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 wouldn't unless they wanted to re-alter it significantly.
I got divorced and so I'm sure no one would ask anyway!
I did sell it on eBay for £150.

Mine is sat in the bag taking up space in the wardrobe! I’d happily lend it to someone or sell it. My mum didn’t seem impressed by that idea but honestly I won’t use it again, I don’t see it having sentimental value (but it also only cost me £250 for the same reason, wasn’t going to spend thousands on something I’d wear for one day!) and it’s just taking up space!

I would love mine to get re used

However I wouldn’t give it to a friend because it would be weird going to her wedding and seeing her in my dress. Especially if she looked better in it 😆

I'd be much more willing to lend to a stranger than a friend - it would be really weird looking at someone else in my dress. (South East based with a 22 year old size 14 wedding dress stored in a special wedding dress storage box under the spare bed.)

Not a chance it’s asking for trouble.
it’ll get marked and you’ll be responsible
or the friend will suddenly notice a mark and think it was you when it wasn’t etc.

Too much like mixing business and pleasure for me just use a normal hire.

and congratulations on your wedding xx

Yes I would happily lend mine without any problem.

I wouldn't want it back either.

Oxfam sell peoples preloved wedding dresses. Such a lovely idea, but I’m probably bigger than the sizes they sell.

I absolutely would loan to a friend. It was the done thing in my grandparents day, usually yous get your cousin or eldest siblings dress. My grans wedding pics are beautiful and the dress wasn't hers. She always said dresses were so expensive then that everyone was happy to share. I think sadly people are less likely to now though.

I would. MIL made my dress and she's still proud of it 25 years later. If someone else wore it as well I think she'd explode with delight. It's actually had a few outings as a corpse bride, fancy dress kind of thing, been tried on by anyone who asked, and been in the washing machine several times. It's actually a proper dress with lace and a train, although you might not realise that from this post.

I took a beautiful bridesmaid dress in to a dry cleaners and he quietly told me to take it home and wash it on delicate and lie flat to dry. I was so grateful, saved me a fortune.

I'd consider selling mine but I wouldnt lend it.

There used to be a Cancer Research wedding dress shop in Lewisham - not sure if it’s still there but worth a google!

I had a VERY distinctive wedding dress and my friend borrowed it for her wedding.

every time anyone complimented her she said ‘oh yeah, it’s SimplyReadHead’s dress!’

My sister wore her mother in laws dress... ♥ ♥

Sorry, no.

My best friend has already tried on my wedding dress. I'd give it to her in a heartbeat

Bought mine second hand 35 yrs ago .Even then I couldn't get head round spending loads of money on a one of wear .Donated it to charity hopefully someone else wore it as well.
Still happily married .

Not RTTF but you mentioned South East. If you’re anywhere near Horsham, West Sussex OP @WeddingDressQuest , there is a St Catherine’s shop there. They have an amazing selection of dresses there. It has a whole bridal boutique.
FWIW, I’d have happily donated mine or let someone wear it. It meant v little after the day itself

I don’t know…

-Bridezilla wouldn’t lend the dress as you would be “copying her” with the added cheek of not spending a penny.

-Mrs Keepsake might feel embarrassed to say no but will be stressing herself crazy in case you damage it (and hate you forever if you do)

-I won’t lend you my dress because I am divorced from a very bad man and I think it is cursed but you may still find it at the charity shop. (Some way I have the stupid idea that the curse will not activate if you don’t know the story 🤣)

So the real difficulty may be gauging who to ask and how to interpret their response. It might be easier to find one in Oxfam brides.

I did. A long time ago, about five years after l got married. My friend didn't have a lot of money, she's small in height like me, and it fitted her perfectly.
It was so lovely to actually see it properly, rather than when l wore it.

No I wouldn’t, but there are clearly a lot nicer people on here than me!

I couldn’t- but more out of fear that my wedding dress was as cursed as my marriage was 🤣😑

@WhichIsItWendy

hi, so I'm curious, what is your plan for the dress?

No plans currently. But that's irrelevant in my eyes. I chose and bought the dress for a significant amount of money. So forgive me if I don't want someone wearing my lovely dress for free.

No. I'd rather keep the memories from just our wedding.