A recent wedding showcased how a bride achieved a stunning look for her big day without breaking the bank, opting for an £80 dress from the online retailer SHEIN. Chloe Gregory, 24, from Ammanford, Dyfed, Wales, walked down the aisle on August 23rd feeling like 'a princess' and 'a million dollars', with many guests and even photographers believing her gown cost thousands of pounds.

Chloe's decision to forgo traditional bridal shops stemmed from a desire to avoid falling in love with expensive dresses only to be disheartened by their price tags. Instead, she turned to SHEIN, having seen the dress on TikTok. She ordered it by January 9th, shortly after her Christmas Day engagement, and found it fit 'like Cinderella's slipper,' requiring only a hem alteration due to her height. She was particularly impressed by the dress's floral details and overall quality, noting that her makeup artist even complimented its intricate design.

The savvy bride and her husband, Ashley Hooper, extended their budget-friendly approach to other aspects of their wedding. They sourced decorations such as candlesticks, table cloths, and fake flowers from bargain websites like Temu and AliExpress, which guests also praised. The couple managed to keep their entire wedding cost to approximately £7,000, choosing to spend most of their budget on a photographer and videographer, which they deemed essential for capturing lasting memories.

The low cost of Chloe's dress 'gobsmacked' many, with some commenters online claiming their own dresses, which looked identical, cost £2,000. While Chloe received a few negative comments online suggesting the dress looked 'cheap,' she dismisses these, believing critics only made such remarks because she openly disclosed its SHEIN origin. She emphasized that no one would have known the dress was from SHEIN if she hadn't mentioned it. Her primary goal now is to inspire other brides to realize that a beautiful, memorable wedding can absolutely be achieved on a budget, challenging the notion that high cost equates to high quality.