Huge queues snaking around Vinnies Wedding Expo a sign of the times for Aussies on a budget

By CAITLIN POWELL - NEWS REPORTER and CINDY TRAN, ASSOCIATE EDITOR- LIFESTYLE & SHOPPING, AUSTRALIA Published: 06:45, 18 April 2026 | Updated: 06:45, 18 April 2026 Dozens of brides-to-be have lined up in massive queues outside an op shop in Sydney in the hope of snagging their dream wedding dress for just $50.  The Vinnies Wedding Expo has returned to Sydney, offering a curated collection of new and pre-loved dresses for a fraction of the price. The expo, held at Waverley Vinnies until April 24, attracted huge queues last year, with bride Rachel finding a $10,000 Vera Wang dress on the rack for just $70. Bright and early on Saturday, men and women could be seen forming a lengthy queue outside the shop, ready to find their dream dress or suit. Some even brought camping chairs to stay comfortable during the wait.  But some Aussies took issue with the prices.  '$300?! ARE YOU SERIOUS. These were donated for free!' one person wrote.  'I am so sick of going into op shops and paying retail prices! You got it for FREEEEE!!' People could be seen forming a lengthy queue outside Waverley Vinnies on Saturday The Sydneysiders were attending the first day of the op shop's wedding expo 'None were over $200 in previous years and yet this year some are advertised at $650+' another claimed.  Vinnies NSW said they were 'keeping things just as affordable again this time' in response to the comment.  'Prices may vary depending on whether the item is preloved, new, or designer,' they added. The vast majority applauded the expo, describing it as 'such a great idea'.  A St Vincent de Paul Society NSW spokesperson confirmed to the Daily Mail that dresses at the expo started from $50.  'There were a handful of dresses up to $650 based on them being extra special and/or brand new with tags, but the average price of the 800 dresses was $150,' they said. 'There was nothing but love in the air and people clapping every time someone purchased a dress.  'With the average price of a wedding dress in Australia being $2,500, our customers were extremely grateful for the opportunity to purchase a more affordable dress.' The shop has a starting price of $50 for dresses Accessories are also on offer for members of the bridal party The 2025 Australian Weddings Industry Report, carried out by Easy Weddings, revealed couples spend an average of $35,315 on their wedding day.  After surveying over 4,000 couples, it found they spend about 29 per cent more than their original wedding budget on average. Most wedding outfits are worn once and then stored away for years.  The Vinnies Wedding Expo gives former brides and retailers the chance to donate their much-loved pieces, helping the next woman feel special on her big day. The range offers everything for a bridal party, from men's suits and bridesmaid dresses to accessories and shoes.  At last year's expo, hundreds of brides-to-be queued for hours in the rain in hopes of finding their dream dress, with the line stretching down the road. Rachel and her then-fiancée Courtney were standing at the back of the queue, unaware of what they were about to find inside the Vinnies Wedding Expo. The couple had tried a traditional bridal boutique - but realised it wasn't for them so they decided to join the long line outside the op shop on a rainy Saturday morning. The pair had heard about the chaos of brides fighting over dresses at these kinds of bridal expos - but their experience at Vinnies was the complete opposite. They are also offering suit options for grooms 'Bridezillas aren't at Vinnies. These were nice people who were really excited about getting married and really into ethical fashion. It was a really diverse group, and everyone was excited for everyone else,' Rachel said. As she scoured the racks, a fellow shopper offered a stunning gown that didn't fit her. 'I put it on and it just fit perfectly. And I was like, well, I can't not...' Rachel said. What she didn't know yet was that she had just picked up a Vera Wang wedding gown, a fact she later discovered at the tailor. 'As I tried it on, the tailor said, "Hang on, this is a Vera Wang wedding dress. How much did you buy it for?" And she said, "You know it's worth $10,000." And I was like, wow. Well, I was never going to spend that,' the bride said. The dress needed a little love, but Rachel was happy to give it. A tear repaired, lace repurposed, and layers of tulle cut away. Each tweak made it less someone else's dress and more unmistakably hers. Rachel and Courtney married in January this year at Athol Hall, Sydney. Now that their wedding is over, Rachel said she plans to donate her dress back to Vinnies so the next bride can enjoy it as much as she did. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.