ROWS of designer dresses,twinkling tiaras and sparkling shoes – this bridal shop has it all.

Draped over a comfy chair inside a palatial changing room is a vintage Grace Kelly-style wedding gown.

Beside the grand full-length mirror is a pair of crystal-encrusted peep-toe shoes.

And peeping out from the rail full of ivory dresses is a silk Pronovias dresses worth £2,000.

But this isn’t a top-of-the-range wedding boutique.

Welcome to Oxfam bridal room hidden above the charity shop in Shirley High Street, Southampton, which sells wedding dresses in all shapes, styles and sizes for bargain prices.

It is the largest bridal room in the country since its opening in May 2004 and it seems more and more brides are opting to tie the knot on a budget.

With most dresses coming straight from designer shows or donated shop samples still with their original labels intact, sharp-eyed buyers can uncover some gems.

Many kind-hearted past brides have donated their dresses for other women to enjoy on their big day.

Remarkably, brides can get an outfit for their big day from as little as £60 with one dress costing just £40, shoes £10 and a veil £10.

Most dresses cost around £300 – less than half you would expect to pay in many bridal boutiques.

Among the bargains on offer at the moment is the beautiful size 14 ivory silk Pronovias dress complete with train priced at £450 – a massive £1,450 off the £1,900 price tag.

The elegant Chinese two-piece design has an original price tag of £1,200. In Oxfam Bridal, it costs just £40.

Among the 300 wedding gowns they stock are sought-after labels from Jenny Packham to Ronald Joyce, Alfred Angelo and Mia Sposa.

Once there was a £3,500 Italian silk design hailing from Harrods which was sold to a happy bride-to-be for £650.

Volunteer shop assistant, Holly Wilson, said they have seen it all – from the bride all the way from Brazil buying a £90 dress for her wedding in just a few weeks to women asking for “My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding” style frocks.

She said: “We get brides from all walks of life and of all shapes and sizes.

“People don’tthink they can afford a designer frock, but walking down the aisle in style doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

“Most people think it’s going to be all mouldy dresses, but everyone is taken aback when they walk in.They all say the same: “oooh, you wouldn’t even realise this was here.”

In fact,the dresses are so stylish Hollyoaks star, Gemma Bissix, who plays Claire Devine in the soap, had one when she married on screen.

Holly said while many brides buy their special dress from Oxfam because they are on a budget,there are also brides who are trying to be as ethical as possible.

She explained: “Five years ago there was a trend for big expensive Wag-style weddings, but now people want a budget wedding.

“If they spend less on the dress they can spend more on something else – like a nice honeymoon.

“Many people want to give money to charity and save money atthe same time.”

It’s no wonder.

The average wedding now costs £21,939 according to a survey carried out by You and Your Wedding magazine survey, with £1,119 alone spent on the dress.

However, a £100 dress from Oxfam would buy essential medicines for a whole village, a £200 dress would supply clean drinking water for 100 people and buy two emergency shelters and £300 would buy land for a family to farm.

In fact last year,the Shirley shop took around £30,000 in revenue and is getting busier.

As well as wedding dresses it also stocks the accessories including shoes,tiaras, veils, corsets and bags.

There are also mother-of-the-bride outfits, bridesmaids dresses, grooms suits for as little as £30 and even prom dresses for youngsters.

Walking through a ‘private’ door at the back of the shop,through the shop’s stock rooms and up the stairs many shoppers would not know the bridal room existed.

But upstairs it is clear that in fact hundreds of brides have – and until now it is Southampton’s biggest secret.

There are now dozens of photos on display complete with testimonials from brides.

They might differ in having grand weddings in Romsey Abbey or intimate celebrations with just a couple of witnesses.

But one thing is the same.

They all praise Oxfam’s cheap and ethical way to becoming the blushing bride.

And such a successful shop would not be possible without the generosity of women who donate their dresses.

Holly, said: “I keep a little box of tissues here and itis very emotional when you see brides find the perfect dress,there have been many tears of joy! It’s an unpaid job, but I love it.”

WITH THANKS TO: Make-up specialist and hair extensions specialist: Mariea Cawthorne, of Designer-Styles, hair specialist Isla Jarvis, of Superior Salon, make-up artist Kat Jones, Solent University make up students Hannah De Mowbray and Emily May, tiara specialist Eve Thornton, models including Sophie-Fern Jarvis and Kate Vincent, and photographer Jacek R Podlas assisted by Piotr Borzykowski dedicated their time for a photo shoot at their studio JRP Creative Studio at Shamrock Quay to help promote the city’s “hidden gem.”

OXFAM BRIDAL SHOP 76-79 High Street, Shirley, Southampton, SO15 3NE.

Viewing is by appointment only.

Call 023 8077 3192