A TikTok bride divided opinion after suggesting she cut her grandmother's wedding dress into a two-piece outfit for her rehearsal

• A video of a bride's wedding rehearsal outfit went viral on TikTok.
• The creator implied she'd created it by cutting up her grandmother's wedding dress.

A bride has sparked a mixed reaction on TikTok after a video that suggested she turned her grandmother's wedding dress into a two-piece went mega-viral.

In the clip, which was posted on April 25, a TikToker who goes by Brittany Dalena could be seen walking up to an older woman in what appeared to be a church, wearing a white top and matching skirt. "Oh my God," the older woman said, appearing to get emotional as she embraced Dalena.

"3rd generation wedding dress turned into a rehearsal dress," a caption underneath the clip read, leading many commenters to suggest that the older woman in the video was the TikToker's grandmother.

The video went on to showcase a slideshow of images that appeared to show Delana's relatives wearing the original dress, followed by images of Delana's altered version, which transformed the long dress into a mini-skirt and short-sleeved top.

Dalena's clip blew up, receiving 10.3 million views. Many commenters said they were touched by the idea that the TikToker wore a family heirloom to her wedding rehearsal.

Several users also began to speculate how they would feel if they were in the grandmother's position, saying that they would be really happy to see their granddaughter upcycling the dress into something more suitable for her and for the modern day.

"I'd be so thrilled that my granddaughter was so thoughtful to take something that meant a lot to me and her mom and made it her own style," one user wrote.

However, some users said they thought the TikToker's decision to alter the dress so drastically was controversial, saying that it would have been more meaningful if she had preserved it and worn it in its original form. Others shared personal stories of family members who made significant changes to an heirloom wedding dress, which meant that it no longer fit other relatives who wanted to wear it at a later date.

"My sister cut my nanas wedding dress without talking to me first and I will never forgive her for it," one user wrote.

"I wouldn't have cut it into 2 pieces. You can alter it to be the more current style but now the next generation doesn't have a dress," another user wrote.

Some users defended Dalena against the criticism, saying that they thought it was her choice what to do with her own family heirloom, and that other people should not be judgmental about her decision.

Dalena did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider.

Wedding dresses are a common subject of controversy on TikTok

On TikTok, brides who share videos revealing their choice of wedding dress often go viral — and creators who choose to wear or repurpose a dress belonging to their mother or grandmother are particular favorites within this genre. When significant changes have been made to the original dress, however, these videos quickly become controversial, as viewers weigh in with their thoughts on whether they prefer the new dress or the original one.

TikTok brides who wear unconventional wedding outfits have been prone to backlash on the platform. In November, Camille Lescai, a 31-year-old bride, got married in a pink wedding dress and received a wave of online hate when she shared videos of her wedding day on TikTok.

At the time, Lescai told Insider she was concerned that the online criticism would discourage other women from feeling that they can speak openly about their own fashion choices or celebrate their weddings on the internet, due to fear of backlash.

"What bothered me the most is the potential unintended consequences that the hate might create. It's not just attacking me, but all the people who are watching from the sidelines. A lot of young women who commented on my video told me that when they get married they want a dress like mine, and I couldn't help but think of what reading the comments would make them feel," she said.

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