With 2022 heralded as the biggest year for weddings since 1984, it’s unsurprising that wedding costs are soaring. And, with sustainability a key priority for many couples, finding ways to stay eco-friendly AND cut costs is more important than ever. Cue, renting a wedding dress. Here, we pick out our favourite wedding dress rental and upcycling sites and the best dresses to rent for your wedding now.
[words by Tabitha Syrett]
Wedding experts have predicted that a typical wedding can cost between £9,000 and a staggering £32,000. Yet, CNBC reports that 48.5% of couples regret many of their wedding expenses.
Fashion is also already one of the world’s most polluting industries, producing 10% of all human carbon emissions; it’s also the world’s second largest water consumer.
It’s unsurprising, then, that many brides are increasingly opting to rent or recycle their gowns with terms such ‘pre-loved’ or ‘upcycle’ coming to the fore.
Where to Rent a Wedding Dress & Our Favourite Rented Dresses
Popularising the ‘rental revolution’, Carrie Johnson wore a £2,900 white tulle Christos Costarellos dress that she rented from My Wardrobe HQ for £45, while Jack Whitehall’s sister Molly’s 1930’s cream silk gown was sourced from William Vintage and can now be rented for £375 a day.
Lily Goodall, a wedding planner and the founder of Elizabeth Weddings, said: “Due to the high demand of wedding dresses this year, brides have turned to renting for their big day,” attributing the popularity of the trend to its financial and time saving advantages.
There is also a romantic element to upcycling, with some brides seeking to incorporate an aspect of history into their weddings with vintage gowns, whilst simultaneously cutting back costs. Here, we pick out the best rental or second-hand websites to rent your wedding dress from plus our favourite dresses available to rent or buy now.
Best Wedding Dress Rental Websites
Catering to all manner of styles, labels and designs, these wedding dress rental sites allow brides to incorporate fashion-forward dresses with luxury and low prices. Here’s our pick of the best.
HURR
Hurr Collective was the UK’s first peer-to-peer fashion rental service and has hundreds of stylish items available to rent, including wedding dress gowns by designers like Rowley Hesselballe.
As with other mainstream clothing websites, HURR also includes styling notes with the garment, along with the amount of CO2 saved by renting the item.
Rowley Hesselballe Rosa Maxi Dress on HURR, rental from £124
This dress by Rowley Hesselballe usually retails at £899 and is rentable on HURR for £124-£339, and more available in all sizes (XS, S, M, L, XL).
& For Love Harris Dress on HURR, rental from £245
This stunning & For Love wedding dress offers a crew neck, structured statement sleeves, an open back and a slight train and is described as being ‘super light’, making it perfect for summer weddings.
By Rotation
Catherine Deane Gown on By Rotation, rental from £290
This cut-out lace Catherine Deane gown is priced at an inexpensive £110 for a week’s rental on By Rotation (there is a minimal rental period of three days costing £76 a day), a sizeable decrease from its £750 retail price.
Maison Roula Dress on By Rotation, rental from £437
This romantic embroidered tulle dress available to rent from three days to two weeks is described as an ‘absolute dream to wear’, with an A-line cut, beautiful slit and detailed back.
My Wardrobe HQ
My Wardrobe HQ celebrates circular fashion with the option to both rent and buy womenswear designer clothes and accessories for 10% of their RRP, and even offers next day delivery.
Halfpenny London Houston Trousers on My Wardrobe HQ, from £32
This stunning duchesse-satin wedding ensemble featured on My Wardrobe HQ is listed on the website as costing £32 rental per day (with an RRP of £1,980), in sizes ranging from UK 10-14. The rental period extends from four days to fourteen, but can be extended if requested – perfect for reuse at future events!
Recycle My Wedding
Recycle My Wedding, an upcycling wedding dress site, promises to plant a tree with every purchase, offering the chance for brides to buy and sell pre-loved wedding items, emphasising the sustainable aspect of the process.
Stephanie Yallin Gown on Recycle My Wedding, £1,500
This stunning Stephanie Yallin number is now available to purchase on Recycle My Wedding for £1,500, just a fraction of the original price.
Shop now on Recycle My Wedding
Still White
Another second-hand wedding dress site rather than rental, Still White incorporates price-drop percentages to its site, emphasising the monetary value of buying a second-hand wedding dress.
According to the wedding insurance experts Protectivity, there are twelve Stella McCartney dresses available on Still White with an average cost of £907, nine Valentino dresses at an average of £474 and 104 Oscar de la Renta gowns retailing at an average price of £1,490, the latter in stark contrast to the average price of £9,200 for which the gowns are typically sold.
Susanne Neville Dress on Still White from £1,000
Budget-savvy brides seeking discounts need look no further than Suzanne Neville, (famous for dressing numerous celebrity weddings), with the designer’s recycled gowns being sold with an average price drop of 50.9%, such as this stunning ivory dress with a 67% price decrease, reduced from a retail price of £3,060 to £1,000 on Still White.
Oscar de la Renta Fall 2017 dress on Still White from £3,990
This Oscar de la Renta Fall 2017 dress is available on Still White for £3,990, a 67% decrease from the usual retail price of £12,009. The website includes the address of its original owner and specifies the necessary size of any prospective new owner.