Ashleigh, a bride who believed she had chosen a truly unique and eye-catching black wedding dress for her February nuptials, experienced a wave of surprise and initial dismay when friends bombarded her with messages. The cause of their excitement? They had spotted the exact same distinctive gown being worn by another bride, Maeve, on the popular reality show, Married at First Sight UK. Maeve, a 29-year-old single mother, made a memorable entrance to her TV wedding, arriving on horseback in the striking black attire.

Maeve clarified her unconventional color choice on the episode, explaining that black symbolized the "death" of her single life. However, her 31-year-old groom, Joe, expressed reservations about the billowing black gown, remarking, "I thought you wear black for a funeral, not a wedding." Meanwhile, Ashleigh, upon discovering the televised appearance of her unique dress, admitted to feeling "gutted" at first, having only married a few months prior. She initially didn't believe it when a colleague mentioned seeing Maeve in the dress, but pictures from her dad's wife confirmed the surprising coincidence, leaving her "shocked" and "annoyed at first."

Ashleigh subsequently shared her experience on TikTok, overlaying her video with the caption "When #mafsuk steals your wedding dress!" The post quickly gained traction, and to Ashleigh's delight, Maeve herself commented on the video. "Great minds thinks alike - you look absolutely incredible!" Maeve wrote, to which Ashleigh replied, "Thank you so do you! Unsure how you wore it riding a horse lol!" Maeve humorously confessed the difficulty, revealing, "Sweetheart with a great difficulty. The amount of time I almost fell off cause the weight of the dress would go to one side … then so would I!" Ashleigh responded, "Didn't look like it to me! I still can't believe it - it's such an unusual dress!" In a further compliment, Maeve, the outspoken Newcastle bride, told Ashleigh that the dress "looked better" on her.

Ashleigh had always been firm in her decision not to wear white for her wedding, initially considering a pink dress. However, the black gown, only the second she tried on, instantly felt like the perfect choice. The dress, featuring a plunging back, was met with universal approval, even bringing her nan to tears during a fitting. Ashleigh noted, "I think it helped that everyone knew I wasn't going to be in white, so they expected a little different but every one loved it. Even the groom!" This unexpected sartorial overlap brought two brides together in a uniquely modern fashion, showcasing the increasing appeal of non-traditional bridal wear.