The thrill of love and weddings often comes with pricey commitments, such as splurging on a luxurious $1,000+ wedding dress that you’ll only wear once. There’s no denying the fact that your wedding day is likely to be one of the most exciting and memorable moments of your life. However, it’s essential to strike a balance between having a perfect day and spending prudently on your attire.
When my engagement happened last year, my heart was set on a splendid dress reflecting my unique taste in fashion. And then it hit me–wedding dresses don’t come cheap! I was determined not to emulate those brides from the popular TV show Say Yes to the Dress who splurge thousands on their gowns.
Ironically, in a local bridal show, I won a free tux rental for my fiancé and a significant discount for all his groomsmen. While I rejoiced in my winnings, there was a tad bit of envy too. My fiancé’s wardrobe for the big day summed up to a few nice socks and a $20 haircut, while my clothing budget was inching towards a whopping $1,000.
According to statistics from The Knot, an average bride spends $1,281 on her wedding dress. Shockingly, some brides are willing to pay even more. However, being frugal with your wedding dress can significantly alleviate financial stress since this is just one of many expenses a bride needs to account for.
Your wedding day look is undoubtedly essential. Apart from the perfect dress, the total cost includes shoes, hair, makeup, nails, veil, and other accessories. The more I delved into the total potential spend, the more appealing my fiancé’s tux rental looked.
Although I eventually chose to buy my dress, renting is an excellent alternative, especially for any bride looking to save money and avoid the exorbitant expense of a wedding gown.
So, is renting your wedding dress worth the savings? Let’s weigh the pros and cons.
Renting a dress promises some good perks: cost savings, the possibility of complimentary extras like slip, shoes, jewelry, veil, and stress-free maintenance. Just keep the dress intact during your wedding, and return it afterward. If the memories and photographs are enough for you, and you prefer not to have a dress taking up space post-wedding, renting could be a great choice.
However, there are some constraints too. Your options could be narrow, and finding the right size could be challenging. There are also restrictions on altering or customizing the dress. In some cases, renting might not even be that cheap, particularly when some bridal shops offer stunning new dresses at heavy discounts. Online rentals come with their own risks, so do thorough research before deciding.
You can rent wedding dresses online or from local dress shops and bridal salons that also sell dresses. A few stores that offer wedding dress rentals are Fancy Wedding Center and Rent the Runway.
In the end, I chose to buy my wedding dress, primarily because of its affordable price tag. I’m not particularly into branded offerings, and I anticipated significant alterations. Notwithstanding the expenses for a one-day attire, I relish the fact that my dress is brand new, maintains a classic style, and there’s potential to sell it later.
Budget-conscious brides who favor practicality might find renting an appealing choice. It’s worthwhile to scout local bridal shops offering rental services before venturing online. Some online stores even allow an at-home try-on with an easy return option.
Remember, it’s your wedding day, and you should prioritise your personal preferences while evaluating the pros and cons. There are numerous other areas in a wedding budget that you could save on.
Have you ever rented a wedding dress? What did you find advantageous or disadvantageous? If you’ve previously rented a dress, what was your general impression?
