A wedding built around second-hand finds

A Chester couple have celebrated their wedding with a £2 charity-shop dress, second-hand outfits and fundraising for good causes.

Gina and Jacob Dodds, from Hoole, married at Storyhouse arts and cultural centre in Chester on Wednesday. Guests were invited to join the theme by finding their own outfits in charity shops.

Dress and ring supported a hospice charity

Gina found both her wedding dress and engagement ring at an outlet operated by Hope House Children's Hospice. A friend, seamstress Grace Patton, altered the dress for the ceremony.

The couple also repurposed family rings as their wedding rings. Gina said she wanted the occasion to help other people as well as celebrate the couple's marriage.

More than £1,000 donated

Gina said the couple and their guests had collectively donated more than £1,000 to charities through their choices for the day.

Hope House store manager Nia Davies said the wedding demonstrated how second-hand shopping could uncover valued items while supporting a cause. The couple, both 32, have been together for 11 years and regularly shop in charity stores.

A community-focused celebration

Rather than treating lower-cost choices as a compromise, the wedding made reuse and charitable giving part of its identity. The result linked the couple's celebration with donations to several organisations and encouraged guests to take part directly.