- Women on
TikTok often go viral for filming themselves in theirwedding dresses . - Insider spoke to brides who received millions of views sharing the stories behind their outfits.
When 34-year-old Jennifer McCann got married in September 2021, she decided to make her own
McCann struggled to find a dress that she really loved in stores, so she bought a white corset, dyed it brown to match her skin tone, and added appliques, lace, and other materials to make it her own.
When she posted a TikTok showing clips of the process, it received over 6 million views.
On TikTok, videos about weddings often go viral and get positive responses. Videos that use the hashtag "Wedding dress" have received a total of 5.1 billion views, and videos using the hashtag "wedding" have amassed more than 49 billion views on the app.
One of the most popular wedding video formats on the platform involves brides sharing a wedding dress that is "unique" and that people haven't seen before, especially as so many people share footage of their weddings on the platform.
Insider spoke to three brides who went viral on TikTok because their wedding dresses were praised for being different and special. They explained that going viral for your wedding dress can add even more positivity to the day, allowing their self-expression and creativity to be appreciated by people all over the world.
In one case, it even salvaged the memory of the wedding for a bride going through a hard time.
The three women think their dresses went viral for having a story viewers found to be unusual
McCann uploaded her TikTok about making her own dress on September 9, 2021, telling Insider she wanted to encourage anyone looking for dress inspiration on TikTok, giving them a "boost of confidence to make theirs" as well.
She said she thinks it got so many views because, "It's so rare to see someone who takes on such a massive task such as making their own wedding dress."
The video also showed the "whole process and the missteps," such as the moment McCann accidentally turned her corset green instead of brown, which she said she thought made people more interested in watching the TikTok. "Everyone loves a 'trust the process' moment."
@jenntonic_ Making my wedding dress #weddit #weddingday #wedding #weddingdress #weddingtiktok #diy #diydress ♬ Luxury fashion (no vocals) - TimTaj
Mayura Kulkarni Tripathi, who is based in Detroit, also posted a wedding outfit video that went viral. Hers showcased the six different outfits she wore to her Hindu-Indian wedding.
Each of the first five dresses was for a different Hindu ceremony that made up the week-long wedding, and the sixth dress was a more modern style lehenga, which is a skirt outfit worn at South Asian celebrations, for the reception.
Tripathi, 26, told Insider she thinks her TikTok, which has 1.3 million views, received a lot of attention from American viewers who "have not been to a Hindu-Indian wedding."
She said that "seeing the various outfits and ceremonies was definitely something different," for these viewers. Many commenters on the video said they were impressed by how beautiful her Indian wedding looked.
@pnpmayura I loved every outfit I wore ❤️ #bridal #indianwedding #sabyasachi #weddingtiktok #outfits #TeamofTomorrow ♬ original sound - Sumona Chowdhury
Isabella Rapp from Palm Beach, Florida received 2.1 million views on a TikTok where she showed herself wearing the same wedding dress that her mother got married in 31 years ago.
"My mom preserved it hoping one day her daughter might wear it," she told Insider, adding, "When I got engaged we opened the box to have a fun try-on session and I immediately knew it was the one."
Rapp kept all the original details on the dress, including pearls and lace that were imported from France, but also added a sleeker neckline and lining to give it a modern touch.
Commenters on the video were stunned by the "timeless" dress and the fact it was also worn by Rapp's mother. Rapp told Insider that while today's wedding dress market is all about "labels and designers," it is so "rare it was to see a bride wearing their mom's dress," so she decided to showcase the outfit to her 14,000 TikTok followers.
The positive feedback helped make their weddings feel even more special
Rapp, who typically posts lifestyle and beauty tips on TikTok, said, "as a creator, it's always a dream for your content to go viral, but especially so when it's something so special to you, like your wedding day!"
She added, "Social media can be filled with so many opinions and I think I was just so happy to see so much positivity and love for the dress."
@bellatropeano My mom’s wedding dress, 31 years later #weddingdress #vintagegown #weddingtiktok #weddingday #justmarried #weddingvibes #weddingdresses ♬ isnt it lovely - favsoundds
Tripathi also told Insider it felt nice to receive so much appreciation for her dress and also her
For one bride, going viral on TikTok helped her overcome a difficult time
After McCann's wedding day, the bride said she "sunk into a depression" after having an argument with her maid of honor.
"I couldn't even look at wedding footage without feeling really down and sad about the whole event. I was also very critical of my dress. I could just see all the mistakes and things that I could have tweaked," she said.
However, when her video went viral and she received so much positive feedback, she told Insider she was "able to reclaim the narrative and see the wedding in a more positive light."
"It helped bring me out of a dark place and I'm extremely grateful for that," she said.
For more stories like this, check out coverage from Insider's Digital Culture team here.