Let's face it: Getting married can be super expensive. I've been through the whole thing, and in my experience, besides the catering bill, the next big expense is the frock. However, wedding dresses don't have to cost crazy amounts of money now, with plenty of high-street stores offering up a more affordable bridal selection. But what if you've got your eye on something designer and just don't have the budget? One word: rental.
The bridal-rental market is currently booming. Eshita Kabra-Davies, the founder of peer-to-peer rental platform By Rotation, told me that "By Rotation's bridal selection grew during lockdown with searches for bridal and wedding wear up by 1200% since March 2020. The number of brides renting from By Rotation is 10 times higher than it was before lockdown, with many now opting for more spontaneous, smaller ceremonies due to travel restrictions and an immediate need for the perfect dress or bag."
But then, since last month, the app saw an even bigger increase in the wedding dress selection. Shrimps Antonia bags and headbands are popular for accessories, Molly Whitehall's gown and tiara are also seeing a lot of views, and so are bags from sustainable brand Roop.
This is not only a great way to rent a designer dress but also a great way to help others get more use out of a dress that will, realistically, only be worn once for one day.
Keep scrolling to see examples of the gowns brides have rented and rented out on By Rotation. Then, keep going to see the wedding dresses to rent for your big day.
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Next up, the biggest autumn 2021 fashion trends to know.