Can You Rent a Wedding Dress? (And Should You?)

Of course, a rented wedding dress won’t be the right fit for any bride. If you view your gown as a deeply sentimental piece and wish to keep it as an heirloom, budget for buying one instead.

Wedding gown rental is a perfect choice for pragmatic brides who don’t see sense in wasting money on a dress they’ll wear once and don’t want to contribute to worldwide waste.

After all, a rented wedding dress does the main job of any wedding dress – it guarantees you’ll look gorgeous on your special day and in pictures. The rest is a question of perspective.

How Wedding Dress Rent Works

Different wedding dress rentals may have different prices, renting procedures, and conditions.

Typically, you first pick a dress on the company’s website or offline salon, then choose the rental date and period, pay for the dress, and leave a damage deposit.

Many bridal wear rental salons will include wedding dress cleaning and shipping in the price, while others may require you to pay an extra fee. You may or may not be asked to clean the dress after the wedding, too.

Although plenty of wedding dress rentals are available online, offline salons are a much better option. Remember that dress rentals don’t allow any alterations and carry a limited size and style selection.

You would have to find a dress that fits you perfectly without any alterations, so the ability to try dresses on is a big pro.

With online wedding dress renting, you would have to choose gowns based on pictures and hope for your luck.

Some companies offer wedding dresses both for rent and sale. You may ask your local bridal salons about rental options even if they don’t advertise it.

Wedding Dress Rent Cost

The cost of rented wedding dresses varies greatly depending on the company, dress designer, style, area, demand, and other factors. However, in most cases, wedding dress rental still is cheaper than buying a gown.

While the average cost of a wedding dress in the U.S. is about $1,600, a rented wedding dress can cost you anywhere from $50 to $600.

In rare cases, the price may exceed $2,000. But rental companies only charge thousands for dresses by famous designers, such as Vera Wang, which would cost you multiple times more to buy.

Typically, wedding dress rentals also require a security deposit that may be as little as $30 or exceed $200. The deposit is returned after the wedding if the dress is returned in the same condition it has been rented.

Wedding Dress Rent Pros

When you’re choosing between wedding dress rental vs. buying, it’s worth considering all the pros and cons. The most apparent benefit of wedding dress rental is the reduced costs.

Many women view their wedding dress as the top priority and a symbolic piece that will be passed as an heirloom from generation to generation.

However, if you’re a more practical person, spending a fortune on a dress you’d wear once may seem wasteful.

Renting a wedding dress allows you to look stunning on your wedding day while keeping the costs at a minimum. It’s also the perfect option for brides who wish to rock a famous designer wedding gown but can’t afford to buy one.

Overall, renting a wedding dress is a much quicker process than buying one.

The decision-making is easier due to lower costs and limited options, and you don’t have to choose the dress months in advance since there are no alterations involved.

This makes wedding dress rental a perfect choice for last-minute wedding planning. If you’ve decided to get married as soon as possible, rent may be a life-saving option.

Furthermore, wedding dress rental is a more environmentally friendly option than purchase. Rentals are your go-to if you’re concerned about contributing yards and yards of fabric to worldwide waste.

Since you don’t get to save the gown after the wedding, you also don’t have to dry clean it or pay for professional wedding dress preservation.

The seemingly simple process of making sure white fabric doesn’t go yellow over time is, in fact, somewhat complicated and may cost over $700. Brides don’t always budget for the added wedding dress preservation costs.

Even if you’re planning on preserving your gown yourself, wedding dress dry cleaning can cost you about $200 due to design intricacy. But if you’re renting a dress, all you need to do is send it back after the event, and you’re done.

By renting a wedding dress, you’re saving not only hundreds of dollars on preservation but also space in your closet.

Last but not least, bridal gown renting is great for destination weddings. No need to bring a large, heavy dress in your car or on the plane, worrying that it would wrinkle or get lost on the way.

The rental company will have it delivered in perfect condition at any address you wish. In this case, remember to research the delivery costs and consider getting a dress from a company located in the same state as the venue.

Wedding Dress Rent Cons

Wedding dress rent has drawbacks, too. Your dress selection will be limited: even if the salon carries many styles, some may be unavailable for your dates or in your size.

And even if your dream gown is available in your size, it may not fit as you imagined.

Remember that wedding dress rentals don’t allow making any alterations – even temporary. This will be seen as damaging the dress, and you’ll lose the security deposit.

If you order a wedding dress online, it may look completely different from the pictures on the company’s website. Furthermore, you don’t get to try the dress on before ordering it.

Some rentals offer to order dresses to try them on before committing to renting. However, that usually comes for an additional fee, and it’s not like you would order 20 gowns at once.

You’re also responsible for any damages caused to the dress and risk losing the security deposit.

This may lead to increased anxiety on the wedding day – instead of enjoying wine, you’ll likely think about not ruining the dress with wine stains.

Even if you’re a very neat person in daily life, you won’t be able to control everything happening at the wedding.

Someone accidentally stepping their heel on your skirt and ripping it, someone stumbling and dropping their plate on you – you get the idea.

Of course, a rented wedding dress also lacks the sentimental aspects of getting your own dress. You won’t feel the connection with your dress and won’t be able to pass it down to your children and grandchildren.

You may also feel that a rented wedding dress carries the history of every bride who used it. This involves the good and the bad aspects of someone else’s relationship. Think of it as renting your wedding bands.

Lastly, you don’t get to experience proper wedding dress shopping with your close ones. This may be a dealbreaker for women dreaming of saying yes to the dress in a bridal salon.

Wedding Dress Renting Tips

If you’ve decided that wedding dress rental is the right option for you, you should follow certain rules and tips to avoid disappointment. The first and vital step is choosing the right rental company.

Offline salons are a much better option because you get to see the dresses in person and try them on before renting.

Ask about a renting option at local bridal salons selling dresses – they may have a small selection for rent, too.

If you’re searching for your dream dress online, check customer reviews about the rental company and your chosen gowns first. Brides tend to be vocal about their experiences, so you’ll likely find valuable information.

Brides who’ve had experiences with the company may share information about your chosen dress sizing, fabric, the company’s deposit refund policy, or the condition of the dress after delivery.

Don’t worry about getting the dress right from the first try if you order it online. You may need to send back multiple gowns before you find one that fits you flawlessly.

Although your options are limited, the variety of different styles may still be overwhelming. Like with regular wedding dress shopping, you should have a clear idea of what you want when browsing rental websites.

Research which wedding dress style fits your body type, which color is best for your complexion, and decide which designs you like the most.

Remember that if one company doesn’t carry what you’re looking for, you can try another one.

You should always check the dress condition carefully when renting a dress. Make sure that no stains or tears were left unnoticed, and if you find any, request to write them down in your agreement.

Knowing your agreement details is vital. Read about the deposit defund, dress delivery, cleaning, and other policies, especially those that may add up fees.

Lastly, consider your accessories – some bridal wear rental salons also carry a selection of shoes, petticoats, and veils. The groom may rent a suit too, by the way!