Before going shopping be sure to determine your budget so

About Wedding Dress Rentals

Visiting bridal shops and buying the perfect wedding dress has been a rite of passage for many brides. However, many brides are now renting their wedding dress. Some brides rent a wedding dress to save money while others do it for convenience. Wedding dresses can be renting in most styles, sizes and price ranges.

Function

The bride selects the wedding dress several months before the wedding and reserves it for the wedding date. The bride picks up the wedding dress before the wedding and returns it to the shop after the wedding. Many rental shops also offer shoes, veils and jewelry for rent with the dress.

Benefits

One of the main benefits of renting a dress is cost. It is significantly cheaper to rent a dress than it is to purchase the same quality dress. If you are having a destination wedding, you can rent a dress at the wedding destination. This saves you the time, money and hassle of shipping or transporting the dress. By renting a wedding dress, you also save the time of not having to dry clean, preserve and store your dress after the dress.

Effects

One of the downsides of renting a wedding dress is that you have to return the dress after the wedding and cannot pass it on to one of your future children. Because you have to return the dress, you also must be extra careful while you are wearing the dress. If you damage the dress, you pay for the damage or purchase the dress.

Considerations

When selecting a wedding dress rental shop, ask about alternations. Some shops allow you to alter the dress before the wedding, but others require that you wear the dress as is. Ask how many days you can pick the dress up before the wedding and when you must have it returned by. Verify any deposits required or damage fees before signing a rental contract. If you are leaving from the reception to your honeymoon, make arrangements for a friend or family member to return the dress.

Misconceptions

Many people think that wedding dresses available for rent are used. Some shops rent new dresses to brides and then sell the dresses as used dresses. People often think that only low end dresses are available for rent. However, many high end designer dresses are available in rental shops

Choosing Your Wedding Dress

Every girl dreams of finding the perfect dress for their wedding day and many have a vision in their mind of what they picture the dress to be like.

Before going shopping be sure to determine your budget so that you stick with the gowns that you know are in a realistic price range for you and also keep in mind the season and time of year that you are getting married in. You dont want a big heavy gown if youre getting married in the hottest part of the summer.

The most important peice of advice that a bride to be can be given before she sets out to shop for her dress is to be open minded about trying on many different styles of dresses! As it is common that the dresses that many brides to be have pictured in their minds is very different then the actual wedding dress they end up wearing on the day!

When you start looking at wedding gowns, have a chat to the attendants in the bridal dress shops and query them as to which style and colour of wedding dress they would reccommend. These people generally have an idea of what dress styles suit particular body shapes and which shades of white suit particular skin tones.

Many brdes to be go looking for their perfect white wedding dress, when in fact, an ivory or latte dress is more suited to their hair and skin colour. Below is a quick guide to the different shades of white and what skin and hair colours they are best suited to;

Champagne or oyster

This wedding dress white is an off-white with pink undertones and will flatter olive or darker skinned brides with dark hair.

Diamond white or natural white

This is a soft wedding dress white, common in the more expensive fabrics such as silk. This tone of white is well suited to fairer brides.

Latte

This shade of wedding dress white is slightly darker than the champagne and oyster shades. Latte is a popular choice today with brides and the tone is perfect for tanned or darker skinned brides.

Ivory

Wedding dresses in this shade of white have golden or yellow undertones. This shade of white suits fairer brides with honey coloured hair.

Stark white

Not suited to blonde or fair skinned girls. This shade of white is most unflattering if you are fair however looks amazing on dark skinned brides particularly hispanic brides.

Before you go shopping, get ideas from websites, magazines, and any other source that allows you to preview the various types of styles, lengths, and designs out there. Be sure to consider your body type as you make your selection for a wedding gown. You certainly want to go with a style that flatters your body type and doesnt make you feel self conscious.

Below is a guide to which styles of wedding dresses will suit different body shapes;

Hourglass

Choose a wedding dress that accentuates your waist. Gowns with a full skirt and corseted bodices that flatter the bust line are great for this shape.

Pear shaped

A-line princess dresses which balance out the bottom half to the top half and disguise fuller hips and thighs suit the pear shape best.

Petite

Simpler desses without too much fabric will make the more petite bride appear taller. Big Ball gowns, gowns that are broken up, mermaid wedding dress shapes can overwhelm someone with a smaller figure.

Tall

Ball gowns, princess line and A- line wedding dresses suit this bride. Most can carry off straight bridal dresses and mermaid dresses also. Avoid empire line dresses.

Fuller Waisted

Princess-line and drop waist wedding dresses are most flattering.

Broader Shoulder

Broader shouldered brides should avoid halter and off-the-shoulder necklines which long dresses for summer bring attention to the shoulders, and instead try strapless and scoop necklines.

Fuller Busted

Bridal corsets will provide shape and support for this body type. Scoop neck dresses and dresses with square necklines enhance bust lines.

Fuller Arms

Off the shoulder straps or sheer fabric is flattering to the arms. Three-quarter or long sleeve are also flattering on this shape and work to elongate the arm.

Shop around and try on a variety of different gowns so you will be satisfied that when you find "the one" you have considered many different alternatives and you can be happy you have not just settled on the first dress you tried on.

Finally, enjoy the process because trying on wedding gowns can be just as much fun as wearing it for your special day. Savor the journey and be sure to remember it by taking pictures of you in the various gowns you try on along the way.