Let’s get real here: No matter how much a bride insists you’ll be able to wear a bridesmaid dress again, chances are, it will never see the outside of your closet after the wedding. And with price tags that can easily top $200 or $300, that can be a huge bummer for both bridesmaids and their wallets.
Enter bridesmaid dress rental websites: They solve the problem of having to shell out hundreds of dollars for a dress you’ll only wear once. Being a bridesmaid has never been easier--or more cost-efficient. Here are our top picks for the best bridesmaid dress rental websites to help you with your search.
The 4 Best Bridesmaids Rental Websites of 2023
- Rent the Runway: Best Overall
- Poshare: Best for Mismatched Bridesmaid Dresses
- StyleLend: Best Insurance
- NUULY: Best Subscription Service
Rent the Runway: Best Overall
You already know it, and you already love it. But did you know Rent the Runway is also the perfect place to rent bridesmaid dresses? Actually, it’s the ideal spot to rent gorgeous attire for almost the entire wedding party—even for the bride.
From long to short, to chiffon to silk, and a wide range of sizes, there is no beating Rent the Runway’s bridesmaid dress style options. Plus, the company’s customer service is unparalleled: You can order two sizes for no additional fee, so you can ensure the frock fits just right (wedding photos last forever, after all).
In addition to party frocks, work attire, and subscription options, the OG clothing rental service also offers wedding dresses, killer options for mothers of bride and guests, and, of course, bridesmaid dresses that’ll earn the stamp of approval of even the pickiest of ‘maids. Rental prices start at roughly $30 for a four-day rental, and with bridal-favorite designers that include Jenny Yoo, Monique Lhuillier, Marchesa, and Amsale, bridesmaids will be seriously saving on price tags that can reach more than $1,300.
And if you run into any issues, you can give the company's accommodating customer service line a quick ring. From replacements to overnighting additional sizes, they’re always happy to help—just like the ultimate maid of honor.
Poshare: Best for Mismatched Bridesmaid Dresses
Who doesn’t love rifling through their BFF’s closet? Poshare is like going through the closets of hundreds of friends. This clothing rental website allows you to both borrow and buy designer dresses directly from the wardrobes of others.
Among the offerings for all kinds of clothes and accessories, you’ll find an entire section dedicated to bridesmaids. Designers include Adrianna Papell and Mori Lee, and, while the lender may have shelled out a few hundred bucks for the gown, you can score it for up to 85% less with prices starting at roughly $50.
Simply get the girls together and find your favorite frocks. While there are tons of options, there isn’t an infinite number of dresses available for every single style. So, Poshare is best for achieving a trendy, mismatched bridesmaids look.
After you make your selections, choose the length of your rental (either four, seven, or 14 days), as well as your delivery method. If the lender is in your area, you can simply arrange to quickly meet up in person to get your gown—and they may even allow you to try on the frock before you take it home.
Shipping is also an option, and after the wedding has come and gone you can either meet up again to return the dress or ship it back. Now this is bridesmaid dress shopping made simple.
StyleLend: Best Insurance
What’s the second worst thing after a bride spilling some champagne on her wedding dress? A bridesmaid spilling champagne on her dress. But if this reception mishap happens when you’re wearing a rented bridesmaid dress, you're in luck.
With StyleLend, renters pay a $5 insurance fee, so if they damage the dress via champagne spillage or breaking it down on the dance floor, there's no harm done. With so much to worry about in the bridal party, your dress doesn't need to be a part of it.
In addition to its rental insurance, StyleLend also touts a ton of designers and styles. Like Poshare, you’ll rent directly from other people—meaning, if you want to earn some extra cash, you can lend out any of those other bridesmaid dresses you may have purchased before learning of these cost-saving sites.
As for the rest of the dress details, rentals last for seven days (you can discuss extensions with the lender). And if your fancy frock doesn’t fit just right, you can return it within 24 hours of receiving it for a refund.
NUULY: Best Subscription Service
If you constantly find yourself in demand as a wedding party member, a subscription rental service may be for you.
With a NUULY membership, you’ll pay a monthly fee and will be able to rent a certain number of pieces. In fact, you’ll get six stunning pieces for roughly $88 a month. Keep your picks for as long as you want, and then when you send them back, you’ll get to choose six more. You can pause your subscription at any time, too, in case of a slow wedding season or a lull in your social calendar.
What makes this system so great for bridesmaids is the fact that they’ll be able to score a budget-friendly wardrobe for the entire wedding weekend for just one flat fee. From an outfit for the rehearsal dinner to a new look for the morning-after brunch, NUULY has you covered.
As for bridesmaid dresses, the site boasts plenty of formal and cocktail options from designers that include Monique Lhuillier, Anna Sui, and Ralph Lauren. And if you happen to fall in love with any of your wedding looks, NUULY even allows you to purchase them at a discount. How cool is that?
How We Chose the Best Bridesmaid Rental Websites
Between planning the bridal shower and bachelorette party, bridesmaids have enough to do. That’s why we did the legwork for them and found the best places online to rent bridesmaid dresses. How did we make our selections? We searched for the sites that offered the largest range of designers, styles, and sizes.
For instance, Rent the Runway boasts beautiful options in sizes that range from 0-22 in fabrics that include satin, chiffon, and lace in a rainbow of hues. (We wanted as many bridesmaids as possible to be able to find a frock that fit the wedding theme and season, as well as their own personal style and body type.) We also took into account any extra special offerings, such as insurance and stellar customer service. (Be sure to check out that $5 insurance policy at StyleLend.)
What Are Bridesmaid Dress Rental Websites?
Instead of buying a dress you’ll only wear once, bridesmaid dress rental websites allow you to rent frocks as easily as you’d rent a movie. Bridesmaids can choose from an array of styles, sizes, and designers and pay only a fraction of the retail price to rent a dress for a few days. After the wedding day comes and goes, you simply send the dress back. No more wasting major moolah or precious closet space.
Thanks to these bridesmaid dress rental websites, if you’ve been invited to be in a wedding party, the expense of a three-figure dress doesn’t have to stand in your way of accepting. And if you’re a bride, you can make things easier on your besties by choosing rentable gorgeous gowns for your girls. (Best bride ever, much?)
How Much Do Bridesmaid Dress Rental Websites Cost?
The exact cost to rent a bridesmaid dress varies from website to website and even from dress to dress. Typically, the more expensive the retail price of a specific gown, the higher the rental cost. For reference, our favorite bridesmaid dress rental websites offer frocks from about $30 to upward of $270—which, while it sounds pricey, is still significantly less than the retail cost.
What Are the Rental Length Times for Bridesmaids Rental Websites?
Again, this varies from website to website. For the ones that made this list, rental length periods range between four and 30 days. So, whether you need a frock for a wedding weekend or a week-long destination celebration, you're covered.