Bridal gowns are a central element of any wedding.
They can also be a major budget buster.
Thats over five times the $283 grooms spend on average for their wedding day attire.
Wedding dresses available for rental are displayed at Lending Luxuries in Tampa. Fla. Tina Russell/The Penny Hoarder
And then theres always the question of what to do with a wedding dress afterward?
And youll probably have to shell out several hundred if youre getting it professionally preserved, according toBrides.
Grooms have long rented tuxedos, so why cant brides rent their gowns?
After all, its a dress likely to be worn only once.
Probably not as good as youd like.
It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings.
But what if your car breaks down, or you have a sudden medical bill?
Stores specializing in black-tie attire or even prom dresses may have options youd love for your wedding.
[Renting is] going to be more cost effective, Rosen said.
You could put that money towards something else, towards your honeymoon or a house, she said.
Sizes range from 0 to 22.
Brides can rent their dresses for a four-day or eight-day time period.
After the wedding, the renter just ships the dress back via UPS at no additional cost.
The company charges a $50/day late fee if the item is not shipped back on time.
Rentals Are Not Just for Dresses
A wedding ensemble isnt complete without a few accessories.
Brides who want to wear thousand-dollar diamond jewelry can rent pieces fromAdornat prices that start from under $100.
Score a deal at a sample sale.
Purchase a pre-owned dress.
Tailor a gown passed down from a family member.
Need more ideas for finding a dress on a budget?
Check out thesetips from Say Yes to the Dress.
It also wouldnt work for a woman who plans to save her dress as an heirloom.
Nicole Dow is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder.
(Can you sense my millennial sarcasm there?)
You know which ones were talking about: rent, utilities, cell phone bill, insurance, groceries…
