Renting bridesmaid dresses can be a great solution to conquer the battle of budgets, silhouettes and colour preferences all combining to give everyone a headache (especially if you've over-indulged in the complimentary champagne). But what if there was a way to 1) alleviate the cost and 2) give everyone a small but perfectly formed selection of styles? That's where high street bridesmaid dresses come in handy because, yes, they are possible to rent too.
After seeing a 900% surge in wedding rentals during and post-lockdown, it's no surprise that renting wedding attire has been on the rise - and not to mention saving costs on wedding budgets. With rental dresses, online stores are offering popular dresses like champagne and sage green bridesmaid dresses for as low as £20 to hire, so it's no surprise bridal parties are running to rental shops to stock up for the wedding season.
But what's the catch? Of course, when renting bridesmaid dresses, there's a chance it may not fit and you won't be able to get it altered. The trick to this is to look for longer days for renting, especially with bridesmaid dresses. Brands like Hirestreet allow options up to 30 days of renting, so even if it doesn't fit before the wedding bridesmaids can try them on and send them back. That means every size - including plus-size bridesmaid dresses - can fit perfectly.
This type of bridesmaid dress really works if you're going for the mix-and-match bridesmaid look, which has become ever so popular in recent years. Take different styles of dresses in a similar range of colour tones, and your bridal party will look effortless (without having to please everyone at the same time). Just rent each dress individually to make sure everybody can get what they really want - and look good whilst doing it.
So, if you're looking to rent your bridesmaid dresses, then there are a mass of options online to order right now. From Hirestreet to Hurr, here are our favourite choices for renting bridesmaid dresses below.
SHOP: Where To Shop When Renting Bridesmaid Dresses
Editor's Choice
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It's without a doubt that Reformation comes in as a solid go-to for dresses when wedding planning. The Reformation Andee Dress is subtle and sophisticated, coming in a blue that's perfect for autumn and winter. Rent on Hurr from £48.50 (and save yourself over £300).
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The Ghost Delphine Satin Maxi Dress is a crowd-pleaser and your bridesmaids will be happy with you for picking out this choice. With a v-neck and gathered sleeves, the Delphine dress suits many shapes and styles, and you can rent it in this classic rusty pink from £39.77 upwards.
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This Six Stories Cowl Back Dress is subtle but effective, with a cowl down the rear of the dress and a high neck front to make for both a comfortable but elegant fit. This one will work for bridal parties with updo hairstyles and light wedding colour schemes.
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If you're going for a blue theme, this Closet London Pale Blue Strapless Dress will keep your bridesmaids happy and even costs as low as £20 to rent.
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This Rewritten Porto Dress is available in multiple colours and multiple sizes on Hurr, so there's a good opportunity for you to have your bridesmaids all dressed up in the same. This burnt orange colour will suit autumnal events.
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With the RRP of this Galvan Pandora Dress coming in at over £800, it's no surprise the rental price is slightly higher than other choices online. You'll still be able to rent this from £200, with the bold orange making a statement for summer bridal parties.
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Red is the colour of love, after all. If you've got darker tones and red roses adorning your wedding, then this Ghost Salma dress on Hurr may be the top pick for your bridesmaids. Simply divine.
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Satin always seems to be a go-to material for bridesmaids' dresses. Jump on the trend with this Little Mistress Trooper dress, which is fully satin with a cross-over neck for a sophisticated finish. Coming in at only £20 to rent, it's truly tempting.
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If you haven't already had a look at Rixo bridesmaid dresses, then you'll need to take a peek at some of the most elegant choices of print fabric and ruffles there ever could be. With Hurr, you'll be able to knock over £250 off this original dress - and you'll look just as fabulous.
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A sage green bridesmaid dress never goes out of fashion, especially this off-the-shoulder Lipsy Bridesmaid Dress. This one will suit the spring and summer wedding themes out there if you're looking for fresh and light bridesmaid gowns.
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Partnering up with ASOS, Hirestreet has a mass selection of bridesmaid dresses from the ASOS Design collection, so you can get exactly what you want for even less. Prices of this Satin Kimono Sleeve Maxi Dress start from £20, so you'll be saving with this fashionable option.
Renting Bridesmaid Dresses: Advice From The Experts
Eshita Kabra-Davies, ByRotation's founder and CEO, decided to strike while the iron was hot, partnering with Halfpenny London, the bridalwear designer to many a fashion editor, on an exclusive range of bridesmaids dresses.
'We have such a high demand for wedding guest and bridesmaids dresses, this partnership is such a natural fit. I adore Kate’s timeless designs and am so thrilled that we can offer such a size-inclusive selection,' says Kabra-Davies, adding that it's the first time that the whole bridal party can be catered to on ByRotation, which already does a brisk trade-in wedding dresses and wedding guest dresses.
'I'm so passionate about making garments which are worn and loved again and again, for a wedding day, a special event, or just a glamorous evening out, and I can't wait for these pieces to be enjoyed by so many women,' says Kate Halfpenny, founder of Halfpenny London, of the partnership.
Something Borrowed also provides a wide selection of dresses including blue bridesmaid dresses, black and everything in between. The brand is a relatively new business, so its stock range is growing while also taking donations and offering a ‘buy-back’ scheme to brides to take on second-hand pieces. Offering a full range of sizes (UK6-22) with Something Borrowed's ReWritten collection, each dress can be worn in many different ways, aiming to suit every body type. Plus, the vast array of colours, from burnt orange to olive green bridesmaid dresses, and fabrics, including satin and chiffon, is one less stress for the bride-to-be.
The brand's initiative is to step away from the magnitude of waste in the wedding industry, and said, 'We’re trying to change the mindset of Brides and encourage more re-use of single-wear pieces that end up unused in people’s wardrobes!' And from prices starting at £15 a day, it's actually more cost-efficient than buying.
Natalie Hammond is the Senior Fashion News Editor for Grazia UK.