If you are looking for a way to lower the cost of your bridal attire, knowing how to rent a wedding dress is one of the best way to find those savings you are looking for. Although it is not a widely used practice, the option of renting a wedding dress has become increasingly more popular over the last few years. Many brides spend months and even years saving to purchase the perfect wedding gown, that unfortunately can end up being a huge waste of money because they will only ever where it once. Renting a wedding dress, on the other hand, gives a bride an opportunity to choose from a selection of beautiful and typically high priced gowns and pay only a fraction of the retail cost.
Why Rent Your Wedding Dress
Most brides are not typically thrilled about the idea of giving their wedding dress back once their special day is over, however, for those planning a wedding on a budget, renting can be an excellent means for reducing costs and freeing up more of the wedding budget for other details and expenditures. If you have always imagined saving your dress as a sentimental heirloom to pass down to the next generation in your family, renting may not be the option for you, however if that is not something of importance to you, the option of renting a wedding dress will not only save you money but also save your dress from yellowing in a storage closet somewhere.
How to Rent Your Wedding Dress
Renting a wedding dress is typically a more complicated process than purchasing a dress simply for the fact that not every bridal salon offers a dress rental program. Renting a dress is definitely a big money saver but it will require you to do a bit more legwork. If the rental option is something you are considering, here is the basic, necessary information you will need to start the search for your perfect dress.
Finding a Rental Facility
As previously mentioned, not every bridal boutique offers rental dresses so before you start visiting them — call all of the bridal stores in your area to find out if they offer this service. If they do offer wedding dresses to rent, you will want to have a short conversation so that you can find out some additional information that will help you narrow your search. You may want to keep a pad of paper handy while you make these calls so that you can compare notes about the different boutiques later on. Some of the questions you should ask include:
- What are the average price ranges for wedding dress rentals in the facility?
- Does the cost of the gown rental include cleaning or will you be required to have the dress cleaned before you return it?
- How soon before your wedding date can you pick up your dress and how many days do you have to return it to the store? — This is especially important for those having destination weddings.
- Does the venue allow for alterations on their rental gowns and if so, do they cost extra?
- Are there any additional fees for renting your wedding dress?
- Does the cost also pay for rental accessories such as jewelery and veils?
Once you have this information, select a few that appear to have the best policies and call to make an appointment to view their rental dress selections.
Choosing a Dress
When it comes time to find your dress, it is important to know that you may have to visit numerous venues before you find an appropriate dress as selections for rental will likely be limited. If you want to rent, don’t let this discourage you, there are beautiful designer rental gowns available, you just have to make the effort to find them.
As you visit the venues and begin trying on wedding gowns, you will want to remember to not only evaluate them based on their appearance and style but also on how they fit. Many bridal shops that have a rental program do not allow major alterations as making changes to the dress can make it harder to rent out once you’ve used it. You’re best bet is to try and be objective — don’t allow yourself to fall in love with a gown until you’re sure it fits properly as needing major alterations may prevent you from renting a particular dress.
Dress Costs
After venues and major wedding details, a bride’s gown is one of the highest wedding expenditures. Brides who purchase wedding gowns at retail price often pay thousands of dollars to wear the designer dress they have always dreamed of. Making the decision to rent a wedding dress, however gives you the opportunity to save 70% or more on your dress costs because you are paying to use the dress rather than to own it.
Depending on what type of wedding dress you are looking to rent, you can expect to pay anywhere from $75 – $1000 dollars. Less expensive dresses will range from $75-$250 while top end designer gowns can cost you from $700-$1000. Fortunately, average wedding dress rentals typically cost from $250-$500. When you are considering your pricing options, try to remember that if a dress has an extremely low rental price listed, there will likely be numerous hidden fees that will add to your total bill. Mid-range prices however tend to have more included.
Signing a Rental Agreement
Almost every bridal shop that will allow you to rent a dress will require you to sign a rental agreement that basically outlines the terms, conditions and payment arrangements that are required for you to borrow the dress. It’s important that you read this document in its entirety before signing as it legally binds you to the conditions that it lists. The agreement will almost always contain a written description of the dress and the condition that it is in at the time of rental. As you read this section, compare the written description to the dress itself and let the representative know of any discrepancies before you make any down payments. You will also want to make sure that the agreement matches the terms and conditions that were verbally agreed upon. If there is something listed in the document that you do not agree with, don’t be afraid to tell them that it is not acceptable. Remember, once you sign you are legally obligated to fulfill the conditions listed.
If you are looking to save money on your wedding dress, knowing how to rent a wedding dress puts you in the way to receive deep discounts that you are unlikely to find when you purchase your gown retail. Renting is definitely not the ideal option for everyone, however, those planning on a budget will find refuge in the savings that the option offers.
