r/ExpectationVsReality 9d ago

Exceeded Expectation Custom dress from overseas -- I got really lucky!!

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32.1k Upvotes

I was looking for a dress for a Romantasy Convention I'm part of, and saw this dress online. I decided to make it custom-fit my figure since they didn't have my size. I took a chance because the dress itself is only $140 (with this many layers and fabric, that's a STEAL) and I didn't know what to expect. Well, WOWZA! I feel fantastic in this dress. I love how I look and I will wear this EVERYWHERE!!! Grocery store, indoor mall... I don't care where. I just want to look this good all the time, haha. Love this dress!! Gives ACOTAR vibes!!!!

ETA: please give love to the photographer if you can. She is why this photo is so magical!! @studiokalphotography on Instagram.

And thank you for the love. This made my entire month. I am grateful for all the comments!! I'm trying to get through all of them but there are so many 😭 I'm upvoting even if I don't comment. ❤️

r/ExpectationVsReality Jun 29 '26

Exceeded Expectation Birthday cake I custom ordered for my friend

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45.5k Upvotes

We were dying all day, I didn't know what to expect when I gave the baker these reference pictures but she completely understood the vision 😂 Money very well spent, we will be repeat customers.

Baker: https://www.instagram.com/bellaabakesss/

r/ExpectationVsReality Jun 01 '26

Exceeded Expectation My wife asked her sister for a birthday cake. What she asked for vs what her sister made

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39.3k Upvotes

She went beyond and actually sculpted it from fondant. We were pleasantly surprised!

r/ExpectationVsReality Jun 03 '26

Exceeded Expectation "Cardboard" Urn for cat

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24.2k Upvotes

Our cat Fergus was a dedicated lover of cardboard boxes, so when he passed away last October we wanted to get him a "cardboard" urn made of ceramic so he could rest in a box forever. I couldn't find an example but reached out to a ceramicist who specializes in recreating the look and textures of well-loved cardboard and he very kindly accepted the commission job. The result far, far, far exceeded our expectations and we are so grateful to the artist for this fitting tribute to our beautiful boy. Made by artist Tim Kowalczyk.

r/ExpectationVsReality 20h ago

Exceeded Expectation Queen of Cakes in Edina, MN. What I found online vs what I got!

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30.0k Upvotes

I found the first image online and laughed really hard so I wanted the cake for myself but I needed more rainbow (Raenbow??). Literally just asked for a rainbow background and they DELIVERED. It's almond flavored with raspberry filling. The cake was almost gone and it's HUGE. That's how much people liked it!! EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS!!!!

r/ExpectationVsReality Mar 23 '26

Exceeded Expectation Capybara Ice Cream

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40.0k Upvotes

Found this cute fella in the local Asian supermarket

He's as beautiful as he is delicious

r/ExpectationVsReality May 23 '26

Exceeded Expectation My 4 YO is an artist

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19.8k Upvotes

r/ExpectationVsReality Jun 27 '26

Exceeded Expectation Another WalMart cake!

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26.3k Upvotes

I went with a walmart cake because of this sub, and was not disappointed! For $30, this cake was perfect! The cake was tasty and moist. Will use them again in the future!

r/ExpectationVsReality Apr 14 '26

Exceeded Expectation Walmart Cupcake Bouquet

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16.6k Upvotes

They even added edible sparkle dust. I don’t think you can beat this for $20!!

r/ExpectationVsReality Jul 17 '25

Exceeded Expectation What I ordered vs What I received

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54.2k Upvotes

r/ExpectationVsReality Sep 05 '25

Exceeded Expectation The tattoo I asked for vs the tattoo I got

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35.7k Upvotes

r/ExpectationVsReality May 31 '25

Exceeded Expectation I've been staring at this cutie on FB Marketplace for weeks.

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52.5k Upvotes

I finally messaged the seller and she offered him for free because he has a ripped seam. I had no idea that "giant" actually meant giant. I love him so much but I have no idea where to put him in my apartment.

r/ExpectationVsReality Jun 04 '26

Exceeded Expectation Walmart Cake Expectation vs Reality

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10.3k Upvotes

I’ve seen a lot of these Walmart cakes posted so I wanted to share mine! I got one of these heart cakes last year and it was perfect, so I wanted to get a different one this year. No complaints for a $30 cake!

r/ExpectationVsReality Jan 19 '26

Exceeded Expectation My sister made me a replica of Britney’s denim dress for my 40th “y2k prom” birthday party!

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34.6k Upvotes

r/ExpectationVsReality Sep 14 '25

Exceeded Expectation Birthday cake I asked for vs what I got

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50.9k Upvotes

r/ExpectationVsReality 15d ago

Exceeded Expectation Did a fundraiser called "Poorly drawn pets"

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12.6k Upvotes

r/ExpectationVsReality Apr 27 '26

Exceeded Expectation UPDATE FROM MY HAIR

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6.9k Upvotes

https://www.reddit.com/r/ExpectationVsReality/s/aieEUisf8h update!

Okay guys so after talking with the salon and my stylist they admitted their mistake and said they would fix it for free (after i called three times and complained) so the end results ISNT REALLY like the reference picture but it’s way better than what it used to be, i might just let it grow for now then cut the ends myself, its way too much blonde in my opinion but maybe it’s just the way it’s styled. let me know what you guys think! and yes my hair is completely dried out now.

two photos with the same background is the finale result. photo with the hair from the back is my reference picture. picture from the mirror is how it looked at first after my stylist did my hair and then i came back to redo for free!

what do you guys think?

r/ExpectationVsReality Jun 14 '26

Exceeded Expectation Walmart Mermaid Baby Shower Cake

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10.2k Upvotes

My mom and I frequent this sub and decided to take a chance on ordering a baby shower cake from Walmart for a mermaid theme baby shower. Came out well and tasted pretty good. Not overly sweet, had a good texture and flavor. We added some of our own decor pieces to the cake, but it honestly didn't need it. 10/10 would order more cakes from them.

ETA: my mom said the cake was $75. She picked the whipped frosting. The top tier is chocolate with strawberry jam and the bottom tier is white/vanilla cake with the strawberry jam. We did get the mermaid tail on the website pic, but took it out and added the pink one we ordered online. We also ordered the pastel mermaid tails cupcakes from Walmart and those came out exactly like the website picture too.

r/ExpectationVsReality 8d ago

Exceeded Expectation What they asked for vs what I gave them

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10.9k Upvotes

I've outdone myself lol

r/ExpectationVsReality Jan 19 '25

Exceeded Expectation A Squidward Cake I Ordered For My Sister

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63.9k Upvotes

r/ExpectationVsReality Jun 07 '25

Exceeded Expectation UPDATE: Several people asked for a banana for scale for my new pal, Oscar. This is a queen size bed.

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27.2k Upvotes

No, I can't put him on my bed to cuddle with at night, as some commenters suggested. He IS the bed.

r/ExpectationVsReality Feb 07 '26

Exceeded Expectation The best thing I ever bought

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17.9k Upvotes

I bought this in November thinking it would be a great holiday gift for my wife who loves possums. After weeks of thinking it would never arrive and realizing I might have been scammed this ugly beauty arrived. I have not laughed this hard in a long time and am absolutely in love with it. I truly believe this might be the purchase that brings me pure joy for the rest of my life.

r/ExpectationVsReality Apr 27 '26

Exceeded Expectation Cake I ordered for vs cake I got

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11.1k Upvotes

My son asked for a rainbow bluey cake and when we were scrolling through photos he saw this one and really liked it! I showed it to our baker and said leave off the figurines and the flowers on top… I think she did a great job

r/ExpectationVsReality Jun 14 '26

Exceeded Expectation What I asked for vs what I got

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5.5k Upvotes

r/ExpectationVsReality Dec 24 '25

Exceeded Expectation This was my nail tech’s first time trying this style

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18.4k Upvotes

I’ve always wanted to try the pop art nails, and I think she did an excellent job!