The Best Wedding Clothes on Rental Websites for Guests

As fun as it is to wear something new every time you have a wedding-related event on the horizon, it's no secret that the cost of buying that many outfits adds up. So how is one supposed to keep their looks exciting without breaking the bank? Enter: wedding clothes on rental sites. Nowadays, there are so many great rental companies out there offering a range of of-the-moment, party-ready pieces for every wedding event and role. If you think renting might be the move for you, you've come to the right place. Below, we're breaking down the best places for every kind of wedding outfit rental—your wallet will thank you.

The Top Wedding Outfit Rental Sites, Loved by The Knot Editors

Since there are so many options out there, finding the best wedding clothes on rental sites can be hard. That's why we've created a short list of our favorites to help you start shopping ASAP.

• The best for size-inclusivity: Nuuly
• The best for inventory and options: Rent the Runway
• The best for luxury and rare pieces: Louvelle

In this article:

• The Best Sites for Wedding Outfit Rentals, According to Reviews
• Why an Outfit Rental Is Perfect for Weddings

The Best Sites for Wedding Outfit Rentals, According to Reviews

Ready to dive into the world of wedding clothes on rent? Whether you're in search of a dress certain to make an impression at the welcome party or a festive two-piece outfit for the bachelorette, the following clothing rental sites have all your bases covered.

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Nuuly

Photo: Nuuly

Did you know you can rent some of the most popular styles found at Anthropologie, Free People and Urban Outfitters? Nuuly, a subscription clothing rental service in the same family of brands, charges a monthly flat rate of $98 to access six clothing items per month plus complimentary laundry and repairs. Once your billing date approaches, you can either buy the items for a discounted price or return them to unlock your next monthly shipment. While you're searching for options, save your favorites 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. This is why the brand recommends saving lots of different options just in case.

Sarah Hanlon, an expert on clothing rentals and an editor at The Knot, explains why she loves this trendy site: "Nuuly is my tried-and-true secret weapon for wedding guest looks. I prefer not to be an outfit-repeater, but I don't have enough space in my New York City closet to constantly buy new dresses. In my opinion, Nuuly offers the best rental option on the market—six styles at $98/box is an excellent deal, especially if you need additional looks for other wedding events like a rehearsal dinner, welcome party or day-after brunch. Here's my tip: Sort dresses using the 'Newest' filter to increase your chance of getting something that's unworn with tags."

• Best for: On-trend dress rentals for weddings and prewedding events
• Sizes: XXS–5X; Plus, petite, tall and maternity sizes available
• One-time rentals: No
• Membership plan: Yes
• Cost: Membership is $98/month

Rent the Runway

Photo: Rent the Runway

When it comes to high-end, designer outfits on rent and glamorous accessories to match, Rent the Runway has you covered. Browsing through the site's rotating closet of dresses, bags and jewelry is a breeze—simply filter by the formality level of your event and the weather to narrow down your search. Rent the Runway has a monthly membership that starts at $129 for five items per month and includes free dry cleaning. With each plan, you start with five rental slots and can swap out or add additional items as you please. Best of all, members can keep each item for as long as they'd like—and you have the option to buy the styles you absolutely love, which is why Rent the Runway is one of the best places to buy wedding guest dresses. Bonus: If there's a lull on your event calendar, you can pause or edit your membership.

This popular site even has one-time rentals available. Hanlon talks about how the perk benefited her needs: "I'm a big fan of using Rent the Runway's one-time rental plan for special occasions—I once snagged a gorgeous blue floral Mac Duggal gown when I attended the Golden Bachelor wedding on behalf of The Knot (yes, really). More recently, I used it to source a sparkly chartreuse off-the-shoulder dress for a gala with a 'Black-Tie Reimagined' dress code. I love the ability to select single pieces for events without needing to get a full monthly rental plan. You can choose whether you keep the dress for four or eight days, which I find incredibly convenient." Bonus: One-time rentals come with a free backup size.

• Best for: One-time rentals and designer gowns, bags and jewelry
• Sizes: 0–22; Maternity sizes available
• One-time rentals: Yes
• Membership plan: Yes
• Cost: Memberships from $129/month; One-time rental rates vary

FashionPass

Photo: FashionPass

While you can rent a dress for formal events with FashionPass, it's an especially great choice for casual, semi-formal and cocktail options—think everything from a complete bachelorette wardrobe to chic rehearsal dinner looks. For $125, a subscription provides access to two orders of five items per month from brands like Show Me Your Mumu, ASTR The Label, For Love & Lemons and more. In other words, FashionPass pretty much has the entire wedding weekend covered. For example: If you're looking for bridesmaid dresses online, you can rent a bridesmaid dress and something to wear to the shower, bridesmaid luncheon and rehearsal dinner.

Orders placed before 12 p.m. PST are shipped on the same day and will arrive in just one to three days, making it a great option for those in need of a last-minute look. And, as with many other rental sites, shipping and dry cleaning are conveniently included in the membership fee. Best of all? Customers get up to 90% off items that they want to purchase. Other highlights members praise FashionPass for are their excellent customer service and easy clothing drop-off experience.

• Best for: Casual, semi-formal and cocktail dress rentals
• Sizes: XXS–4XL; Petite sizes available
• One-time rentals: No
• Membership plan: Yes
• Cost: Membership is $125/month

Louvelle

Photo: Louvelle

If you're looking for a unique platform to rent dresses from designer archives and much more, Louvelle is what you've been waiting for. The two-year-old company allows renters to enjoy luxury fashion brands, like Cholé, The Row and Dries van Noten, while lenders monetize pieces that have been sitting in their closets. Whether you're buying or loaning, you have to be a vetted member to be on the platform. This is so Louvelle can keep up their standards for trustworthy exchanges, which means you have to request an invite and remain on a waitlist until approved—it's said the company goes through this standby list daily. Also, the prices vary on the app because they depend on each item's category, condition, rarity and designer. And when it comes to logistics, the renters cover shipping costs and postrental cleaning fees.

Esther Lee, a fashionista and the editorial director at The Knot, can't stop raving about this new way to rent items: "'What are you wearing?' is no longer a simple question. The most fashion-forward attendees are thoughtfully pulling together the complete picture. Think: bags, shoes and other accessories, in addition to coveted wardrobe pieces. Enter Louvelle, a peer-to-peer rental community that brings rare and often-inaccessible items (à la Matthieu Blazy's Maxi Flap Bag for Chanel) within reach. What I especially like about the platform is the Trust Score and transparency around cleaning fees. That way, both the buyer and seller are held accountable for the most seamless service." Note: The Trust Score is a rating that's influenced by whether or not a member returns items on time, has accurate listings, communicates clearly and more. This shows other members your reliability, and a higher score allows you to access higher-end rentals and have more flexibility while you rent.

• Best for: Unconventional and high-end clothing and accessory rentals
• Sizes: Depends on what's available
• One-time rentals: Yes
• Membership plan: Yes
• Cost: Free; Invite-only membership

By Rotation

Photo: By Rotation

Before you go out and drop top dollar on new wedding outfits (that, let's be honest, you'll probably only wear once), rent dresses online through By Rotation instead. Similar to Louvelle, this app allows you to rent clothing directly from other lenders' closets, meaning you'll find everything from affordable brands to high-end designers. Think: Poshmark or Depop but for one-time clothing rentals. The site has easy-to-browse, curated collections for a range of wedding roles, events and sizes, including bridesmaids, black-tie and formal affairs and maternity looks, with hundreds of styles from brands like Reformation, Cult Gaia, Chanel and more. Another unique factor is that you can rent shoes and accessories while you're at it, allowing you to curate your entire look from head to toe. Reviewers' favorite aspects about By Rotation are that prices are ultra-affordable, and that they earned some extra cash by listing their old bridesmaid and wedding guest dresses on the app. Talk about a win-win.

• Best for: Unique one-time gown, shoe and accessory rentals
• Sizes: Depends on what's available
• Membership plan: No
• One-time rentals: Yes
• Cost: One-time rental rates vary

Pickle

Photo: Pickle

Another peer-to-peer clothing rental site, Pickle is made to help you get the outfit you need as soon as the same day. Looking for wedding guest looks? Check out the dedicated section for your event, and filter by size, location (you can do local or nationwide), price, fashion category (like costumes or body suits) and your desired clothing rental dates. Once you've found the piece you want, you'll see the delivery methods the lender has available (courier, in-person hand-off or shipping), their cleaning policy, their rating and any additional information about the item. Something that Pickle offers that other rental companies don't is the opportunity to request a lower price (as low as 80% of the listed rental price), which the lender can accept decline or counter. Bonus: If you need to extend your rental, you can do so by asking the lender directly through the app, and if you really love an outfit, some lenders list a buying price.

• Best for: Last-minute shoppers who need their outfit ASAP
• Sizes: 00–26
• Membership plan: No
• One-time rentals: Yes
• Cost: One-time rental rates vary

BNTO

Photo: BNTO

BNTO is only four years old, but it's made a huge impact in the clothing rental industry. By opting into the $98 monthly membership, you can rent six items, get free shipping and returns, and not worry about late fees or damage fees (this is a big deal in our book). Laundry and dry cleaning is included with the membership, and you can pause or cancel the service at any time. BNTO also offers customers more than $20 in bonus credits per month, which can be used to purchase other products on their site. There's even an AI stylist tool to help shoppers find similar pieces to the item they've selected or look for the best item to style with their current pick. And if you've fallen in love with something you've rented, you can buy it for up to 75% off.

• Best for: Avoiding excessive rental fees
• Sizes: XS–3XL
• Membership plan: Ye
• One-time rentals: No
• Cost: Membership is $98/month

Why an Outfit Rental Is Perfect for Weddings

For Ashley DuFour, former marketing manager at Rent the Runway and self-proclaimed professional wedding guest, renting is about so much more than just saving money. For one, it opens up a world of designers and price points that may have otherwise been unattainable. "Rent the Runway has provided me access to designer pieces that I never would've wanted to spend so much money on for a one-time wear," she says. Dress rentals like this on-trend, cowl-neck piece by Altuzarra retails for a cool $1,495, but by snagging a membership, pulling the trigger on a couture piece feels a lot less intimidating.

DuFour emphasizes that renting is also a sustainable solution to the single-wear issue that often comes with wedding attire. "The fashion industry as a whole produces so much waste, and wedding attire is a perfect example of items that are often worn just once," she adds. Add in the convenience factor—which, let's be real, is a major plus for bridesmaids, mother-the-grooms and guests alike—and it's easy to see why borrowing instead of buying is a no-brainer, no matter the wedding dress code.

Additional reporting by Kate Boswell.