Hey babes!

Are you a baller on a budget? Well, look no further because today we’re talking all about wedding dress rentals! ::gasps:: Wait…that’s something I can do? YAS honey – it is!

With sustainability being a growing trend in the wedding industry, a lot more brides are looking into ways they can decrease their carbon footprint. Did you know that the average wedding produces up to 400-600 pounds of waste a year?! Yikes. Renting your dress not only would be a contributor to decreasing your carbon footprint, but also could potentially save you a buck in your wedding budget while still looking like the freaking gorgeous queen bombshell you’ve always dreamed. And that’s one of the most fun parts of the wedding day AMIRITE?!

Also, suit rentals have been a thing foreverrrrr, but now we are seeing an increase in dress rentals for your big day. How cool is that?!

Note: I’m not here to sway you in one direction or another – it’s important to weigh the pros and cons to any decision, but ultimately it’s up to you as to what you feel is best and makes you feel special and the most celebrated!

What are some of the benefits to renting?

Pro #1: The biggest positive to renting your dress is that it saves you money. The average wedding dress costs roughly $1700, and that’s on the conservative end, and that doesn’t even include alterations which can tack on another $1K. By renting, you could potentially save thousands of dollars on your wedding day wardrobe. That’s thousands you can contribute towards your venue, photography, food, entertainment, etc.

Pro #2: You’re probably only going to wear your wedding dress once, so the likelihood of you wearing it more than once is quite low. What’s the point in buying a piece of wardrobe that you’ll only wear once? Hence, renting could help you solve that problem. (On the flip side, I do work with brides who do a ‘trash the dress’ session or a day-after session from their wedding, but that is a topic for another day ;)!)

Is there anything I can miss out on if I rent vs. buy?

Con #1: With renting, there are usually less options for customization. One of the reasons wedding dresses can be so expensive is because of the alterations. Sidenote: When you go into a fitting at a bridal shop, many of their sample sizes are on the larger end, so the fitting stylist usually ends up clipping the excess fabric so you get an idea of what it will eventually fit like once you do get the dress altered. Alterations increase the cost of your wedding dress budget because it requires very detailed work from the tailor.

Con #2: Many brides love having their dress as a keepsake and family heirloom. Renting doesn’t allow you that opportunity.

What vendors do you recommend?

• Lending Luxury

• Borrowing Magnolia

• Wedding Dress for Rent

• Rent the Runway

• Runway.Rent

• David’s Bridal (no rentals, but affordable selection)

There are also a TON of Facebook communities full of brides who are looking for dresses, or selling theirs! You could save a ton just by getting connected on social media with another bride who’s ready to part with their fancy frock.

Whatever you choose, renting, buying, or borrowed – do what is within your budget, and wear what you feel the most beautiful in! At the end of the day, you’re marrying the love of your life and that is what matters most :).

xoxo, Anna