Bride Recreates Dress of Her Dreams for Under $700—Stuns Viewers: 'Amazing'
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A bride has revealed how she recreated her dream Monique Lhuillier-inspired wedding gown—originally worth thousands—for a fraction of the price.
Grace Hoffman (@hellokittyceo), 27, from Pennsylvania, began searching for her perfect dress after getting engaged in 2022. Like many brides-to-be, she turned to Pinterest for inspiration. That's where she discovered the image that would shape her entire bridal vision.
"I found this image I immediately fell in love! I researched it further and found that it was a Monique Lhuillier dress from the '90s," she told Newsweek.
Although she never located the original dress in-store or tried it on, Hoffman explained that her budget of $1,000 to $2,000 meant that the designer vintage piece—often priced above $3,000—was likely out of reach. She noted: "I actually never found the dress in store, and never tried it on!... I already knew that the dress would be way out of my budget, and likely not in my size."
A split image showing the Monique Lhuillier wedding dress inspiration and Grace Hoffman in her bridal gown.
A split image showing the Monique Lhuillier wedding dress inspiration and Grace Hoffman in her bridal gown.
@hellokittyceo/@hellokittyceo
The gown she had fallen for was a quintessential '90s wedding dress with a full tulle skirt, a fitted bodice, and a drop waist silhouette.
Hoffman shared that she had been saving wedding inspiration since her engagement and found herself repeatedly drawn to the timeless elegance of '80s and '90s bridal fashion. The Monique Lhuillier design embodied all those elements.
Hoffman's quest included a visit to Happy Isles in New York City, where she hoped to have a "Say Yes to the Dress" moment with her bridesmaids and mom.
Though she didn't find the one, the appointment proved helpful. "From that experience I confirmed that I did want a dress with a full, ball gown skirt," she said, adding that she also realized how extensive dress alterations could be, especially if the gown wasn't her size.
She continued her search online, exploring platforms like Stillwhite, Nearly Newlywed, Etsy, eBay, Poshmark, and Depop.
"I actually favorited the dress on Etsy a while before I eventually came back around to it," she explained. Initially, Hoffman passed on the dress because it was made of synthetic materials rather than the silk and tulle she'd hoped for. But on second glance, she saw its potential.
The silhouette closely resembled the Monique Lhuillier gown, and at just $204.27 including shipping and taxes, it felt like a risk worth taking.
"I was definitely super nervous awaiting the dress in the mail," Hoffman said. But her worries quickly faded. "Once I did [try it on] I knew I had made the right decision—it fit me perfectly and I felt like it really channeled everything I loved about the ML dress, but with even more unique touches like the little ceramic rosettes on the bows."
To complete her vision, she brought the dress to a tailor, spending $500 to adjust the neckline from straight-across to a scoop shape and adding delicate straps. She opted to keep the original organza skirt and made minor repairs herself, even sourcing matching rosettes from Etsy.
Hoffman tied the knot on May 24, 2025, at Pocahontas State Park outside Richmond, Virginia. "I felt amazing in the gown," she said. "I really pulled off my dream of having a very princess-y, classic, flattering dress just like I'd imagined!"
The look was topped off with a pair of Sandy Liang heels, which she splurged on to complete her bridal ensemble.
TikTok users were quick to shower her with praise after she posted about her DIY gown journey.
"I LOVE it, even more than the original pic!!" said one user.
"It's one of the most beautiful dresses I've ever seen," added another.
"Girl it looks incredible!! Dare I say even better than the original," wrote Elsie Marina.
For brides on a budget, Hoffman's top tip is to go second-hand—not just for the dress, but for accessories and décor too. "The biggest thing to keep in mind, though, when shopping for a second-hand dress is the cost of alterations," she advised.
Though the couple went over budget in some areas, Hoffman said planning the wedding themselves helped them save in others. "Overall we had such a perfect day, and I wouldn't have changed a thing!"
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