Everything to Know About Wedding Dress Rentals

Wedding dresses aren't known to be particularly affordable pieces of clothing. Generally costing at least four figures (sometimes more), the price of a gown sounds even more expensive when you consider the fact that you'll likely wear the garment only once in your life (unless you choose a bridal look that you intend on donning after the event). For those on a tight budget, the national average cost of $1,800 to $2,400 isn't always appealing—or even feasible—to foot. And for those who would rather invest those several thousand dollars in other big-day elements, buying a single-use outfit might fall lower on your list of priorities. "When only wearing that dress for approximately three to five hours, it just doesn’t seem worth it when you can focus on making your wedding dreams come true by having that firework send-off or an extravagant Parisian-themed dessert table for your guests to indulge in," explains Blaire Walsh, former style director at clothing rental subscription service Rent the Runway.

With all of this in mind, you may be asking yourself, "Should I just rent my wedding dress?" If you'd prefer spending your money on a statement-making floral installation, an elaborate food bar, or an exotic honeymoon, renting a gown is an alternate route you might want to consider. Instead of splurging on a pricey designer getup, opting for a wedding dress rental gives you the ability to save significant funds while wearing a beautiful frock on your special day. Plus, if you're hoping to assemble a full bridal wardrobe with multiple looks, you have the option of selecting several ensembles for less. According to Lundyn Carter, CEO and co-founder of Laine London, renting your gown also allows for a more sustainable shopping experience.

While there are plenty of benefits to renting a wedding dress, this decision is ultimately up to you, your preferences, and your wedding budget. If you are considering the rental route, we touched base with Walsh and Carter, who unpacked everything to know about wedding dress rentals, including the cost, the pros and cons, shopping tips, and rental sites. Read on to learn more.

How Much Does a Wedding Dress Rental Cost?

A wedding dress rental typically costs between $50 and $600, but the price varies depending on the rental company you select and the gown you choose. On the more expensive end, brides may find themselves shelling out $500 to $2,000 for a designer ensemble, but this range is still a fraction of the retail price for a brand-new designer piece. Some bridal salons even offer the ability to rent one of their garments for the day, which can help decrease the price, depending on the gown.

The Pros of a Wedding Dress Rental

If you're interested in a wedding dress rental for your big day, there are plenty of benefits to note. Here are three of the biggest pros associated with renting a bridal getup.

You'll save money.

Hands down, the biggest pro of opting for a rental is the amount of money you'll save, whether it's on a single gown, an entire outfit, or multiple looks. By renting a wedding dress, you'll bring the cost of your ensemble down from four to three figures, making previously unattainable garments a possibility. "I believe today’s consumer is becoming more aware of where and how they are spending their money," Carter explains. "You no longer have to have a Sofia Richie or Hailey Bieber budget to opt for multiple wedding-day looks." Some companies even provide packages where you can add a veil, shoes, and other accessories for a fraction of the cost.

You won't have to clean, preserve, or store it.

By choosing a wedding dress rental over an expensive designer piece, you won't have to worry about or spend money on preserving your gown. With a rental, there's no need to take the garment to a dry cleaner after you wear it, since rental companies include dry cleaning with their services, which can save you up to $200. What's more, you won't have to figure out where to store your frock following your nuptials, which will free up storage space in your closet.

You'll be able to shop for your wedding dress from home.

Since most rental companies are online platforms, you won't have to leave the comfort of your home to find your wedding dress rental. These websites usually function in the same way that any other retail site does (except you'll send the outfit back to the site after the event), so the shopping experience won't be anything out of the ordinary or too difficult to manage.

The Cons of a Wedding Dress Rental

While renting a wedding dress is an amazing choice for some, there are a few drawbacks to this particular fashion option, which we highlight below.

The options are more limited.

If you're looking for a specific style, renting your wedding dress might not be the best route for you. That's because the options can be limited, depending on where you live. By renting your bridal gown, you also run the risk of falling in love with a garment that isn't available on your wedding day or in your size or that looks completely different in person.

You're responsible for damages and fees.

While opting for a wedding dress rental is largely a cost-effective option, the fees on your borrowed gown can quickly add up: You may have to pay for shipping fees depending on where you live and late fees depending on your shopping timeline. Plus, insurance may be a mandatory cost added to your total bill. Even if you insure your rental, however, if your gown has significant damages, like a torn hem, a busted seam, or a splotch of red wine on the bodice, when you return it, you're typically responsible for the costs associated with repairing the design.

You'll miss out on the emotional connection to the dress.

Since you likely won't keep your rental, you won't have much of an emotional connection to the dress you rent compared to one that you buy. By renting your big-day outfit, passing down your gown to the next generation won't be an option—which might be a dealbreaker for those who value the special meaning behind this process. And even if renting from a website is convenient, forgoing the in-person shopping experience means you'll miss out on partaking in this sentimental experience with your loved ones.

Tips to Help You Choose a Wedding Dress Rental

If the pros far outweigh the cons and you decide to move forward with your decision to rent, it's time to start browsing. As you begin shopping for your wedding dress rental, keep these expert-approved tips at top of mind.

Do your research.

As you begin your search for a wedding dress rental, make sure you vet the website before charging your card. "While renting designer clothing is all the rage right now, renting a designer wedding dress is not," Carter warns. "Do your research (i.e. Google reviews, ask around) and look out for websites or online marketplaces that seem too good to be true." Walsh notes that it's also important to assess a particular gown you're looking at by reading reviews from previous customers. Since the sizing of rental pieces often varies based on the specific garment, this will help you get a feel for the fit.

Use filters when browsing rental sites.

Since browsing rental sites can be an overwhelming process, Walsh recommends using filters, narrowing your search by color, length, silhouette, shape, sleeves, body type, and embellishments. Another tip? If the service offers more than just bridal attire, you might just find your dream gown in the broader dress section: Use the color filter to sort through all white gowns available on the website to expand your options.

Double-check the timeline.

Before putting down your card, scour the rental service's website to see how long you can keep the dress for, so you can order it as far in advance as possible and dodge annoying late fees. While every business is different, most companies let their customers get their pick four to five days before the event. In addition, check if you can pay a fee to try on dresses beforehand.

Don't worry about getting it right on the first try.

One of the biggest selling points of a wedding dress rental? It's low-commitment and low-stress. "If a style doesn't work, simply return it and pick out another style," Walsh says. Although exchanging your gown for another might entail an additional fee, in the grand scheme of things, it's a small price to pay for your dream gown.

The Best Wedding Dress Rental Websites

In order to apply the above shopping tips, you'll need to have an idea of where to search. To help you narrow down the myriad of options out there, we've listed our favorite wedding dress rental websites. Some of our recommendations are solely dedicated to rental wedding gowns, while others have select bridal outfits, among other fashion rentals.

Rent the Runway

Rent the Runway is one of the most trusted, beloved companies in the rental fashion market. Within the bridal sector of this site, you'll find many popular wedding-dress designers, such as Sachin & Babi and Badgley Mischka, and many different styles, from short and casual to floor-length and formal. You can even add accessories to your order.

While they’re most known for their membership plans, you can also book a one-time rental (known as Rent the Runway Reserve)—the perfect choice if you’re looking for a single bridal gown. By opting for an individual rental, you can reserve the piece up to four months in advance and for a duration of either four or eight days. What’s more, each order comes with a free backup size (in case the original doesn’t fit), plus complementary dry cleaning.

By Rotation

If your bridal wardrobe will consist of just one dress, consider renting a one-time frock from By Rotation. This rental service stands out from the rest with rentals that come straight from members’ closets, meaning you can find luxury designer gowns and custom-made pieces from popular bridal designers, including Liz Martinez, Danielle Frankel, and Millia London, and beloved brands, such as Reformation, Ralph Lauren, and Alice + Olivia. You can use the filter to narrow your search based on the brand, size, and price, and you can also browse accessory rentals, such as bags and shoes, to piece together an entire look.

Nuuly

Searching for a multi-piece wardrobe for your wedding day or a series of pre-wedding outfits? Nuuly is a rental service to have on your radar. Since this rental website is a subscription-based one, you can choose six clothing items every month for just $98—a price that includes complementary laundry and repairs, too. If you're hosting a weekend affair, in just one visit to Nuuly's website, you can find a rehearsal dinner outfit, a welcome party look, a ceremony dress, a reception getup, an after-party ensemble, and a post-wedding brunch garment. LoveShack Fancy, ASTR the Label, Anthropologie, and Free People are some of the many brands you’ll spot. For those who love the idea of passing their wedding dress down, you can even buy your rental once your next billing date comes.

Dare & Dazzle

For a wedding dress rental company that’s solely focused on bridal attire, give Dare and Dazzle a try. This boutique provides sustainable gowns in a variety of sizes and styles (in addition to bridal accessories and bridesmaid looks) that you can rent for less.

A huge plus of using Dare and Dazzle for your wedding dress rental is that you can try on the gowns. If you live in the Bay Area, where the shop is located, you can try on the dresses in person. But if you aren’t local, the company gives you three days to try on three different dresses at home. If you love the look of a gown but it doesn’t quite fit, the designers at Dare and Dazzle will make temporary adjustments for you. Once you find the perfect wedding getup, you'll have 10 days to use and return it—and you won’t have to worry about cleaning it.