'I tried wedding guest dresses you can buy for under £50 from M&S, Next, Tesco and more'

Daily Record

23-04-2025

As we inch closer to the summer, that can mean one thing. Aside from anticipating some sunny weather, it marks the beginning of the busy wedding season.
If you have found your calendar is beginning to get booked up, then chances are you'll need a cute new frock. However, with costs remaining high for, well everything, it can be handy to stick to a budget.
Of course, you don't need to go for a designer or a major brand, as the high street is packed with stylish options. From plunging necklines to satin slips, there is something that will suit everyone's personal style.
To help showcase what you can get for under £50, Zoe Cripps, Head of Fashion at the Mirror recently completed a deep dive on 27 different summer wedding guest dresses you can get from the likes of M&S, F&F at Tesco, Next and much, much more.
Highlighting a snapshot of 10 of the dresses she picked, we have provided her full thoughts just below.
New Look Black Zebra Print Ruffle Trimmed Maxi Dress
Zoe says:"This dress is right up my street. It has a very Rat and Boa look to it, but at a fraction of the price. The fit of the gown is also excellent for a high-street dress, with a hidden zipper and a slim bodice. Extra points go to New Look for nailing this season's trending print: zebra."
Next Burgundy Red Satin Cowl Neck Strappy Tie Back Midi Slip Dress
Zoe says:"I chose the burgundy red shade for this slip dress, but you can also get it in a brown and cream cow print or a traditional black. I can't fault the fabric – the satin feels soft and luxuriously thick – and the adjustable straps mean the cowl neck didn't sit too low on my chest. The only reason I'm not giving it four stars is because I would have liked it to nip me in at the waist a little more, rather than fall so straight."
Marks & Spencer Mesh Jersey Column Midi Dress
Zoe says: "This dress really took me aback. I had low expectations because I wasn't sure of the colour, and I thought the fit might create a boxy shape, but I was very wrong. The fabric has some stretch to it, which helped define my waist. The slash neckline and the double-lined material also give it a much more expensive look and feel."
Boohoo Floral Ruffle One Shoulder Maxi Dress in Merlot
Zoe says:"For years now, Boohoo has been my secret destination for occasionwear dresses. Not only are the prices always low, but the quality of its dresses is usually much higher than you might imagine. This one-shoulder maxi with ruffle detailing fit me like a glove, and I felt great in it. I'll absolutely be wearing this to events over the summer."
Wallis Satin Puff Sleeve Button Midaxi Dress
Zoe says: "It wouldn't really occur to me to go to Wallis for occasionwear dresses, but I was pleasantly surprised by the high-quality, low-price dresses on offer if you shop the brand on Debenhams.com. This pretty butter yellow midi has so much detailing that makes it worth much more than £39, in my opinion. The little loop buttons down the top, the tulip-like neckline, the pretty puff sleeves and the satin fabric – it's a Disney dress without all the drama."
Quiz Lemon Bardot Bow Skater Dress
Price: £44.99 online and in store
Zoe says: "When I unpacked this from the bag, I was fully prepared to dismiss it. The fabric has a scuba feel that I don't really like, and it looked tiny. I'm happy I tried it on, though, because it made me feel very pretty. Though it's a mini, the length of the skirt is long enough to save my dignity, and the off-the-shoulder bow neckline is much more flattering than I first thought it would be. It's probably one I see fitting in better at the races, but still a nice option for someone looking for a shorter style of dress. "
F&F at Tesco Ruffle Ivory Spot Slip Dress
Price: £25 in store only
Zoe says: "Okay bear with me on the white. I wanted to include an option for someone who had been tasked with wearing monochrome to a wedding, because white and black guest dresses are a top trend for 2025 weddings. This, however, probably wouldn't be my top pick. The satin fabric, adjustable straps and midi cut are all very nice, but I felt a little drowned by this, and I didn't love the floppy ruffling around the chest. I think it lends itself to someone with a bigger chest than mine."
George at Asda Orange Tie Back Trapeze Midi Dress
Zoe says:"There's no denying that supermarkets have become the 'it' places to go to nab a trending item for less, but this isn't the one I'd reach for, personally. There's a pretty tie-back bow detail on the back of the neckline, which I did like, and the block orange shade is great for an outdoor summer event, but the fit was just too oversized, and the fabric was a bit thin (albeit very soft). I'd say this is better as a beach-to-bar holiday look."
River Island Blue Sleeveless Cut Out Poplin Midi Dress
Zoe says:"As someone who shies away from bold patterns, this dress was a bit of a wild card for me, but I ended up really liking it. The fact that it's crafted with a structured polyester fabric makes it feel more like an event dress than a daytime cotton one, and the cutout back detail adds a nice touch (low enough so you can still wear a bra)."
Pretty Little Thing Brown Floral Chiffon Frill Plunge Strappy Maxi Dress
Zoe says: "This was the only dress of the 27 that I thought I'd have to omit from the roundup. I love the chocolate brown colour with the pattern – it's a great shade pick that really taps into 2025 trends – but that's all the positives I have. The leg slit came up almost to my naval, so I would be flashing everyone at a wedding. The straps were adjustable, but even on the tightest they could go, the front of the dress still draped down, giving another flashing incident opportunity. I don't know who the fit model is at PLT, but unfortunately, it doesn't suit my shape or size at all."