WE all know that getting married comes with an eye-watering cost.
From finding a venue to feeding guests and making sure you look perfect on your big day, it all adds up.
Emi hit the jackpot when it came to find bargain wedding dresses[/caption]
She found two dream dresses and took them home for just £169[/caption]
But one bride-to-be has revealed how she managed to save thousands by getting a second-hand wedding dress.
Emi, who is from the UK but currently lives in Australia working as a make-up artist, went hunting for her dream dress in the charity shops.
And it seemed it was her lucky day as she didn’t just find one dress that fit like a glove, she found two.
Emi walked into the shop and found a stunning fitted sparkly number with a mermaid tail.
She decided to try it on and was stunned to see it was the perfect size.
“WTF, fit me like a glove,” she said.
Emi took the dress to the cash register immediately, where she paid just £109 for it.
But Emi’s good luck wasn’t running out; she then headed to another store where she spotted another bridal gown on sale.
The gorgeous gown featured a square neckline and an A-line full skirt in a satin material.
The best part? It was being sold for £60.
People couldn’t believe her luck[/caption]
Emi tried the second dress on and yet again, it was the perfect fit
It might have had a couple of stains on the back but Emi was eager to bring it home.
She added: “I looked him up when I got home that day. So gutted to see he passed on. But beyond stoked, it belongs to me now.
“The style is also in line with what I envisioned would be my dream gown. How it ended up in Australia – I’d love to know!”
The clip quickly went viral on her TikTok account @byemmeline with over 1 million views and 100k likes.
People were quick to take to the comments in awe of her budget-friendly dresses.
Average cost of a wedding in 2025
Recent research by Hodge reveals the dream of getting married can come with a hefty price tag, reaching more than £20,000.
- Food – £6,000
- Honeymoon – £4,329
- Wedding outfits – £3,500
- Entertainment – £2,000
- Engagement ring – £1,948
- Flowers – £1,110
- Wedding ring – £1,000
- Wedding transport – £700
Total = £20,587
One person wrote: “Ian Stuart was a big name in bridalwear for more than 20 years. Some of his gowns were £4k +. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago, so the label no longer exists. You’ve found a real treasure!”
Another commented: “Got both of my wedding dresses from charity shops and recommend it to anyone!”
“Now you have a day dress and an evening one,” penned a third.
Meanwhile a fourth said: “Omg you scored, and these will be stunning on you!!”
“The way I GASPED at both,” claimed a fifth
Someone else added: “When the Universe wants you to get married no matter what! Both of them are just wow!”
