Planning for the big day is never the cheapest of ventures – with all kinds of expenses to account for.

One of the most significant of these is that special wedding dress.

However, an Earlham charity shop has started offering a way to pick a gown without breaking the bank.

The Break shop on Colman Road has set up its own wedding boutique, offering dresses, accessories and other apparel at affordable prices.

The boutique sells dresses for a range of prices, with even the most expensive gowns currently costing less than £150.

It was launched two months ago, after the store received donations of some wedding dresses, so decided to convert what was previously its seasonal room, into a full-time boutique.

Carol Lack, assistant manager of the store, said: 'Buying a secondhand dress can save thousands of pounds – just recently somebody came in and bought one for just £50. However, the most important thing would be that in saving money, you'd also be helping vulnerable children.'

The shop, one of more than 50 run by the Norwich-based charity, is now hoping newly-weds will consider donating their own dresses, as well as engaged couples making use of the service.

Miss Lack added: 'Most of the time, wedding dresses will be worn just once, then spend their lifetime away in the wardrobe.

'We are always looking for people to donate clothes, and this way that special dress can do something special for others too – helping children across the region.'

The store has a selection of dresses, along with an array of shoes, tiaras and accessories and the hope is that grooms can help out too.

'We're fairly short of men's clothes, as although women change their wardrobe regularly, men tend to hold on to their clothes longer,' Miss Lack said.

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