Gina Dodds wore a £2 wedding dress from a charity shop when she married Jacob Dodds in Chester, with guests asked to buy their outfits second-hand. The couple, from Hoole, said the decision saved more than £1,000, which went to good causes instead of wedding costs.
Thrifty theme for the big day
Gina and Jacob, who have been together for 11 years, hosted a thrifty-themed wedding at Chester's Storyhouse venue. Gina's dress and engagement ring were both bought from the Hope House Children's Hospice outlet. The couple said family and friends embraced the idea and helped put money towards where it is needed more.
With the average cost of a wedding in the UK now ranging from £20,604 to £21,990, the pair preferred to use their money differently.
Bride's bargain find
Gina told ITV she spotted the dress in the charity shop but could not try it on. "I got it home and it fitted me perfectly," she said. She also bought more wedding dresses from the back of the store for a wedding-themed hen do.
Gina asked all guests to buy outfits from charity shops and keep receipts so the couple could see how much was donated collectively. "The response was so positive and people who don't normally shop thrifty said they were inspired," she said.
Charity shop support
Hope House Chester store manager Nia Davies said: "This is such a beautiful story and one we are very proud to be part of. Gina is one of our lovely regular customers who has been shopping with us for a while."
Money raised from sales at Hope House goes directly to hospice care for hundreds of children and their families across Cheshire, Shropshire and North Wales. Jacob is urging everyone to check out charity shops, saying: "It's always worth checking out a charity shop."
