6 Honest Pros & Cons of Renting a Wedding Dress

Princess for a day? Consider these common advantages & disadvantages of wedding dress rentals

 

Did you know that you can rent a wedding dress instead of buying one? If you’re dreaming of a custom wedding look but can’t handle the $2,000 to $10,000 price tag for only a few hours of use, then renting a dress might be a great option for you. 

 

Related: How Much Does the Average Wedding Cost?

 

The option to rent formal wear has been around for years, but it doesn’t get discussed nearly as much as buying a dress from a bridal shop or consignment shop does. (We can probably thank capitalism for this one.) Many nearlyweds don’t even know it’s an option! 

 

To help you decide whether a wedding dress rental is right for you, we’ve compiled 10 honest pros and cons to consider. 

 

6 Pros & Cons of Wedding Dress Rentals

 

1. Pro: Can be an affordable alternative to buying a wedding dress

 

The average cost to rent a wedding dress is between $50 and $600 (via Brides), while the average cost to buy a new wedding dress is between $1,200 and $1,500 (via Zola). Landing in between these two options is the cost of a used wedding dress or consignment dress, which are typically priced at around 40-60% of the original retail price. 

 

Comparing these 3 popular choices, renting a dress can be significantly more affordable than buying a new or secondhand dress. Unless you’re willing to spend time searching through sale racks, or open to a nontraditional style (such a sundress), renting might be your most budget-friendly choice. 

 

And if you have your heart set on a designer dress? The savings could be even more. According to bridal-shop owner and expert Lundyn Carter:

 

"Renting allows brides to access high-end designer dresses that would retail for $4,000+... While some brides choose to buy their dress and sell it later, renting provides greater cost savings without the stress of reselling." (via The Knot)

 

Related: Can’t Afford a Wedding? How to Get Married for (Almost) Free

 

 

2. Con: Limited or no alterations allowed

 

In general, you’re not allowed to alter a rental dress. Some rental services will allow minor alterations like hemming the dress or sleeves, but many others don’t allow any changes to be made to their garments at all. If you’re in-between sizes, or typically need to shorten or modify your clothing for a polished fit, this could be a major deal-breaker. 

 

As these brides put it: 

 

“Even with a limited budget, I would rather buy than rent - because buying the dress, I can alter it to fit me, whereas with a rental you're kind of stuck hoping you match the model.” (u/PoemanBird)

 

“Generally you're getting a dress off the rack rather than something made to measure and you're not going to be able to do much to alter it (save for what you can tape, pin, or clip).” (u/rmric0)

 

“Be careful with renting, I looked into that route because my father was adamant he did not want to pay that much for a dress! Some places that we looked at would not allow any alterations to be done to the dress, so unless you are spot on with your size... Other places said that if you were the first-wearer of the dress, you could alter it to your body, but those dresses were just as expensive [to rent] as buying a dress.” (u/peeper01)

 

On the other hand, rental services often offer a variety of lengths, sizes, styles, and silhouettes (including plus size dress rentals), which can help reduce the risk of a poor fit. 

 

And some dress rental services do allow alterations and will even tailor a dress for you, so it’s always good to ask before making your final decision, as these brides reminds us: 

 

“I found my gown at a place in Miami that both rented and sold dresses. For rental, it was $200 cheaper than to buy and it included alterations and a veil. Also, God sent, the gown I fell in love with was several seasons out, so I was able to get it at the rental price…with alterations and a veil included.” (u/Bahamut869)

 

“Most of the dresses at the [rental] shop I went to came in the largest size available, then when you picked the one you wanted to rent, they would alter it to your size.” (Krista Torres / BuzzFeed)

 

 

3. Pro: Renting formal wear can be better for the environment

 

Renting might be the best choice if you’re planning an eco-friendly wedding. Wedding dress rentals ensure that each dress is worn more than just once or twice, which can significantly cut down on the waste produced by manufacturing, shipping, altering, and reselling a single wedding dress.

 

On the other hand, buying a secondhand dress from a bridal consignment shop is also considered environmentally-friendly, and might cause less behind-the-scenes ‘hidden’ waste (such as the impacts of dry cleaning, repackaging, delivering, and returning rental dresses). 

 

Consider each of these options carefully when choosing the best sustainable wedding plan for your day, and reduce your impact even more by walking, biking, or taking public transportation to pick up your dress! 

 

Related: 7 Eco Friendly Wedding Ideas Inspired by Earth Day

 

 

4. Con: Wedding superstitions carry real weight

 

Many people are superstitious about what they wear on the wedding day – as well as where they get married, who’s on the guest list, and even how they walk down the aisle. In fact, many nearlyweds refuse to wear any rented clothing or jewelry out of fear that it will carry the bad luck or negative energy of a previous wearer into their wedding day. 

 

“In my opinion I'd buy just because I'd be concerned about bad juju or something from whomever wore it last... When people want to wear someone else's wedding dress it's because it's someone they know and love like Grandma. But regardless of how lovely grandma's dress may be, if she was a terrible person who ended up having 3 marriages, I wouldn't wear the dress.” (u/BeachGlassBlazer)

 

On the other hand, if you aren’t a superstitious person, this type of concern might not even occur to you. And there are plenty of ways to welcome good luck and energy into your wedding day!  

 

Want to know more about wedding superstitions? Check out these fun articles: 

 

• How to Get Rid of Ghosts & Ward Off Evil Spirits at Weddings
• The Luckiest Month to Get Married According to Superstition
• 5 Lucky Wedding Traditions from Around the World

 

 

5. Pro: No complicated storage needed! 

 

Another great benefit to renting your wedding dress? You don’t have to find some place to put it after wearing it only once! For nearlyweds who live in small spaces, don’t like a lot of clutter in the closet, or just want a low-stress, streamlined experience, this might be a winning point. 

 

See, wedding dress storage isn’t as simple as tossing a dress on a hanger and stashing it to the side. And if you want to professionally preserve your wedding dress as a memory long term, it takes more work – and more money. The average cost of preservation is $100 to $500, depending on where you go (including cleaning and airtight storage).  

 

To store a wedding dress safely at home you’ll need a breathable garment bag or box, acid-free tissue paper, and a place to put it that’s free from humidity, light, and steep temperature changes. This means a standard home closet might not cut it. 

 

The Executive Director of Wedding Gown Specialists, Sally Conant, emphasizes this important point:

 

“Never use ordinary boxes and tissue. They are heavily acidic and cause yellowing. In fact, ordinary boxes and tissue can scorch wedding gowns, which leaves dark brown streaks wherever the fabric touches the box.” (via Today)

 

And as these soon-to-be-weds with a shortage of space put it: 

 

“Personally I love the idea of renting then it's gone and I don't have to struggle with storage.” (u/princessaurus_rex)

 

“I am so uncertain about this - my dress is huge, and we don't have, like, a mansion or anything, so the thought of having to keep it in some giant box in our house seems like a PITA [pain in the ass], to be honest. I suppose it might be possible to crop it to midi length and wear it on anniversaries but otherwise I really doubt I'd ever wear it again.” (Rosie / WeddingWire)

 

 

6. Con: You won’t have a physical memory of what you wore 

 

One of the biggest drawbacks of renting a gown is that you won’t have your wedding dress around as a physical reminder of the wedding day. This might seem obvious, but it’s important to consider carefully, and to be honest with yourself about how much you value something you can see and touch – and maybe even wear again. 

 

Photos of the wedding day won’t be enough for some newlyweds, and if you’re sentimental, this very well could be the deciding point.

 

As these brides put it: 

 

“I wear my dress around the house while I drink wine. 😂” (u/matroshka27)

 

“I saw a post on here once where the woman eventually had daughters and would put on her dress to play princess with them. I really hope we have at least one daughter so I can do the same thing!” (u/breadstick_bitch)

 

“I'm inviting all of my niece's little girls to try on my daughter's dress the day after the wedding. I'm taking pictures of all of them and plan to give them to each when they get married.” (u/LayerNo3634)

 

On the other hand, more pragmatic marriers might not mind this at all, like these two:

 

“I started thinking about my own mom's gaudy wedding dress… Basically, [I rented a dress because] it was going to be pretty unlikely this future daughter of mine would want to wear my wedding dress on her wedding day. Also, I may never have a daughter and, even if I did, she might not want to get married anyway!” (Krista Torres / BuzzFeed)

 

“Put it back in its bag, dirt on the train and all, put it in the back of my closet and haven’t looked at it since.” (u/Lots_Loafs11)

 

 

To rent or not to rent? There’s no right or wrong answer! 

 

Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all choice for acquiring your wedding attire. Buy, rent, barter, or borrow – any way you go about it, the most important ‘fit’ is how you look and feel on your wedding day. 

 

Consider what’s most important to you and your partner in terms of budget, time, and style, and make the best choice for your needs. 

 

Congratulations on your big day!  

 

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A ‘Friend Officiant’ is the Perfect Fit for Your Wedding Day!

 

Just like your dress, there’s no one-size-fits-all wedding officiant. The best officiant for your big day is someone who makes you feel comfortable, confident, and supported. And we bet there’s a close friend or family member who ‘fits’ the bill! 

 

Ask your loved one to officiate your wedding ceremony with online ordination and free officiant training from American Marriage Ministries. 

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We make it easy for your loved one to get ordained online – it only takes a minute – and give step by step instructions on how to write a wedding ceremony script, deliver an officiant speech, and sign the marriage license. 

 

We give first-time officiants the tools they need to officiate a legal wedding with ease and confidence, to help you have the one-of-a-kind, personalized ceremony you deserve.

 

And with over 15 years of experience providing online ordinations as a 501(c)(3) Charitable Organization, American Marriage Ministries is one of the most respected and trusted places to get ordained to officiate a wedding. Our online ordinations are recognized in every state (except Virginia), giving you the authority to perform weddings anywhere you choose.

 

Click the link above to start planning your wedding ceremony today! 

 

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More Creative Wedding Dress Ideas:

 

• Simple Guide to Wedding Dress Color: Meanings & Magic
   
• Your Guide to Wedding Dresses for a Second Marriage
   
• 5 Reasons a Pink Wedding Dress Might Be Best
   
• What Does a Wedding Officiant Wear?!
   

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