From Now on, This Is How I'm Doing Wedding Guest Dressing
There are three main reasons I've decided to start renting my wedding guest dresses. The first two go hand-in-hand; I'm reaching an age when more and more people I know are getting married, and the rising cost of living aside, there's no way I can afford to buy a new dress for each event.
But perhaps the most important reason is that buying a brand-new dress isn't exactly sustainable. Of course, we're not telling you it's wrong to buy yourself a frock you feel great in—and you'll get a tonne of wear out of an LBD or floral midi, for example—but there's no need to splurge every time you get an invite in the mail. By renting instead, you can show up in something that's new to you, but that won't be shoved to the back of your wardrobe and forgotten about post-reception.
It's also a great way to try out trends that you know won't be around forever, or that you predict you'll tire of quickly. Personally, I lean towards classic style, so I know my interest in more out-there trends will probably be short-lived. But that doesn't mean I don't enjoy the experience of sporting something outside of my comfort zone from time to time, so renting is perfect for me.
And I'm not the only one—according to a 2024 Klarna study, 16.5% of people are now choosing to rent their wedding attire. If you're yet to join this statistic, you may be thinking "Sounds great! But how do I do it?” Well, the good news is there's now a host of clothing rental platforms dedicated to making your dream wedding guest dress more accessible. Whether you've been lusting after a particular designer buy that's way beyond your budget, or you didn't manage to get your hands on a popular piece before it sold out, you might just find what you're looking for on one of these rental sites.
Scroll on for a run-down of our go-to platforms and a brief guide to how they work, plus the dresses I'll be considering for the weddings in my calendar.
1. HURR
HURR was the first rental platform I was introduced to a few years ago, and to this day it has one of the most impressive selections. You can rent dresses from designers like Ganni and Rixo and high-end labels including Chloe and Dior for a fraction of their retail price. Choose the length of time you'll need the item for—from four to twenty days—and select your dates. At the end of your rental period, all you need to do is package up the dress and send it back—HURR takes care of the dry cleaning, making the process as seamless as possible.
Rent from HURR:
This piece could work for all dress codes, including balmy destination weddings.
I remember this dress was everywhere a few seasons ago, and it's still just as desirable as ever.
2. BY ROTATION
With a catalogue of over 65 thousand items—from Jimmy Choo shoes to Réalisation dresses—By Rotation will leave you spoiled for choice. When you've managed to whittle it down to one piece you love, send a request to the lender with all the important details. Once the lender accepts, voilà! Your designer gem will arrive on your chosen day, and when the time comes to hand it over, By Rotation can arrange for it to be collected from your home. Easy peasy.
Rent from By Rotation:
You can't tell from the photo, but this is actually made from vegan leather. So cool.
3. JOHN LEWIS
John Lewis' rental service is powered by HURR, but there are marked differences between the two. First off, listings are combined and most pieces are available in a range of sizes, rather than just the one. And secondly, there's no information about individual lenders on John Lewis' site, which makes it feel more like we're shopping direct from the retailer and are therefore in safe hands (though this is absolutely the case with HURR, too). It really depends on your preferences.
Rent from John Lewis:
Voluminous, tiered dresses will be everywhere this wedding season.
4. MY WARDROBE HQ
If you're panicking and in need of a last-minute dress, turn to My Wardrobe HQ. This innovative platform offers next-day delivery in the UK, so you don't have to sit around and wait for your dream dress to show up. The handy calendar view on each listing shows clearly when a piece is available, and when it's already been reserved for someone else's special do. Also, if you sign up for My Wardrobe HQ's newsletter, you get 10% off your first rental. I'm sold.
Rent from My Wardrobe HQ:
Lilac is one of the classiest colour choices for a wedding.
The details on this dress are standout—get ready for compliments.
6. COCOON
Okay so you've found your perfect dress—now it's time to accessorise. Cocoon is a luxury handbag rental service, and it operates in a pretty unique way. Instead of borrowing pieces individually, you pay a membership fee and this includes access to a wide selection of bags. It's like joining an exclusive club. There are two membership tiers, Premium and Deluxe—the latter includes access to a whole separate edit—and you can pay monthly or quarterly. Find more information about the different options right here.
Rent from Cocoon:
Included in membership
This one isn't just for weddings.
Included in membership
Gucci bags come with a hefty price tag, so this is a great way to try the look for less.
Included in membership
This would go with whatever dress you choose to wear.
Included in membership
The perfect size for your wallet, phone and a lipstick.
Bébhinn Campbell is an Edinburgh-based fashion and lifestyle writer and editor. She started her first blog at age 14 and went on to intern at print and digital publications in Berlin and London, including Dazed & Confused and Indie magazine.
A job at a fashion startup took Bébhinn from Ireland to Scotland in 2019, where she now works as a freelance journalist and copywriter covering everything from travel and interiors to styling advice. As a contributor to Who What Wear, Bébhinn always keeps her eyes peeled for emerging trends and looks worth writing about. She prides herself on her ability to cut through the noise and identify solid investment buys, exciting new brands and fresh takes on classic design.
In her spare time, Bébhinn enjoys perusing Edinburgh’s best vintage shops, working through her out-of-control book collection and watching dog reels on Instagram.
-
4 Anti-Trend Outfits I Spot Every Time I'm in Europe
Classic looks that are always in style.
By Natalie Cantell
-
3 Non-Holiday Ways to Wear Velvet This Winter
You're welcome.
By Eliza Huber
-
Hailey Bieber Just Used the TikTok Styling Hack That Will Actually Go the Distance
I'm going to use it this weekend.
By Nikki Chwatt
-
After 15 Years as a Fashion Writer, I Know These Free Style Tweaks Will Make a Big Impact
How to give your wardrobe a new lease on life.
By Emma Spedding
-
4 Dated Sweater Trends I'm Purging From My Small NYC Closet by the Year's End
And the chic knitwear I'm making room for.
By Natalie Cantell
-
Law Roach's World: His New Book, Bag of Choice, and What He Grabs on a Target Run
"[Styling] has made my world so much bigger."
By Jasmine Fox-Suliaman
-
These 30 Pretty Gowns Are Just Begging to Be Worn to a Fall Wedding
Prepare to be the best dressed guest.
By Grace O'Connell Joshua
-
I'm in My 20s—Here Are 6 Style Lessons I Learned to Look More Polished and Grown-Up
Sophisticated styling 101.
By Nikki Chwatt