Exclusive
BUDGET BRIDE
I tried 5 wedding dresses from Shein including a £12 cheapo – one flattered my tum and bum & I loved the pretty lace
Shein have a range of wedding dresses and the price tags are so cheap you'll be amazed
SPRING is creeping closer and if you got engaged over the festive season and have already set a date for the wedding, you may now be looking for that perfect dress.
and for brides to be, what to wear is usually the biggest and most important decision of all.
12
But with the average cost of a wedding coming in at an eye-watering £19,184 in 2023, many couples have no choice but to cut corners, particularly if money is tight.
Wedding dresses especially can be very expensive and why shoppers are increasingly turning to fast-fashion brands like Shein who have a very affordable bridal range.
Here, Miranda Knox - who bought her own wedding dress for less than £100 from ASOS - tries on some of the cheapest dresses Shein has to offer, and delivers her verdict...
The one that gave me wings
12
Belle Contrast Lace Cloak Sleeve Mermaid Hem dress
Price: £34.79
The pics of the model wearing this gown on Shein's site looked stunning - and the shape looked very elegant and flattering, with a cinched-in waist.
When it arrived and I tried it on, it was too big so it felt quite baggy, but I think it would have potential if you were willing to pay to get it altered.
I could imagine having it properly fit would make the world of difference to any dress - although that might cost more than the dress itself in cases like this.
It was also a bit see through, so you could see the lining, which cheapened the look, but I did like the lace cape detail, and I don't think anyone would guess it's as cheap as it is with the right accessories.
12
12
So cheap - but it broke immediately
Belle Floral Embroidery Mesh Wedding Dress
Price: £12.77
Shein's wedding dress range actually starts at just £8.99, but the cheapest one I could get in my size when ordering was this one, costing £12.77.
Most read in Fabulous
The reviews online were positive, and I was stunned by how cheap you could get a dress for your big day.
Given the rock-bottom price the detailing on this dress was, in parts, quite reasonable.
The embroidered floral pattern was quite pretty, although some of some of the sewn-on 3D flowers I would cut off as they were so frayed and shoddy you could barely tell they were flowers.
12
If I kept this dress I would cut out the mesh panel in the front too, as it made it look cheap - which I suppose it is.
On the surface, it is impressive you can get a wedding dress for £12.77, but it was unsurprisingly cheap quality.
And, given the site has been dogged by claims it has exploited workers, allegations it has ripped-off ideas from other designers, negative reviews and poor customer service, it's hard to remain impressed.
I also couldn't get this dress off after I tried it on, because the zip completely broke after one wear.
12
Could be quite flattering
Off Shoulder Ruffle Trim Floor Length Wedding Dress
Price: £50.99
This dress was the most expensive I tried on, but still a tiny fraction of the cost of a normal wedding gown.
I bought this one as I liked how dramatic the sleeves were, while at the same time the dress itself was clean-cut and simple.
12
In the picture the model's train looked really glam too.
Again, when I tried it on, it didn't fit very well - which is probably going to be a problem with any wedding dress you buy like this online - but the potential was there.
The bottom half was flattering around the stomach, bum and thighs, but I'd need it altering around the chest, and the sleeves would have to be taken up too.
The big statement sleeves didn't sit well like they did in the picture, and neither did the train, which just bunched up.
I also couldn't walk in it without looking like a penguin.
12
Definitely not to my taste
Solid Mesh Tube Wedding Dress
Price: £35.99
It's not the cheapest, but surprisingly this was one of my least favourite, and definitely wasn't to my taste.
The corset-style top was made out of a material which felt cheap and shiny, and it made my torso look quite short I felt, which was quite unflattering.
I felt like the layers of mesh on the bottom half drowned my figure too, and I felt quite frumpy.
The dress on the website looked very much 'Cinderella going to the ball' but I felt like the tatty version that had been scrubbing the floors instead.
12
12
'Looked nothing like the picture'
Belle Mock Neck Lace Wedding Dress
Price: £20.99
This absolutely can not be classed as a wedding dress in my opinion, and more a bridesmaid dress.
It's hard to see in the photo but the colour of the dress itself is actually a pale green and pink - a fact that multiple buyers picked up on when reviewing it.
So while I liked the halter-neck and lace, but it didn't scream bride.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
I'm all for being thrifty when it comes to buying a wedding dress as you only ever wear it once, but I think you absolutely need it to fit you well - which was the main issue with most of these.
However, if you know someone who is a skilled at sewing and could carry out some cheap alterations there were some that definitely had potential to give some designer gowns a run for their money.
12
12
Topics