Chloe Gregory, a thrifty bride, captured widespread attention by revealing she purchased her wedding dress from the popular online retailer SHEIN for just £80. Despite the modest price tag, Chloe asserted that she felt 'a million dollars' and that many onlookers believed her gown cost 'THOUSANDS'. Walking down the aisle on August 23rd, the 24-year-old beauty therapist felt like a 'princess' in her budget-friendly dress, proving that a dream wedding doesn't require an exorbitant spend.

Chloe made a conscious decision to bypass traditional bridal shops, explaining that she didn't want to fall in love with expensive dresses only to be disheartened by their price tags. Her approach to wedding planning was to keep costs down across the board. Alongside her husband, Ashley Hooper, she sourced numerous items from other bargain websites like Temu and AliExpress, including candlesticks, table coverings, and artificial flowers, which received compliments and were a fraction of the cost of real ones.

The quick engagement – Ashley proposed on Christmas Day – meant swift planning. Chloe found her dress on Shein by January 9th, having previously seen it on TikTok. She initially considered returning it if it wasn't suitable, but upon trying it on, she described the experience as akin to Cinderella's slipper. The dress fit perfectly, requiring only a minor hem alteration due to her height. She noted that her bridal seamstress was 'shocked' by the quality and intricate floral details of the £80 garment, particularly given its price point.

The couple's total wedding expenditure amounted to a savvy £7,000, with the largest portion allocated to a photographer and videographer, an expense they deemed crucial for capturing lasting memories. Chloe proudly shared that her makeup, at £85, actually cost more than her wedding dress. She aimed to inspire other brides, demonstrating that a wedding can indeed be executed beautifully on a strict budget, with family also contributing significantly to the food arrangements.

While the majority of reactions to Chloe's Shein dress were positive, with many people 'gobsmacked' by its actual cost and some comparing it to dresses they'd seen for £2,000, she did encounter a few negative comments online. Some critics claimed they 'could tell' it was cheap, but Chloe believes these comments were only made because she openly disclosed the dress's origin. She firmly stated that if she hadn't mentioned Shein, no one would have known. Online commenters on her viral post echoed a similar sentiment, with one bridal consultant admitting they 'couldn't tell it was a Shein dress'. For Chloe, the positive compliments and the joy of her wedding day are all that truly matter.