In the world of wedding stereotypes, encouraging women to buy expensive dresses yet allowing the men to rent their tuxes is one of the biggest offenders. While men get off cheap for sub-two hundred dollars, women drop hundies like they're going out of style. No longer. Wedding dress rental is the chic solution for the bride who doesn't want to go bankrupt paying for the perfect dress but still wants to have a modicum of style as she walks down the aisle.

Rent a Wedding Dress, Win a Prize

The prize? Not waking up on the day after your wedding with a huge case of "I wish I'd used that money to pay off my credit card." I challenge you to take out your personal budget, look at the line items, and compare what you'll be paying for this one dress to any debts you currently have. For example, let's say you owe $2000 to a company that's charging you ten percent interest on the sweaters you still haven't paid off from last winter. If you choose to buy a $2000 dress and forgo paying off this debt, you'll pay more than two hundred dollars just for the privilege of wearing the dress.

If you're in debt at all, consider renting your dress instead and use the money you would have paid in interest for a nice cocktail dress for your honeymoon.

But My Daughter Can't Wear My Wedding Dress Rental

You might be cool with saving some cash by choosing to rent a wedding dress, but then you think about your future daughter and how disappointed she'll be about not getting to wear your wedding dress on her big day. The odds of this happening are roughly the same as McDonald's choosing to go organic. Translation: your daughter will absolutely thank you for not inflicting your wedding dress on her when she's planning her big day. As sentimental as she might be, she may not want to wear something that's twenty years or more out of date, most likely the wrong size, and packed in mothballs.

Wedding Dress Rental Should Not Be Painful

In exploring your wedding dress rental options, keep in mind that you don't need to force yourself to choose a dress from the first shop you find. Talk with friends and family and research businesses online to find ones that have A+ reputations. Check with local bridal salons to find out if you can rent a wedding dress for the weekend of your wedding in exchange for pimping their services to friends and family members. Choosing the right wedding dress rental shop is basically the same as borrowing clothes from a friend; if the clothes are dirty and shop-worn, you're probably better off borrowing from someone else.

Get in the Wedding Dress Rental Game Early

Once you decide to rent a wedding dress, get moving. Unlike buying a wedding dress, you're not going to have as many options. Finding a dress that fits and is actually in good condition is possible, but much easier when you have more time. When you find something you like, don't think, reserve. Just like wedding reception locations, what you want one day might be gone the next.

Be Smart, Read the Wedding Dress Rental Contract

You've found the wedding dress rental of your dreams and you're ready to sign on the dotted line. Before you sign your life away for a secondhand Carolina Herrera, make sure that your contract includes a line item that says you'll be able to pick up the dress several days before your wedding. This is key, as you'll want a little wiggle room should there be something wrong with the dress prior to your big day. Make sure you understand all rules and costs associated with dress damage- you don't want to be left holding the taffeta when your Uncle Johnny decides to drop a glass of red wine down the front of your dress.

Just like renting a car, if your wedding dress rental company offers a loss damage waiver, take it and run. The last thing you want to be on your wedding day is stressed about keeping your dress clean.