I was told buying a Shein wedding dress was a big mistake but it cost £95 & looked stunning – I didn't need alterations

The Sun

10-07-2025

A SAVVY bride was warned against ordering a Shein dress for her big day but she stuck to her gut and was shocked at the result.
When bride-to-be Emma revealed she was buying her wedding dress from budget fashion site Shein, even her closest pals thought she'd lost the plot.
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But one look at her walking down the aisle had everyone eating their words, because the £95 gown looked "absolutely stunning".
TikToker Liv, who posts as @LifewithLiv, shared her friend Emma's wedding glow-up with her followers, and it's left viewers floored.
In the video, Liv admits she was sceptical when Emma said her dream dress would be arriving in a Shein delivery bag.
She confessed: 'I said, Emma, I think you're making a big mistake here, love."
But fast-forward to the big day and Liv couldn't believe her eyes.
The Tiktoker admitted: 'She looked absolutely stunning, you would never, ever have known it cost less than £100.'
And the most jaw-dropping part was that Emma didn't even need any alterations.
The elegant, lace-trimmed gown fit her like a glove, no pinning, no tailoring, no drama.
'It helps that she's gorgeous inside and out,' Liv added.
'But it just proves you don't need to spend thousands on a dress to look like a 10 out of 10.'
I wasn't going to spend thousands on a wedding dress so got an Oh Polly one for £75 - no one would know it wasn't pricey
To top it off, Emma even changed into a second frock for the evening into a short, flirty little number also from Shein.
Viewers couldn't get enough of the bride's savvy shopping.
One wrote: 'she's the most gorgeous bride ever.'
Another added: 'If you hadn't said it was Shein, I wouldn't have guessed!'
A third raved: 'You look a million dollars.'
Emma's dress cost just £95 at the time, though prices on Shein can change daily, so it's worth double-checking the site.
The fast-fashion retailer offers wedding gowns starting from as little as £20, with more embellished or luxe options going into the hundreds.
Founded in China, Shein has gained a cult following for its budget-friendly pieces, and now brides are catching on to the bridal bargains too.
How to save money on your wedding without cutting corners
And it's not just the dress that couples are saving on.
Planning a wedding can drain your bank account faster than you can say 'I do' but smart couples are proving you don't need to blow the budget to have a magical day.
Holly and Dan, both 29 and from Birmingham, managed to slash their wedding costs by over £10,000, spending just £8,000 on the entire event.
Speaking to wedding dress experts at Chesca, the bride said: 'We weren't aiming for luxury but even basic things were spiralling. It started feeling like we were paying for pressure instead of meaning.'
So the pair ditched tradition, skipped the fluff, and focused on what really mattered.
Instead of a Saturday ceremony, they tied the knot on a Thursday, instantly saving £2,300 on their venue.
They swapped pricey paper invites for a free wedding website and WhatsApp group, cutting £400.
A buffet with grazing boards replaced the formal three-course dinner, saving another £200 and guests loved the relaxed vibe.
Rather than shell out on pricey wedding favours, they made a donation to charity, knocking off another £200.
Even their photographer was a savvy find.
They hired a final-year student who charged a third of the usual price, saving them £1,500.
And instead of splurging on a wedding car, Holly's dad drove her to the ceremony in his Volvo.
She even managed to save herself money on her dress, snapping up a pre-loved designer gown.
Wedding experts at Chesca say more brides are now embracing pre-loved gowns.
They said: 'They're sustainable, affordable, and just as show-stopping.'
So if you're getting married, don't stress over the price tag because as these budget brides have proven, you absolutely can look a million dollars on a budget.
Fabulous' Fashion Editor, Clemmie Fieldsend reveals why you shouldn't be shopping at Shein for your wedding dress.
"When it comes to your big day, you want to feel your best and look your best.
You want to feel special and, more importantly, be comfortable in what you're wearing, are you going to get that from Shein? I doubt it.
Look, in an ideal world you're getting hitched to the person of your dreams and what you wear is irrelevant. But let's be honest, it's kind of a big deal.
If you're spending your hard earned cash on food, drinks, favours and everything else to celebrate you and your partner with your nearest and dearest, you deserve a dress that makes you feel like a million dollars.
But a £30 frock from Shein is a gamble.
It might be ill fitting, it might be badly made or just the complete opposite to what you expected.
High street bridal dresses are ten a penny these days with brands such as Asos, Karen Millen and even Primark selling bridal wear.
Make a day out of it and hit your local high street or shopping centre to try on as many as you can until you find 'the one', don't wait for the postman to deliver disappointment."
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