Would you lend your friend your wedding dress?

[WeddingDressQuest]

Just that really. I've been looking for a wedding dress. I don't want to spend loads as I'm having a small intimate wedding. I've seen people that rent their own dresses out and I think it is great. It then got me thinking of all my friends who have been married and their dresses sat away.

So would you lend out your dress or do you feel too attached to it? If it got a bit of damage would it ruin the friendship etc?

I mean I guess, but I'd rather contribute some money towards a dress of their own.

Same here.

(Husband still working out well though.)

No I wouldn't. I'm (perhaps stupidly) keeping it in case my girls want it for anything. Plus I love it and it was handmade for me so I wouldn't want it getting trashed at someone else's wedding.

I'd lend mine out to a friend or family member. I have lent it to my niece. She got it cleaned before returning it. It didn't get broken or ruined and I'm glad she wore it because it's a beautiful dress to just hang in a wedding bag.

In theory, but I can't imagine others really wanting to, as it was made by a dressmaker in my personal style. It also got badly stained at the wedding.

I agonised over what to do with it for about 20 years and one day i just binned it. I feel bad about that now but also relieved I don't have to think about it at more.

Have bought mine on Vinted. Will probably sell it on again after the wedding. Am considering it a rental. DD (9) and I have already agreed I'll keep my tiara and veil for her, but we'll go shopping for a special dress just for her when she marries.

I suspect she'll be a good bit taller than me, and possibly bigger all over. No point hanging onto dresses for her. She's only a shoe size and a half smaller than me already and three or four years of growing left to do!

I’d give it to a friend (or sell it for a token amount if I’d bought a expensive dress) but I wouldn’t lend it because I wouldn’t want it back after someone else had worn it. Which is weird because I buy everything second hand including my wedding dress 🤷🏻‍♀️ I guess maybe it becomes their dress then?? I don’t even understand myself 😆

Yes I would give it to a friend. I wouldn't expect it back.

I borrowed mine from a relative! I could never justify wasting all that money on a dress to wear once! I had it professionally cleaned and boxed and sent it back with a lovely gift to say thank you.

I would probably donate mine instead. Hopefully someone that is having financial difficulties would be able to wear it.

No!!!! My dress was pale pink silk dupion, cost a fortune in its day, and was designer!!

I'd only let my DDs wear it.

I might be selfish but no I wouldn't lend it out. I'd be too upset if anything happened to it.

Their used to be shops that hired wedding and bridesmaid dress out do they still exist?

Yes, and I wouldn't want it back, or any money/gift. It's not as though I would be wearing it again and I'm not the slightest bit sentimental - and hate having unworn garments around the house. I really can't understand why anyone wants to keep their dress tbh.

This is all theoretical - I no longer have my dress.

I probably would lend it out, but they'd need to get it cleaned first!! I only got married 2 months ago.
I'd love to see it be used again.
I queried with a friend about borrowing her veil, she said yes but that her mum would go mad if she found out. The threat of damaging it and upsetting friends mum put me off

I would.

However I foresee two problems. First most people get their dresses tailored to their body shape - which means it’s unlikely to fit you well AND would you want to get it tailored to you? Would your friends allow that? Tailoring at the bust and waist really helps a dress look good. And tailoring the length is essential if it’s a floor length dress as it has to hit the floor in the shoes you plan to wear!

second - dresses are such a personal thing that you may well think you love a friends dress as they looked great. It might look terrible on you! Leaving you in a position where you are trying it on and then having to say - no thanks I don’t like it. Is that going to then upset your friend or are you going to feel awkward and like you now have to wear a dress you don’t like??

just a couple of things to think about!

Totally agree daughters never want to wear their mums dresses! But if it’s truly classic, lovely and worth keeping then perhaps one day a granddaughter or great granddaughter might love it 😊 I know a couple of people who wore family heirloom dresses and it was very special. Just have to store it well!

Yes, but I wasn't precious about mine (am still happily married 20+yrs down the line) and I trust my friends to take care of it. If anything happened to the dress it would be a genuine accident rather than carelessness.

Dry cleaning for my main/big dress was £250 and they couldn't guarantee to get it clean, seamstress quote for repairing the damage to the dress (small rips in the dress along the hemline) was £100. You can buy a whole dress for £350 in a cheap shop or secondhand on Still White or Facebook. My evening dress was about that from a bridal shop.
Also wedding dresses tend to be altered to fit someone. If your friend isn't exactly the same size and shape as you, it's unlikely to fit without further alterations.

You’re assuming they all still have them, I know lots of people who didn’t keep theirs. I’m divorced but I haven’t still got mine. I sold it on eBay for £25, so definitely worth hunting around!
tonbridge and Tunbridge wells have charity shops with wedding dresses in, seen you’re in the south east.

Oh and I didn’t dry clean mine, i put it in the washing machine on a cool wash in a duvet cover to protect the lace. It was totally fine and came out sparkling. I think the myth you must dry clean wedding dresses is a right con!!

No. Mine is very special to me and I'm saving it for my daughter (or just to be an heirloom). I wouldn't lend it out as it would get damaged or dirty and I'd be upset.

I would, except I gave it away.

I'd washed it in the washing machine, hung it outside to dry and it was fine.

I was on a wedding forum at the time and someone had ordered a dress from China that hadn't turned up. I offered her mine and it fitted so she wore it. I'm happy that it got more than one outing.

It's all theoretical as I don't have one, but yes, I would. The more people to get happy memories the better!

Me too! I'd forgotten I even still
had it until we moved house recently and it reappeared! 🤣 I vaguely recall keeping it in case DD wants it.

I have a size 14 wedding dress.. been meaning to do something with it.