Wedding Dresses on a Budget in 2023: Should you buy or rent?

When it comes to your big day, every detail counts. As does every penny, with wedding costs continuing to rise. You’ll want to look absolutely stunning in your outfit for the day, but the price of wedding dresses can easily cause your budget to skyrocket.

So, what can you do? Can you get a wedding dress on a budget? Are there really such things as affordable wedding dresses that look amazing?

Or could you do something a little different? Could you stick to your budget AND get your dream wedding dress by renting instead of buying?

Let’s take a look.

What’s a Reasonable Budget for a Wedding Dress?

Your wedding dress budget will depend entirely on your personal preferences, style, wedding theme and a number of other factors, but it’s always handy to have a benchmark.   

In the UK, if you’re considering a designer wedding dress, expect to pay anywhere from £1,000 to £10,000 or more. But if you want to spend your wedding budget elsewhere and are looking for a more affordable wedding dress, plan for costs of between £100 to £800. You could even find white dresses that can be styled as wedding dresses in high street shops like ASOS for under £100.

Whatever your budget, if you’re planning far enough in advance, you’ll find a stunning dress that will make you feel confident and beautiful on your big day… if you shop around and know where to look.

Where to Find Affordable Wedding Dresses

If you’re looking for a great-priced wedding dress, there are lots of different options. Try:

• High Street Stores: High street stores like John Lewis, Monsoon, Coast and even H&M offer lots of choices for brides-to-be. It will of course depend on the time of year, and stock might be limited, but these shops often have a variety of styles, making it easy to find the perfect dress for your big day.

• Online Retailers: Browse online retailers such as ASOS, Boohoo and Simply Be and you’ll find a wide selection of wedding dresses that can be delivered straight to your door. There’s an incredible mix of stunning styles (and you can order as many as you like to try in the comfort of your own home…just don’t let your partner see!)

• Bridal outlets: If you’re looking for a designer dress on a budget, bridal factory outlets specialise in selling off-the-rack wedding dresses at discounted prices. There are several in Cheshire, Staffordshire and the North West.

• Second-Hand Shops: An increasingly popular trend for weddings of all budgets is the second-hand (or upcycled) wedding dress.  Shops like Oxfam and other charity brands can be a great option for brides who are taking a different approach to their wedding. These shops often carry gently used dresses at a fraction of the cost of buying new ones.

But do you even need to buy?

Because along with second-hand wedding dresses, one of the hottest new trends for 2023 is to rent a wedding dress. After all, grooms are often known to rent their tuxes and suits for the big day, so why can’t brides enjoy more luxurious wedding dresses without blowing their budgets?

If you want to look truly amazing on your big day in a bridal gown that ticks all your boxes, but you want to spend your budget wisely, then renting a wedding dress could be just the option for you.

The average cost to buy a wedding dress in the UK is £1000. The average cost to rent a wedding dress is £200.

That’s a huge saving.

Think of how you could spend that money on your venue, your catering or your suppliers.

Renting a wedding dress is:

• A much more cost-effective option
• Gives you access to expensive designer dresses on a budget
• Space saving, because you don’t need to worry about storage options
• A great way to try sensational styles, fabrics and designs that you couldn’t afford to buy outright
• More efficient, since you probably won’t wear it ever again

There are more and more wedding dress rental companies to choose from too, with places like Girl Meets Dress., Something Borrowed and Infinite Closet all offering options to hire your wedding dress.

Is it better to buy or rent a wedding dress?

While renting a wedding dress has many advantages, there are some downsides too.

1. You won’t own your most special dress. If you’re a bride who wants to keep your wedding dress as a keepsake, then buying might be the best option for you.

• You might be limited with colours, customisation and fit. Renting limits your options to style a dress to match your theme and tailor it to fit your shape. Buying gives you complete control over both customisation and fit, to truly make it your own.

• The condition might be an issue. It’s very rare, but a rental wedding dress is not a brand-new one, so you might find some minor wear and tear.

• Availability may be limited. That means you’ll need to plan well ahead and might need to rent your wedding dress for months to make sure you have it for your big day.

But, despite the cons of hiring a wedding dress, the cost benefits are huge, especially if you’re on a budget.

So, what should you do?

Whether you choose to buy or rent a wedding dress, the key is to set a budget that you’re comfortable with and stick to it. Both renting and buying a wedding dress have their pros and cons, and the decision ultimately depends on personal preferences.

Do a little research, consider your options and decide what’s right for you and your wedding.

It doesn’t matter if you’re on a tight budget or have more to spend, there are many affordable wedding dress options that will match your style.

Just make sure you take the time and find a bridal gown that makes you look and feel beautiful on your special day.

We’re absolutely certain it will turn heads as you walk down the aisle in our oak-beamed barn, under the stars or outside on our grounds.