One of the biggest decisions you’ll make for your big day is choosing your wedding gown, and it could cost a lot of money. Brides often spend around $1,600 on their wedding dresses—so to save money, some are opting for a rental or a pre-owned dress instead. What bride doesn’t want to save money on her dream wedding dress?
With ongoing inflation and supply chain issues, the cost of wedding dresses are rising, so saving money is key in today’s economy. That’s why choosing to rent or buy pre-owned is a no-brainer. Both options can save you money on your dream wedding dress without having to compromise on quality or fit. However, there are benefits (and downsides) to both, so the best thing to do is to compare the two choices.
How Do Wedding Dress Rentals Work?
Before we compare renting a dress to buying one pre-owned, we wanted to break down how a wedding dress rental works. If you do decide to rent a gown, you have a variety of websites to choose from, including:
- My Wardrobe HQ
- Rent The Runway
- Nuuly
- Rent My Dress
- Lending Luxury
- Wedding Dress For Rent
Most of the time, you can choose between a monthly membership fee or a one-time fee to rent the gown—some sites also require a security deposit up front. Then you’ll have a small window of time to have the gown shipped to you so you can decide if it’s the right fit.
If you’ve rented early enough, you may be able to exchange your item for another size before your wedding day, so we recommend choosing a longer return window or ordering two sizes to be safe. Some rental sites send two sizes at once with no extra cost to you.
When the wedding is done, simply pack the dress up and ship it back before the specified return date. However, some websites do require you to steam and clean the dress before returning, so make sure to read the fine print.
Pros & Cons of Buying vs. Renting a Wedding Dress
We did some research and looked into the pros and cons of renting a wedding dress or buying a pre-owned one. This page was last updated in April of 2022.
| Rental | Pre-Owned | |
| Cost | $200–$2,000 | $50–$2,500 |
| Duration | Up to 2 weeks | Endless, can be sold or kept for future generations |
| Returns | Sometimes, there may be flexibility to change your rental if it doesn’t fit or work outOnce you finalize your rental, it may be a tight turn-around to return (typically 1-2 days) |
Varies |
| Resale | No | Yes |
| Alterations | Not allowed | Yes, any alterations can be made, allowing you to get a perfect fit |
| Cleaning | No need to clean/preserve it | Can clean & preserve it |
| Benefits | Great option for destination weddings (no need to try & pack it or have it wrinkled or potentially lost) |
The previous bride typically fixes any flaws or imperfections/cleans the gown before selling
You may receive additions or accessories (bustle, veil, etc.) |
| Downsides | Limited selection compared to buying new or pre-owned
Typically delivers 1-5 days before the big day (so choose your timing wisely) May have visible wear & tear Fit will likely not be ideal due to multiple wears and no alterations May have to pay a damage deposit/fee  No sentimental value & can’t be passed down to family members |
Less sentimental value knowing another bride wore it first |
The good news is that this decision is totally up to you! Choose whatever you’re comfortable with and what your budget and timeline allow. If you’re still unsure which direction to go, check out these gowns and see how they compare between a rental and pre-owned.
Galina Signature “SWG784” Dress
Via Rent My DressOleg Cassini “CWG731” Dress
Via Poshare
Berta “14-20” Dress
Via Rent My Dress- Retail: $7,630
- Buy: $6,000 on NearlyNewlyWed
- Re-sell: $4,904 on PreOwned
No matter what you choose, you’re sure to find something that will make you feel beautiful on your wedding day. If you do decide on a pre-owned wedding dress, be sure to check out our wide selection of more than 18,000 bridal gowns.
