For those that have seen the rom-com “The Other Woman”, if you’re not planning to pull a Leslie Mann and wear your dress around the house post-wedding while shooting Redi-Whip straight from the can, this post is for you!
The price tag on dresses you will wear once can elicit a heart palpitation or two. It can be a huge investment. While there are budget friendly options (I’ll touch on those frequently in future posts), renting dresses for bridal showers, rehearsal dinners, engagement photos and yes, even your wedding day, is a GREAT route to take! Check out the pros and cons below, to help figure out if this might be an option for you:
PROS:
- Designer labels at an affordable cost (I currently have my eye on a GORGEOUS $495 Monique Lhuillier cocktail dress that is renting for $34.99 via Rent the Runway!)
- No need to dry clean- just send it back
- Won’t take up extra space in your closet
- Won’t waste time trying to list and ship via resale platforms
- Eco-friendly option (did you know the fashion industry generates over 90M tons of waste each year?)
- Destination bride? It shipped right to your locale.
- Quicker option for those on a time crunch
CONS:
- Not the traditional “dress shopping” experience
- Cannot be altered, may not be the perfect fit
- Damage to the dress may cost extra
- May have to pay to rent more than once if you’d like to try on ahead of time
- Won’t have a dress to keep or preserve, if that’s your plan
- Cannot sell after the wedding
I have personally used Rent the Runway on several occasions. While a few of the formal gowns could pass as a wedding dress, this option is best for shower/rehearsal/engagement photo dresses (or even bridesmaids, MOB/MOG). I absolutely love that my rental includes TWO sizes, just in case I’m on the fence. When I’m done with my 4-day or 8-day rental, I toss it in the bag they provide and drop it off at UPS.
I have not yet experienced working with wedding gown rental companies such as Dare & Dazzle or The Dress Outlet, but these options DO exist. With any wedding vendor, do your research, check reviews, etc.
Disclaimer; I am in no way affiliated with any of the companies above.
Drop me a note if you have experience renting a gown, I’d love to pick your brain! Stay tuned for more budget dress ideas!
Helping YOU say ‘I-DO’,
Your WedUcator