A WOMAN feared she would never find her dream wedding dress after spending hours in pricey stores trying on gowns.
Julia Webber, 26, went to countless boutique stores but could never find a wedding dress that ‘felt right.’
But she couldn’t believe it when she found the perfect dress in her favourite second-hand store.
Julia tried on the elegant gown and said it fit perfectly and she knew it was the one.
She tied the knot to school sweetheart Michael Webber, 26, a certified public accountant, in December 2024 and said he cried when he saw her down the aisle.
Julia, a speech language pathologist, from West Palm Beach, Florida, said: “I always wanted a thrifted wedding dress.
“I zipped it up and it fit like a glove.
“It was completely meant to be.
“Everyone had the same reaction – their jaws were on the floor.”
Julia has always been passionate about thrifting and grew up hunting through second-hand stores with her mum, Ellen Stern, 53, and sisters Samantha, 23, and Sophia, 21.
After getting engaged in May 2023, Julia tried on wedding dresses in a boutique store first.
She said: “Nothing really felt right.”
After heading to boutique stores, Julia, her sisters, her mum, and her mother-in-law, Julie, 52, decided to give thrifting a go.
She said: “My biggest regret was not thrifting my prom dress.”
They went to their favourite store – Hospice of Palm Beach County Foundation Resale Shop – in December 2023 and Julia immediately spotted the dress.
She said: “It was the first one we went to.
Which Oxfams have wedding dress stores?
Oxfam has four permanent shops with bridal departments stocked with good quality fashionable bridal wear and accessories, new and pre-loved.
Oxfam Shop Chippenham
5 The Bridge, Chippenham, SN15 1HA
Oxfam Shop Darlington
24 Skinnergate, Darlington, DL3 7NW
Oxfam Shop Shirley
76-78 High Street, Shirley, Southampton, SO15 3NE
Oxfam Shop York
7 Goodramgate, York, YO1 7LJ
“Life can be so serendipitous.
“It was exactly what I was looking for.
“I’d wanted something more form fitting at the top.
“I wanted something simple and elegant.
“I loved the beading.”
The stunning white dress featured a sweetheart neckline and drop waist which flowed into a full skirt.
The dress was priced up as $50 but was half off that day so Julia took it away for just £20 ($25.)
Julia said: “It had a brand new tag on it.”
She said she can’t find the Casablanca dress new online but estimates she would have saved $2,975 on the average $3,000 wedding dress.
Julia spent just $40 to have the straps on the dress shortened and $75 to have it professionally cleaned.
Julia said Michael and the guests loved the dress on the day.
She said: “I was so excited – I knew Michael was going to love it. We have very similar tastes and style.
“He cried.
“At the wedding I started telling people the cost and the live reaction of disbelief was amazing.”
Julia shared her thrifted wedding dress on her socials and hopes it has inspired others to go hunting for second-hand pieces.
She said: “People’s eyes opened to the world of thrifting.”
Julia is planning to keep her veil – which was made by her grandmother and out of the lace of her mum’s one – but is passing her dress on.
She plans to give it a bride who can’t afford a dress.
Julia said: “I love that I have this story about my wedding dress – it adds to the fairy tale.”
