Renting a wedding dress in the UK starts from around £20, and even designer gowns rent for a small fraction of their retail price. Where buying a designer dress might cost anywhere from £1,500 to £6,000 or more, renting the very same gown means wearing something extraordinary for one perfect day without the extraordinary price tag. Here is an honest look at what it actually costs, what is included, and how the numbers compare.
What renting a wedding dress actually costs
The simplest answer is that there is no single price, because the dress you choose sets the figure. Pre-loved gowns begin at around £20, and designer pieces sit higher, though always far below what the same dress would cost to buy. A gown that retails at several thousand pounds rents for a fraction of that, which is rather the point.
What matters most is that the rental price is inclusive. You are not paying for a dress you will wear once and then store in a wardrobe for the rest of your life. You are paying to borrow something beautiful for your wedding, and then to pass it gently on to the next bride. It is the kind, considered choice, and it is at the heart of everything we do.
What is included in the price
When you rent from Something Borrowed, the price you see covers far more than the dress alone. Your gown is delivered to your door, arriving freshly cleaned and pressed ahead of your date. After the wedding, you post it back using a prepaid label, and we take care of the dry cleaning. There is nothing to launder, nothing to store, and nothing to sell on afterwards.
- Designer and pre-loved wedding dresses, including Vivienne Westwood, Pronovias and Oui The Label.
- Bridesmaid dresses for the whole party, including Rewritten.
- Veils and accessories to finish the look.
Everything arrives ready to wear, and returns are simple and prepaid. The price is the price, with none of the quiet extras that come with buying.
Rent versus buy, an honest cost breakdown
It is easy to look only at the headline price of a wedding dress, but buying carries a few costs that are not always obvious at the till. A bought gown is rarely just the gown.
When you buy, you are usually paying for the dress itself, then alterations to make it fit, then professional cleaning afterwards, then somewhere to store it for years to come. Many brides also hope to resell, which means photographing, listing and posting the dress, often for far less than they paid. Add it all up and the true cost of buying is higher than the label suggests.
Renting folds all of that into one inclusive price. There are no alterations beyond a good fit on the day, no cleaning bill, no storage, and no resale hassle. You wear the dress you love, you send it back, and that is the end of it. For most brides, the difference runs to hundreds, sometimes thousands, of pounds.
How the home try-on cost works
Choosing a dress from a screen is one thing, but seeing it in your own light is another. Our £75 home try-on sends your shortlist to your door for four days, so you can try everything on at home, with the people whose opinion actually matters. There are no showroom appointments and no trips to London.
The £75 is redeemable against your rental, which means that if you go on to rent one of the gowns you tried, the try-on effectively costs you nothing extra. It is simply a way to be sure before you commit, in the comfort of your own home.
How to keep the cost down
If you are working to a budget, renting already does much of the work for you, but a few small choices help further. Browsing the pre-loved gowns is the gentlest place to start, with prices from around £20. Booking your home try-on early gives you the widest choice and the most time to decide without pressure.
It is also worth thinking about the whole look in one place. Renting the bridesmaid dresses and a veil alongside your gown keeps everything coordinated and saves you buying pieces that will only be worn once. The more you borrow rather than buy, the kinder the choice is, both to your budget and to the planet.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to rent a wedding dress in the UK?
Rental starts from around £20 for pre-loved gowns, with designer dresses renting for a small fraction of their retail price. Where buying a designer gown can cost £1,500 to £6,000 or more, renting the same dress costs a fraction of that, in one inclusive price.
Is renting a wedding dress cheaper than buying?
For most brides, yes. Buying means paying for the dress, alterations, cleaning and storage, often with the hassle of reselling afterwards. Renting folds everything into one price, with no storage and no resale, which usually saves hundreds or even thousands of pounds.
What is included in the rental price?
Your gown is delivered to your door, freshly cleaned and pressed. After your wedding you post it back with a prepaid label, and we handle the dry cleaning. There is nothing to launder, store or sell on afterwards.
How does the £75 home try-on work?
We deliver your shortlist to your home for four days, so you can try everything on in your own time. The £75 is redeemable against your rental, so if you go ahead it costs you nothing extra.
Can I rent bridesmaid dresses and veils too?
Yes. Alongside designer and pre-loved wedding dresses, you can rent bridesmaid dresses for the whole party, including Rewritten, plus veils and accessories to finish the look.
Browse the bridal collection or book your home try-on and see how little it costs to wear something extraordinary on your wedding day.