Weddings are a ridiculously expensive affair, especially when you consider that you’re literally using the down payment on a house to fund a single day. And it’s not just the venue, food, and flowers that are expensive — wedding dresses alone cost between $1,800 and $2,500 on average. Who the hell has that kind of money laying around? Sometimes a bride has to get creative — and that’s exactly what Jillian Farhadi did when she found her dress for $3.75 at a local thrift store and turned it into her “dream gown.”
- Jillian and her partner had been together for 13 years. They always knew they’d spend the rest of their lives together, but they also didn’t feel any urgency to rush down the aisle. However, there did come a time when they thought, what the hell, why not get married? “I don’t know what changed, but about a year ago, we were like, ‘Let’s be husband and wife,’” she recalled in a TikTok video.
- She never even considered shopping for a traditional wedding gown. Jillian was a longtime lover of thrifting and got much of her wardrobe from secondhand shops. So, when the time came to find her dress, “it was just the option” to hit up her local thrift stores,” she told Insider.
- Jillian decided to keep it simple. When she hit the thrift stores, she was never expecting to find an elaborate gown that cost thousands, and that wasn’t what she wanted, anyway. “I just started looking for dresses, not wedding dresses, but simple white dresses. I didn’t want anything too formal,” she said.
- After only a few days of looking, she found a dress she thought would fit the bill perfectly. In one of the shops, Jillian found a Camilla Coelho dress with its tags still on. It was a white slip dress with a side slit and a flowy, silky fabric. Better yet, despite being sold on Revolve for $220, the second-hand shop was selling it for $3.75. Yes, three dollars and seventy-five cents.
- She even found thrifted shoes! The same shop had a pair of Visanze Collection wedding shoes in her size, and they only cost her $8. Talk about a bargain!
- Admittedly, Jillian wasn’t sure if her choices were the right ones. As she remarked on TikTok, “Brides tend to go wedding dress shopping with their mom, their bridal party, or a group of people to get feedback.” She didn’t have that, but commenters on TikTok left her comments in droves letting her know they supported her and that she looked amazing. That gave her the confidence she needed!
- Jillian did make some alterations to the dress. Wanting to dress it up slightly more for her big day, she put custom straps on the dress, cinched the waist, and even added a little patch of lace to the slit. In total, the alterations cost her $110 — still a far cry from the retail price of pretty much any and every wedding dress!
- She felt incredible on her wedding day. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt that great in something,” she said. “That’s what brides should feel on their wedding day, like they’re at their peak beautiful self. That’s exactly how I felt when I put it on.” They got married at the Social House in Tempe, Arizona in front of 30 of their closest friends and family members, and it was perfect. That’s what a wedding is all about!
@jillianfarhadi so happy with all these finds 🤍
@jillianfarhadi the wedding is a week from today and i’ve had too much luck! 😬
