SA Bride Stuns in R270 Shein Wedding Dress, Proves You Don’t Need To Spend Thousands
- A South African bride revealed she bought her civil wedding dress from Shein for just R270
- She also purchased her veil, bouquet and vow booklets online while preparing for her honeymoon
- Social media users praised her affordable approach, saying beautiful weddings don't have to cost a fortune
- Briefly News spoke to bride and content creator Lithalande Plaatjies-Vena, popularly known as Soft Makoti, about why more brides are choosing affordable wedding dresses without compromising on style
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TikTok creator @ditshegoriri shared a video of her special day on 26 May 2026, explaining how she planned her low-budget civil wedding without the stress often associated with expensive ceremonies. The bride inspired thousands of people online after revealing that she spent just R270 on her civil wedding dress from Shein, proving that a dream bridal look doesn't have to come with a hefty price tag.
Source: TikTok
She explained that instead of worrying about costly wedding preparations, she turned to the Shein app to find everything she needed for her big day.
"In preparation of my civil wedding day I didn't have all the pressure in the world, instead I logged onto my Shein app and ordered all that I'd need there. I turned out to be the cutest bride ever on a low budget."
She also revealed that practicality played a big role in her decisions, as she and her husband were flying out for their honeymoon the following day. To make travelling easier, she opted for French tribal curls, saying the hairstyle would be vacation-friendly and easy to maintain while away.
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Source: TikTok
Every bridal essential on a budget
The bride shared a breakdown of what she purchased for her civil ceremony, showing that every detail came at an affordable price. Her wedding dress cost just R270, while she completed her bridal look with a R47 veil and a R60 bouquet. She also bought vow booklets for R23, allowing the couple to exchange their promises during the ceremony without overspending.
By choosing lightweight, affordable items, she was able to transition straight from her wedding to her honeymoon without needing extra luggage or complicated preparations.
Soft Makoti told Briefly News that many brides are becoming more intentional about their wedding spending.
“I think many brides today are becoming more intentional with how they spend their money. Weddings are a significant financial commitment, and couples are realizing that it's possible to have a beautiful wedding without overspending on every detail. I don't believe this means tradition is disappearing rather, brides are finding ways to honour tradition while making practical financial decisions that suit their circumstances.”
Speaking about her own wedding dress, Soft Makoti told Briefly News that confidence and styling made a bigger difference than the price tag.
“I bought my wedding dress for just R279, and it made me feel absolutely beautiful on one of the most important days of my life. Most people who saw the photos had no idea how much the dress cost. I believe confidence, proper styling, the right fit, and how you carry yourself make a much bigger impact than the price tag.”
Soft Makoti further told Briefly News that brides should focus on celebrating their love rather than trying to impress people with their budget.
“My biggest piece of advice is to remember that your wedding is about celebrating your love, not proving your budget. Set a realistic budget and prioritize what matters most to you as a couple. For me, choosing an affordable dress wasn't about settling for less, it was about making a smart financial decision while still feeling like the bride I had always dreamed of being. My wedding proved to me that elegance doesn't have to come with an expensive price tag.”
Watch the TikTok video below:
Social media loves her budget-friendly approach
The video by user @ditshegoriri quickly attracted attention from social media users, many of whom praised the bride for proving that weddings don't have to be extravagant to be meaningful. Others applauded her for prioritising her marriage and honeymoon experience over expensive wedding expenses, saying more couples should focus on what truly matters rather than trying to impress others.
Zee-Gama commented:
“I would definitely do this. I’m not a fan of extravagant weddings. You looked priceless.”
Precioustlou1 asked:
“How did you decide to stay on budget and not spend thousands on dresses and other things?”
My Du shared:
“I’m inspired for our 20th anniversary. My theme is Glam-Vintage and I’m wondering if I’ll find a dress with those details.”
Kgopotso2013 commented:
“I vote for you as the bride’s president. You are financially wise.”
Samantha P shared:
“If I saw this post a few years ago, I would have saved over R100k.”
Nessa commented:
“If I ever get married, this is my dream wedding.”
M.n.masuku commented:
“I love this.”
Sunrise_d28 commented:
“Low budget and a beautiful bride.”
Nanki commented:
“You look beautiful and expensive. Best wishes.”
Sinhle_20 commented:
“Debt-free bride.”
3 Other Briefly News stories about weddings
- A South African man and Nigerian woman have officially married after documenting their relationship journey and cultural differences on social media.
- A Zulu groom became an online sensation after showing off energetic dance moves during his wedding celebration.
- Vibey hotel guests appeared to gatecrash a wedding ceremony with traditional Mzansi wedding songs.
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Source: Briefly News
