WEDDINGS can be expensive, and buying a bridal gown can be one of the priciest purchases of the day.
One savvy woman revealed how she found her “dream dress” for just £7.85 at a church charity sale and snapped it up in a heartbeat.
Taking to Reddit, the woman showed herself wearing the fairytale-like wedding dress.
The beautiful gown had long lace sleeves, a scoop neck and lacy bodice, and looked perfect for a classy wedding.
The savvy shopper wrote: “Just went to a random church thrift and found my dream wedding dress for $10 (£7.85).”
She explained how she doesn’t even have a wedding on the horizon, but that didn’t stop her from buying it.
The future bride wrote: “I don’t even have plans to get married yet, but i couldn’t pass up the deal because when the time comes i know i’d be thinking about this dress!”
And it seems many people agreed with her decision to buy it immediately.
One person commented: “I’ve read that the success of a marriage is inversely proportional to how much is spent on it.
“You are on track for a long and happy marriage! Now just go out and find the lucky partner.”
A second added: “I did this. Bought a dress at a thrift store because I knew it was the one. Didn’t even have a boyfriend. Wore it 8 years later when I got married. It was perfect. Best wishes to you.”
Meanwhile one wrote: “This looks so beautiful on you… literally like it was custom made for your body!! Stunning.”
A fourth gushed: “This is genuinely one of the most beautiful wedding dresses I’ve ever seen. I love everything about it! It’s very feminine and elegant which I feel is enhanced by its vintage look.”
Considering the average cost of a wedding dress in 2024 is £1,300, according to figures from Bridebook, she certainly got a steal.
Josie Griffiths, Deputy Digital Fabulous editor and bride-to-be shares her tips to cut the cost on your big day.
“There’s no getting around it, weddings are expensive, but there’s some easy ways to strip back the cost without your guests noticing.”
Ditch pricey invites
We made our designs for free on Canva, and then sent them out on email or WhatsApp. If you want to post invites to important people, VistaPrint is brilliant and cost us less than 30p per guest to sort. SAVING: £600
Cut back on flowers
I was pretty stunned that lots of wedding florists quote £3k-£5k as a MINIMUM spend. Your wedding flowers will be dead within days, save your cash and invest it in pics and video instead, as these actually last. Keep shopping round until you find someone reasonably priced, or speak to your local florist two months out to arrange bouquets. SAVING: £4.5k
Ditch wedding favours
They don’t fit in people’s handbags and were cleared away by catering staff at half the weddings I’ve been to as a guest. The best way to save cash here is just not to bother. SAVING: £300-£700
Be ruthless with your guest list
No one’s ‘entitled’ to a plus one and the groom’s second cousin doesn’t need to come. Your true friends won’t kick off and if anyone chooses not to come over guest list dramas, that just means you’ve saved twice. SAVING: £150 PER HEAD
Do your own booze
Make finding a venue where you can do your own bar a priority, ideally with no corkage or a £500 max cost. Aldi’s £22 Champagne beat Veuve Clicquot in a Which? blind taste test and they have tasty wines for less than a fiver, you won’t do better on a paid bar. SAVING: £2k
According to a recent survey by Hitched.co.uk, the average cost of a wedding in the UK in 2023 was a whopping £20,000.
We previously shared how another woman found her ideal gown in a charity shop for £23.
And this bride found hers from Shein for £18.
