Pros & Cons Of Renting Your Wedding Dress

Did you know that renting your wedding dress is even a thing? Well, it is!

Wedding dresses are special. They are beautiful. They can make just about anyone feel amazing on their wedding day. However, they can be pretty pricey, especially since they are only worn the one time. Because of this, more and more women are looking into renting their wedding dress.

Though some people would never consider this, the idea may appeal to others. At the very least, renting your wedding dress is worth exploring, because there really are some distinct benefits to it. Plus, many companies are helping to make this possible.

This post is going to review all the pros and cons of renting your wedding dress. From the financial benefits, to answering questions about fit, mindset, and even helping others be okay with your choice, it’s all below. What you wear on your wedding day is a very personal decision, and it’s essential that you know all your options so you can make the best choice for you.

Let’s get into it!

WHERE TO RENT YOUR WEDDING DRESS

First, let’s talk about where you can actually go to rent your wedding dress.

As mentioned above, there are a lot of options these days. You can rent from an online retailer, or you may even have a dress rental location in your area. The latter option may appeal more to you because you can go there, be professionally measured, and rent the dress in person. However, the goal when you rent your dress is to get it from a place that provides dresses that look brand new, are very clean, and have no defects.

Some recommendations for online wedding dress rentals:

Each location has a separate discount or plan, and various charges for shipping, so check them out before you commit.

PROS OF RENTING YOUR WEDDING DRESS

As we’ll go over, there are some huge positives to renting your wedding dress.

RENTING YOUR WEDDING DRESS CUTS DOWN ON COSTS

Wedding dresses can cost a ton of money, and you only wear them for a few hours. Renting your wedding dress can slash those costs in half, or even more. Plus, the cost of renting may also include alterations, storage, and cleaning, which would be additional charges if you buy your dress outright.

RENTING YOUR WEDDING DRESS IS MORE SUSTAINABLE

Sustainability is so in right now, especially with weddings. It’s all about finding items that can be reused, and recycled, whenever possible. Renting your wedding dress is aligned with this mission. For more ideas on having a sustainable wedding, check out this post.

THE RIGHT RENTAL BUSINESS CAN STILL MAKE YOUR DREAM DRESS

Because renting wedding dresses is so popular right now, the companies that are providing this service are super accommodating. They know that in order for them to be successful, they need to allow for alterations and adjustments to fit each bride. So, don’t rule out renting a wedding dress because you’re concerned that alterations like sleeves, embellishments, and bustles won’t be allowed. They likely are.

RENTING MAKES IT MORE AFFORDABLE TO WEAR MULTIPLE DRESSES

Many brides don’t want to settle on just one look. However, the cost of wedding dresses can limit their ability to switch to another dress during their wedding. When you rent, it’s so much more affordable to switch to another dress, without going over your wedding budget.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO STORE YOUR DRESS AFTER THE WEDDING

One of the biggest issues with wedding dresses is what to do with them after you get married. Some women sell or donate them, but others store them. And, let me tell you, they can take up a lot of room. If this doesn’t appeal to you, and you don’t know what you’ll do with your wedding dress after the wedding, renting helps solve this issue. You know exactly what will happen to the dress once you’re done with it.

YOU CAN STILL HAVE A BRIDAL EXPERIENCE

One concern about renting a wedding dress is that it may not allow for a bride to have that “wedding dress shopping” experience. You know, the one where their family gets to fawn over the different options while they stand on a literal pedestal?

The great news about renting your wedding dress is that you can totally have that experience, if you rent from a brick-and-mortar location. The sales people will still let you try on dresses, and your family can still help you pick the best one for you.

IT’S WHAT THE GUYS DO

For many weddings, for many decades, women have traditionally bought what they will wear and the men have traditionally rented their clothes. And, everyone seems okay with this. So, if it seems a bit strange to rent a wedding dress, or even a bridesmaid’s dress, just relate it to what guys do. Chances are, they rent.

CONS OF RENTING YOUR WEDDING DRESS

Alright, now that I’ve shared all the great things about renting a wedding dress, let’s go over the not-so-great things. Because, like with most things in life, there are some negatives.

YOU WON’T HAVE YOUR WEDDING DRESS FOREVER

Some women really do want to keep their wedding dress forever. Maybe they dream of transforming it one day for their daughters. Or, they just want to keep it because they love it. Unfortunately, if you rent your wedding dress, you will have to give it back. This may be a deal breaker for you.

RENTING YOUR WEDDING DRESS IS NOT TRADITIONAL

If you, or your family, like to stick with tradition, renting a wedding dress may seem very strange. It’s just not how it’s been usually done. And, it may seem like you’re giving up on some bridal experiences by not buying a dress you can keep forever and have been the only bride to wear. If the idea of skipping the tradition seems like too much for you, it’s okay to go with what feels right.

RENTED WEDDING DRESSES MAY SEEM USED OR WORN

Now, with this one I will say that most companies who rent wedding dresses take a lot of care to make sure that their dresses are clean and fresh. However, there are chances for errors. And, you may notice them. So, if you are particularly sensitive to the “newness” of clothes, you may want to take extra precautions to make sure that the dress you rent feels and looks as new as possible. Read all reviews of companies, talk to their staff, and give yourself lots of time for returns.

YOU MAY NOT KNOW WHERE THE DRESS WAS WORN BEFORE YOU

Now, keep in mind that rented wedding dresses are definitely cleaned by any reputable company between wearers. However, you may feel a bit uneasy knowing that someone else wore it before you. For some of us, it can just be an icky thought. So, this one is definitely a negative.

YOUR FAMILY MAY NOT SUPPORT IT

Just as I went over tradition above, and how it may be important to you, you wearing a brand new wedding dress may be important to your family. And, you may get some strong opinions about renting a dress from select people. If this is the case, you can always try to tune them out, ask them to pay for a new dress for you, or just talk to them about why you’re making this choice.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Renting a wedding dress is not for everyone, but it’s a great option to have out there. You can save some money, you can wear something you may not have been able to afford otherwise, and it’s a sustainable thing to do. However, you won’t get to keep your dress, it doesn’t follow tradition, and the thought of wearing something used may not sit well with you and your family. If renting your wedding dress appeals to you, do your research, and look into it. You never know what you may find. Happy dress hunting!

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