These 7 Dress Rental Sites Will Help Save You Money on Your Wedding Wardrobe

If you love the idea of picking out cute bridal outfits for all your wedding-related events, you're not alone. But it's no secret that the cost of buying a bunch of new dresses adds up quickly—so how can you save money and still rock a few different looks? We've got two words for you: Rent them. Nowadays, there are several great rental companies offering trendy and occasion-worthy clothes from all your favorite brands. But each one—whether it's a one-time rental service or monthly membership—is different, so finding the right option for you is key.

When it comes to renting a dress, we always recommend reading customer reviews, familiarizing yourself with the rental policy and selecting some backup options just in case. And because sizing varies across brands and rental sites, it's important to consult the size guides to help you find the right fit. Some companies offer interactive tools for customized size suggestions, which make shopping even easier.

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If you think that a bridal dress rental might be the move for you, you've come to the right place. Below, we're breaking down the best places to rent dresses for wedding events and detailing exactly what you need to know before diving in.

Why Dress Rentals are Perfect for Weddings

From your bachelorette party to your big day, we can guarantee you'll be posing for plenty of photo ops. That being said, you'll probably be in the market for a few camera-ready looks. Opting for rented outfits instead of buying new ones can be a great way to save money on your bridal wardrobe (because let's face it, planning a wedding is anything but cheap). Plus, with so many amazing rental services out there, the options are virtually endless (a.k.a. You can find the looks you love for less). We call that a win-win.

Not only are dress rentals convenient, they're also more sustainable. Because you'll send your looks back after you're done wearing them, there's much less textile waste involved (and let's be real: you probably wouldn't get much use out of those bridal looks after your 'I-do's anyways). With so many benefits for the environment (and your wallet), we're all for renting your wedding looks. Oh, and P.S.: Renting bridesmaid and mother-of-the-bride dresses is just as easy. Keep scrolling to check out some of our favorite sites to find wedding-ready looks.

1. Nuuly

Photo: Nuuly

Best For: Trendy looks for all your pre-wedding events
Sizes: (XXS - XXL), Plus (1X - 5X), Petite (XXS P - XXL P)
Membership Plan: Yes
One-Time Rentals: No
Cost: Memberships from $98/month

Rent the cutest pieces from the company behind BHLDN, Anthropologie, Free People and Urban Outfitters. Nuuly's rental subscription charges a monthly flat rate of $98 for its service, which ships six clothing items per month (with laundry and repairs included in your plan). You'll need to either buy or return unpurchased items by your billing date to receive your next monthly shipment. While you're searching for options, save your favorite bridal dresses or bridesmaid dresses to your personal Nuuly closet. (Note: Adding the item to your closet won't hold the item for you, so there's a chance it might be out of stock when you want to rent it—which is why the brand recommends saving lots of different options just in case.) With so many trendy dress styles for the bride-to-be, you'll feel well-dressed for all your prewedding affairs without spending a hefty fee. We love that the service also offers plenty of plus and petite size options. Best of all, if you're a new Nuuly member, you can use the code 'THEKNOT20' to get $20 off your first order.

2. Rent the Runway

Photo: Rent the Runway

Best For: One-time and designer dress rentals for brides and bridesmaids
Sizes: 00 - 22
Membership Plan: Yes
One-Time Rentals: Yes
Cost: Memberships from $89/month; one-time rental rates vary

Rent the Runway is a go-to rental company for brides looking for formalwear. It's completely free to browse through the site's rotating closet of designer dresses and accessories; filter for the formality of your event and the weather to narrow down your search.

Uniquely, RTR offers one-time rentals, which is ideal if you're searching for one dress rather than multiple. The service is called RTR Reserve and the process is simple: Once you find a dress you like, select a four- or eight-day rental period and enter the delivery and return dates to ensure it's available for your occasion. (Pro tip: You can make your reservation up to four months in advance.) Each Reserve order includes one free backup size and complementary dry cleaning.

RTR also offers a monthly membership with even more benefits, including free shipping and flexible returns (here are all the membership perks). It's $89 for four items per month, $99 for ten items per month and $164 for 20 items per month—plus, there are new member discounts. With each plan, you'll start with four rental slots, then swap out items as you please. Best of all, you can keep each item for as long as you'd like—and you have the option to buy the styles you absolutely love. Bonus: If there's a lull on your event calendar, you can pause or edit your membership.

3. The Dress Outlet

Photo: The Dress Outlet

Best For: Affordable wedding dress rentals
Sizes: XS - 7XL
Membership Plan: No
One-Time Rentals: Yes
Cost: $27 - $1,300

The gown of your dreams may be closer than you think thanks to The Dress Outlet. The ultra-convenient one-time dress rental site allows you to browse gorgeous options from the brands you love, including designer labels like Mac Duggal and Jovani. We love that the Dress Outlet offers a little something for everyone, whether you're the bride, mother-of-the-bride, wedding party member, or guest. The best part? You can seamlessly browse these different categories on their website, making it easy to narrow your search. If you're looking to commit to a fit, you can also shop looks at wholesale prices directly from their site. Seriously, who doesn't love a good deal?

Perhaps our favorite thing about The Dress Outlet is their dedication to promoting body positivity and fashion inclusivity for people of all shapes and sizes. On their site you can explore looks in sizes ranging from XS to 7XL. Due to high demand, certain sizes and styles may be out on loan during your desired dates, so be sure to give yourself enough lead time before ordering.

4. FashionPass

Photo: FashionPass

Best For: Unlimited dress rentals
Sizes: 00 - 12, XS - XL
Membership Plan: Yes
One-Time Rentals: No
Cost: $79/month - $139/month

FashionPass is an unlimited rental subscription service where you can rent dresses for your wedding events. Search by occasion, dress style and color to shop fashion-forward frocks from Show Me Your Mumu, ASTR The Label, For Love & Lemons, ELLIATT and more. The site offers three plans ranging from $69 to $129 for the first month (and $79 to $139 for every month after). The least expensive option is the Socialite, where you can rent two clothing items and one accessory at a time, followed by the Trendsetter, where you can reserve up to three clothing items and two accessories. Finally, the most expensive option, Wanderlust, will let you keep four clothing items and three accessories at once. What's great about FashionPass is that you can swap your box for a new one as many times as you want, plus you keep your items for as long as you please—so the frequency is entirely up to you. As with other rental sites, shipping and dry cleaning are conveniently included in your membership fee. Additionally, you can purchase your rentals for a members-only discount of 30% to 60% off.

5. Vince Unfold

Photo: Vince Unfold

Best For: Luxury and minimalist dress rentals
Sizes: 00–24, XXS–XXXL
Membership Plan: Yes
One-Time Rentals: Yes
Cost: $160/month for a membership; one-time rental rates vary

Here's another clothing rental subscription site to keep on your radar: Vince Unfold. For one flat fee of $160 per month, you'll have access to Vince's high-end clothing collection, including the brand's newest dresses refreshed on a weekly basis. First, curate at least 10 items in your personal "Edit" and prioritize your favorites, then the rental site will use your priorities to send you four pieces at a time. After your event, send back the items in a prepaid bag or own your favorite pieces by purchasing them at a discounted price. While this dress rental option is pricier than others, Vince's luxurious pieces are well worth the monthly price tag. You'll appreciate having these beautiful dresses handy for your wedding weekend and beyond.

In addition, Vince recently launched the Borrow program, an extension of its rental service where you can "borrow" individual pieces without the monthly subscription fee. Simply browse the site for items that catch your eye. Once you find something you like, select your preferred size and color; if the item is available to rent, a Borrow button will appear with the rental price and return date. (If you'd like to keep the item for a longer period of time, you'll have to pay a daily usage fee for the extra days.) Before you start shopping, keep two things in mind. First, availability fluctuates with inventory, so you may have to check back if you don't see the button for your size. Second, your rental window will start immediately—there's no option to schedule your rental for a future date.

6. Fashion to Figure Closet

Photo: Fashion to Figure Closet

Best For: Plus-size dress rentals
Sizes: 12–28, XL–3XL
Membership Plan: Yes
One-Time Rentals: Yes
Cost: Memberships from $89/month; one-time rental rates vary

Fashion To Figure's rental closet is a plus-size subscription service where you get to choose the dress styles and accessories that'll be sent directly to you. FTF Rental offers two monthly membership plans starting at $55 a month: The first allows three clothing pieces per month, while the other allows three clothing items and two accessories per month (so you could easily rent multiple outfits for different pre-wedding festivities). To return your items, use the prepaid bag and drop off your unpurchased pieces in the mail, which will then prompt an email letting you know that it's time to pick out new styles. If something doesn't fit, you get to rate your items, so you'll receive better suggestions in the future. On the flipside, if you love something, you can buy it for up to 50% off the retail price. And similar to some other subscriptions, you can pause your membership at any time.

7. By Rotation

Photo: By Rotation

Best For: Bridesmaid and wedding guest dress rentals
Sizes: 00 - 20
Membership Plan: No
One-Time Rentals: Yes
Cost: One-time rental rates vary

Attending a wedding as a guest? Before you go out and drop top dollars on a new dress (that, let's be honest, you'll probably only wear once), consider renting one with By Rotation instead. By Rotation is a social fashion app that allows you to rent clothing listed by other users, as well as create listings of your own. Think: Poshmark or Depop but for one-time clothing rentals. Their wedding guest dress edit includes hundreds of vibrant options for both bridesmaids and guests, including looks from brands you know and love, like Reformation, BHLDN and House of CB. Not only are their prices ultra-affordable, but you can also earn a bit of extra cash by listing your old bridesmaid and wedding guest dresses on the app. Talk about a win-win.

*Sofia Deeb contributed to the reporting of this article