Most new brides would rather draw a veil over the exorbitant cost of their wedding dress. But thrifty Suzanne Daniel doesn't mind who knows how much she paid for her dream outfit. She secured her gown on eBay with a bid of just 99p.

The 24-year-old PE teacher was using the auction website for the first time when she spotted the made-to-measure bargain from China. Granted, there was postage to pay, but even after splashing out on insurance for the delivery, the total she paid was just £86.

Not that the crowds of well-wishers who lined the streets to cheer on the bride could guess. Suzanne, who married Stuart Walker, 32, at St Andrew's Church just a quarter of a mile from their home in the village of Coniston in the Lake District, said: 'Lots of people commented on the dress, thinking it cost thousands of pounds.'

The wedding had a distinctly old-fashioned feel - including the presence of a chimney sweep, carrying on the Victorian tradition for good luck - and their three-tier gingerbread wedding cake was made by their own family, further cutting down costs of the big day.

Suzanne added: 'It was just I didn't want to spend a fortune on the wedding because it's more about the marriage. 'We just wanted the basic things that meant something to us.' Recalling her lucky find, she added: 'It was the first time I'd ever used eBay and I just happened to find my dream dress. I just put in a bid for 99p.'