Should You Rent Your Wedding Dress?

by - 10:54 PM


Fact: wedding dresses aren't cheap. Generally costing at least four figures (sometimes more), the price to pay for a gown sounds even more expensive when you consider you'll only be wearing it once in your life (unless you get creative, of course). At this point, a bride might wonder — is it worth the cost? Should I rent a dress instead? Well, bride-to-be, there are both pros and cons to that idea. Let's narrow down the decision-making process, shall we?

Pros

Cost: The thing that brought you to consider renting in the first place. Renting a dress is a much cheaper option than buying one, often costing just three figures.

Extras: Sometimes you even get more bang for your buck. Depending on where you're renting your gown from, some companies may throw in extra accessories such as shoes or a veil, or offer them with the gown at a discounted rate in a package deal.

Storage: There's no need to worry about where you'll keep your gown after the big day or how you'll preserve it. Send it back and you're done!

Designer Options: You just may be able to snag a dress by your dream high-end designer that you'd never be able to afford otherwise. Think Rent the Runway.

Hassle-Free Destination Weddings: Renting a dress can be very convenient for destination brides, as some destination salons allow you to rent your dress. No need to worry about packing and flying it while keeping it wrinkle-free.

Cons
Limited Options: However, the options available among rental dresses aren't as broad and might be dated. If you're looking for a specific style or are a picky shopper, renting may not be the best choice. Not only are gown options more limited, but the places offering them aren't as common as those offering buyable gowns.

Size Constraints: Even if you do find a gown you like, it may not be in your size. Are alterations allowed? That's something you'll need to ask wherever you're renting from.
Damages: Spill or tear that pretty white and you'll have to pay up.

Online Ordering: This is always a risky bet. What if it comes in the wrong color or size, or looks completely different than pictured? And how much does shipping cost? You also might get charged a late fee if you miss your return date. It all adds up.

See More: How to Get A Sick Deal on Your Dream Wedding Dress

No Heirloom Factor: For some brides, a wedding dress holds memories of a lifetime. It's something they'll want to keep forever and possibly pass down to the next generation. With a rental dress, you might lose that sentimental value.

Less of a Shopping Experience: If you dream of saying yes to the dress in a room full of your closest loved ones, you won't get that same magical experience renting a dress online.

Whether you value sentiment or practicality more, it's up to you to give each of these pros and cons their own weight. At the end of the day, it all comes down to how you view your wedding dress ROI — is the dress a greater symbol of a day you'll never forget that you'll treasure forever, or is it merely just something you'll only wear once and never again?

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4 comments

  1. Thank you =)

    If I marry some time I want to buy my dress :D I don't want to rent it.

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  2. Thanks for sharing. I have thought about renting my future dress although the cons are quite great for me. Definitely bridesmaid dresses!

    Chanel | Je M'appelle Chanel

    ReplyDelete
  3. Amazing post. You're right renting a wedding dress has it's pros and cons.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great tips! I personally rented my wedding dress, it's just a preference, you look pretty btw!

    http://www.heelsandbeyond.com/

    ReplyDelete