Choosing a dress for your wedding day is quite the decision, with an endless array of options (for better or worse). One part of this process is settling on how you'll procure your wedding gown. The buying versus renting debate is one many brides face, with the obvious pro being the cost—naturally, a rental is significantly cheaper.
Of course, that's not the only thing to consider before you make a decision. Here, we've highlighted a few more factors to help you decide which route to go and if purchasing a wedding dress all your own is really the best choice.
Cost
Going the rental route can mean scoring a designer dress at a fraction of the cost. This is, of course, one of the biggest draws. While many gowns cost thousands from a boutique, a rental can slash a zero off that number.
Availability
Renting is not as popular as buying, and thus, your options will be more limited. If you have something super specific in mind, you might not be able to find what you're looking for available for rent.
Additional Fees
Consider things like shipping, pressing, post-wear cleaning, etc. when it comes to renting a dress—some of these might be built into the cost, but make sure you understand exactly what will be extra so you're not slapped with several hundreds of dollars worth of fees. One thing you will save on with renting is preservation since you won't be keeping the piece after your wedding day.
Sentimentality
Not as quantifiable as the rest, but the fact that the dress won't be yours is still a viable element in the rent-versus-buy debate. You're sharing the garment with other brides on their respective days, and you won't have it in your possession after the fact.
Alterations
If you can get a perfect fit off the (rental) rack, that's great—but many gowns require alterations, and rented ones might not afford you that flexibility.
Timeline
Rentals may show up on your doorstep mere days before your wedding and need to be returned immediately after. For the last-minute bride this may work, but consider if this situation will realistically jive with the plans.
All the above considered, if it's seeming like renting is the way to go, check out sites like Rent the Runway or Borrowing Magnolia to get started.
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