Resale and Rental Gowns Help Bride Save Money for the Honeymoon

Many of today’s brides-to-be want to make economical choices when planning a wedding, but they don’t want to skimp on the aesthetics. Because bridal gowns can be expensive additions to a wedding budget and are only worn once, some women opt for buying resale gowns or renting a dress for the day.

“If you don’t want to keep the dress as a keepsake and low price is important, then renting a gown is the way to go,” says Suzanne Boesing, manager of Kim’s Bridals, Prom and Party Town in Westminster.

Kay Healey, co-owner of Simply Splendid in Anaheim, says there is usually no additional charge for cleaning or having alterations made on a rented wedding gown.

If you want a gown you can keep, but still need to save money, consider resale dresses, says Barbara Lane Stanfield, owner of 2nd Look Bridal and Formal in Tustin.

“You can find high quality formally worn gowns at very low prices,” she says.

Here’s a selection of stores offering resale and rental dresses:

2ND LOOK BRIDAL AND FORMAL

This store carries a wide variety of new and resale bridal gowns ranging from 30% to 70% off retail.

The Bridal Original, in white or ivory, is an all-lace, long-sleeved, straight gown with a beaded sheath and sweetheart neckline. The V-back is accented with pearls, and there is a detachable chapel train decorated with hand-beaded lace inserts and bows. The dress is available in Sizes 4 to 30 ($620).

To look as if you’ve just stepped out of a fairy tale, Stanfield suggests the Gorgeous Alfred Angelo. This long-sleeved white satin gown has a modified sweetheart neckline, and it comes off the shoulders. The Basque bodice is hand-beaded, and there is a five-layer tulle skirt and chapel train. It’s available in Sizes 7 and 8 ($749).

For another fantasy look, there is the Bridal Taffeta Demetrios Ivory Gown. This dress has a full Cinderella skirt with lace and a beaded edge. The puffed, off-the-shoulder sleeves have bows and flow into a long-beaded sleeve. There is a Sabrina neckline and a beaded Basque bodice. A bow in the back offsets a chapel train ($849, Size 10).

434 El Camino Real, Tustin, (714) 730-4909.

ELEGANT GOWNS

This store has a variety of rental gowns for larger-sized women, including a custom-made off-shoulder dress in pale ivory satin with a sweetheart neckline.

Short ruffled sleeves are trimmed with rose ribbon; there is a Basque waist and embroidered lace, sequins and pearls on the bodice. The skirt is full, and the cathedral train also has embroidered lace. It comes in Size 12, although it can be enlarged ($325 to rent includes basic alteration, cleaning and pressing).

For a lacy look, store co-owner Shirley Darroch suggests the Private Label by G. This white satin dress has puffed shoulders and is long-sleeved. There is a sweetheart neck and a great deal of lace on the bodice. Crystals and pearls hang from the Basque waist and from the puff of the sleeves. The cathedral-length full skirt also has embroidered sequins and lace on the train ($380 to rent, Size 10).

Another Private Label by G dress is straight with long, tailored lace sleeves. It has a high back made of embroidered lace and a Queen Ann style neck. The cathedral length train is made of lace ($295 to rent, Size 10).

18582 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach, (714) 964-4355.

ENCORE WEDDING GOWNS

This consignment store has a variety of resale dresses, including a short-sleeved Antique Dress, which owner Pat Weiss calls an elegant “Gone With the Wind”-style gown. The 100% silk ivory dress is floor-length with no train. It has a full skirt, Basque waist and round neck with delicate beading ($450, Sizes 8 to 10).

For a simple but elegant look, Weiss suggests a straight, loose-fitting gown with a small sweep train. The short-sleeved bridal satin dress is champagne ivory and has a round neck ($250, Size 6).

They also have the Scassi. This white, long-sleeved 100% silk dress is “elegantly beaded,” Weiss says. The neck is round, and the waist is straight and then flares. There is a cathedral-length train ($1,500, Size 8).

7561 Center Ave., 24, Huntington Beach, (714) 898-5545.

KIM’S BRIDALS, PROM AND PARTY TOWN

Gowns for rent at this store include the Bianchi, a white silk taffeta that Boesing says is “simple, but nice.” It has capped, off-the-shoulder short sleeves and pearl appliques on the top and sleeves. A butterfly bow complements the cathedral train ($500 to rent, Size 10).

For a high-neck dress, there is the P.C. Mary in white satin. Pearls dangle from the puffed short sleeves and across the back. It has a tilted bodice and full skirt; the back and train are lace ($460 to rent, Size 8).

The store also offers the Illissa by Demetrios in white satin. This traditional long dress has a drop-V yoke waistline and a complementary scalloped V-neck. The long sleeves are close-fitting and are trimmed with beading where they end at the fingers. It has a cathedral-length train ($581 to rent, Size 10).

The store also sells gowns.

16494 Beach Blvd., Westminster, (714) 842-2900.

PENELOPE OF CALIFORNIA

At this store you’ll find a variety of bridal designs both manufactured and custom redesigned by Penelope. One all-white, long-sleeved satin dress has silver beading on the bodice. It is off the shoulder and has a long cathedral train. There is netting over the full skirt ($300 to rent plus alterations and materials to embellish or $2,300 to buy, Size 12).

Another dress in white with Alenson French lace and pearls and sequins on the bodice has a full taffeta skirt with a bow in the back that is covered with lace. The train is cathedral length. Cap sleeves are off-the-shoulder and also taffeta ($350 to rent or $710 to buy, Size 3).

Another white satin dress has embroidered organza applique work on the bodice, neck and around the boarder of the train. The collar is beaded and there is beaded applique designs on the skirt. It has a high neck, long fitted sleeves and a cathedral train ($300 to rent, $800 to buy, sizes small, medium and large).

1500 E. Katella, 4, Orange, (714) 532-2360.

SIMPLY SPLENDID

This store rents a variety of custom dresses, including large-size gowns.

One white satin gown has long, puffed sleeves that taper, plus a sweetheart open neckline, open V-back and fitted V-waist. The satin skirt is made of flowing French lace, and the bodice is composed of beaded sequins and lace. There is a cathedral-length train ($295 to rent, any size).

Another dress made for the store creates a mermaid silhouette, Healey says. “It is a long-sleeved, fitted white satin dress with elegant beading.” The small train is accented with sequins and beads and there is a Sabrina neckline ($295 to rent, any size.)

For a semi-formal look, there is a white or candlelight satin floor-length gown. It is short-sleeved and has a sheath-style long, straight skirt. The detachable train is accented with lace beaded appliques ($165 to rent, any size).

512 S. Brookhurst St., Anaheim, (714) 774-7483.