Renting: it's not just for tuxes anymore.
Check it out on line: you can rent a wedding dress.
Actually you can rent really nice wedding dresses and most cost between $55-150.
That's down a bit from what most people pay for their bridal gown!.
Now not every bride is going to go for a rental wedding gown.
But if you're cutting corners? Or if you're really not all that into the dress, would like something lovely, but don't need to own it? This is a great option.
It works better if you're a rather standard size, but as long as you don't cut anything, you can re-stitch (I'd use basting stitches so they held but came out easily, however!).
I was amazed at how many sites there are.
(Why am I amazed, can't you get everything on the web?) But the variety of dresses was what really amazed me.
And let's remember that there are some cultures where this is the norm.
If someone is going to have a religious celebration in Japan, they will often rent several of the many wedding kimonos involved.
(and P.
S.
Japan town can be a great place to purchase a used wedding kimono.
They're fabulous.
One of my brides did, and wore it as a coat over her incredible purple gown.
That way she paid homage to her heritage and wore a dress she wanted.
And she looked amazing!)

• Bridal Stores: Some of the bigger bridal stores have rentals.
  These are great because you can go there, try it on and rent it.
  That way you know what the fabric looks like and you're likely to get the right size for you.
  Which is fairly important.
  
• On Line Bridal/Wedding Supply: Most of these stores have dozens of styles and dozens of sizes.
  They even have a limited supply of period dresses.
  And some of the dresses were Designer gowns.
  Who knew?
• Costume Shops and Sites: They were onto this possibility early! Wanna be married as Marie Antoinette? They've got the gown for you.
  Anne Boleyn a little more your style? They can find it.
  (though she's probably not your luckiest bride, it's still a pretty wonderful look!)
• Ethnic Stores and Sites: If you want a traditional wedding dress to celebrate your heritage there are stores and on-line sites where you can get wedding garments from many different traditions.
  

Just a thought: If I were going to rent a gown from online, I would want to try it out once.
Providing you can make room in your budget.
You don't want to get your gown and hate it.
Even brides who don't care loads about their wedding dresses don't want to look less than fabulous on their wedding day.
I'd also want to spend a fair amount of time determining what kind of gown I looked best in.
If you're not good at that, ask a friend or family member whose judgment you trust.
This is a best-friend deal only if your best friend has a sense of style that will help you look beautiful on your wedding day.
But what a great idea! You wear it and then you ship it back and they dry clean it! And they already have the facilities to do that.
Doesn't have to be preserved for years, so you're off the hook on where to store it.
Rent a gown and spend your energy somewhere else.
Worry about the wedding ceremony and your wedding vows.
Make plans for a wonderful life together in your happily ever after marriage.
And have a wonderful wedding knowing that you looked fabulous for your beloved.
Have a wonderful wedding knowing you don't need to worry about your dress!