.”
Afterwards, Shelby’s dress was proudly displayed at The Barefoot Bride in Memphis. Each time someone buys a dress while it’s on display, part of the money will go to a local nonprofit Be Free Revolution.
“Always remember to remain true to yourself and believe in your own strength and you can overcome anything life throws at you”, Shelby advices.
If she had to say one thing to her ex-fiancé it would be “Thank you for sparing me greater pain and loss down the road. Thank you for pushing me to realize my own strength…”
“…Thank you for teaching me that no one can take away my happiness. Thank you for letting me go so I can one day experience true reciprocated love. THANK YOU!”
Way to go lady! And keep your friends close, they are really awesome supportive people (same for your parents). Wish you great happiness!
Good for both of them. A marriage without love is much worse than being rejected a week before wedding day.
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Good on her! I wish I had done something similar, but the only thing I got was shaming and blaming. I envy her and wish her good luck!
Oh, and that dress is even better now. Love the colors and the spirit in them.
Awesome! Glad she can see it for what it is- freedom from an unhappy marriage.
She is an incredible woman who had to learn a terribly tough life lesson. Thank goodness it was sooner than later. Good Luck, beautiful!
Don't judge the fiancé...We don't know the situation. Open your mind. He made the right choice for both of them,she will find her TRUE love.
Well done! This had to have been very therapeutic and much better to do versus going into a funk. The dress is visually artistic. His loss.
Wow. You are so beautiful. Wish you a better start with your new and renewed life dear. :)
Absolutely spot on !! Good luck to you - you're beautiful - F*ck him !!!
She's awesome, and I love what she did with the dress! Good for her :)
Almost cried yes, but the tears are for happiness for her. One day I know a man will love you more than you love him.Thanks for being strong
The a*****e will regret it down the road when he meets someone that will cheat on him.
I think the dress now is fabulous. I would wear it. It's a piece of art. So is she ( ;
Since he called it off, he should have to pay for everything. He could have been honest sooner and saved everyone alot of time and money.
Really cool. I think she enjoyed her wedding even without the groom. Good for you!!
I'm happy for her. She did what she wanted and it helped her to overcome the situation. her friends and family are awesome for helping.
That's very cool, good for her. She found a way to still enjoy her day, along with her friends and family, and let go of the pain!
Very cool of her family and bridesmaids to join her!
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Gorgeous idea! Strong woman! I would have killed my ex if he had done that to me.. Literally
this girl did a superb job:)yes no one can snatch our happiness with their actions
Way to go and rise above the situation. I think you and your true loved ones are Awesome!
Love this, keep going toward your dreams. I did and it's beautiful. Your decision was a true testament to never give up and never settle.
I could not have done that as I am too frugal and would have tried to sell the dress. If it made her day then more power to her.
Well shes f*****g awesome. Hope a great guy swoops her up that has an equally awesome spirit.
Happy she could overcome a possibly unhappy day & learn from it. I'm sure she's much stronger for it! Someday her "prince" will come along!
Life is long, and full of opportunities, and well done for her, to celebrate this way not getting married with a unconsiderous person.
Good idea. And the finished product (the ruined dress) looks good too
The one thing I got in mind right now is that Katy Perry Hot And Cold music video
I am impressed with the way Shelby didn't trash or judge her ex. She learned from the experience with a thankful heart and artful mind!
Is it weird that there is no cake, no table and no more than 7 people on those wedding pics? I mean, it could be b******t.. or art whatever
why are we always supposing that the guy is a douche? Maybe she has her HUGE defects that he tried to overcome but just couldn't in the end.
Because he should have known that before agreeing to marry her and then leave her a week before the wedding. That's a douche move...
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Way to go lady! And keep your friends close, they are really awesome supportive people (same for your parents). Wish you great happiness!
Good for both of them. A marriage without love is much worse than being rejected a week before wedding day.
Load More Replies... Good on her! I wish I had done something similar, but the only thing I got was shaming and blaming. I envy her and wish her good luck!
Oh, and that dress is even better now. Love the colors and the spirit in them.
Awesome! Glad she can see it for what it is- freedom from an unhappy marriage.
She is an incredible woman who had to learn a terribly tough life lesson. Thank goodness it was sooner than later. Good Luck, beautiful!
Don't judge the fiancé...We don't know the situation. Open your mind. He made the right choice for both of them,she will find her TRUE love.
Well done! This had to have been very therapeutic and much better to do versus going into a funk. The dress is visually artistic. His loss.
Wow. You are so beautiful. Wish you a better start with your new and renewed life dear. :)
Absolutely spot on !! Good luck to you - you're beautiful - F*ck him !!!
She's awesome, and I love what she did with the dress! Good for her :)
Almost cried yes, but the tears are for happiness for her. One day I know a man will love you more than you love him.Thanks for being strong
The a*****e will regret it down the road when he meets someone that will cheat on him.
I think the dress now is fabulous. I would wear it. It's a piece of art. So is she ( ;
Since he called it off, he should have to pay for everything. He could have been honest sooner and saved everyone alot of time and money.
Really cool. I think she enjoyed her wedding even without the groom. Good for you!!
I'm happy for her. She did what she wanted and it helped her to overcome the situation. her friends and family are awesome for helping.
That's very cool, good for her. She found a way to still enjoy her day, along with her friends and family, and let go of the pain!
Very cool of her family and bridesmaids to join her!
Load More Replies... Gorgeous idea! Strong woman! I would have killed my ex if he had done that to me.. Literally
this girl did a superb job:)yes no one can snatch our happiness with their actions
Way to go and rise above the situation. I think you and your true loved ones are Awesome!
Love this, keep going toward your dreams. I did and it's beautiful. Your decision was a true testament to never give up and never settle.
I could not have done that as I am too frugal and would have tried to sell the dress. If it made her day then more power to her.
Well shes f*****g awesome. Hope a great guy swoops her up that has an equally awesome spirit.
Happy she could overcome a possibly unhappy day & learn from it. I'm sure she's much stronger for it! Someday her "prince" will come along!
Life is long, and full of opportunities, and well done for her, to celebrate this way not getting married with a unconsiderous person.
Good idea. And the finished product (the ruined dress) looks good too
The one thing I got in mind right now is that Katy Perry Hot And Cold music video
I am impressed with the way Shelby didn't trash or judge her ex. She learned from the experience with a thankful heart and artful mind!
Is it weird that there is no cake, no table and no more than 7 people on those wedding pics? I mean, it could be b******t.. or art whatever
why are we always supposing that the guy is a douche? Maybe she has her HUGE defects that he tried to overcome but just couldn't in the end.
Because he should have known that before agreeing to marry her and then leave her a week before the wedding. That's a douche move...
Load More Replies... 
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