Attending a wedding can be expensive, but there are innovative ways to save when planning your outfit.
Deciding what to wear to a summer wedding can be quite a challenge.
You might like something new and shiny, but whether or not you can afford to splash out, there are other things to consider. We’re more aware of fast fashion and its environmental impact, but do you want another fancy outfit cluttering your wardrobe?
Shopping for weddings has come a long way – and you can now save money and still look fabulous.
Try before you buy
If you are going to buy something new, one of the most challenging factors is the actual shopping.
We’re so time-poor that finding a date to hit the shops can be difficult. When you do, the stock is often hugely depleted, defeating the purpose of going shopping in the first place.
Many of us shop online. The size allocations are far more inclusive, but paying upfront and waiting for returned refunds can be a challenge – and it’s often not affordable without using a credit card.
Cefinn—the womenswear brand founded by Samantha Cameron—has just launched a ‘try before you buy’ service in the UK. This service allows you to try up to eight items at home without payment.
Partnering with Harper – a retail tech service aiming to bridge the gap between shopping online and in real life – items can be delivered for a delivery fee, and then you only pay for what you keep.
Harper also works with multiple retailers, so you can order a selection of outfits. They offer an optional styling service.
“Harper’s Try Before You Buy service allows shoppers to try on pieces from different brands without paying up-front,” according to Victoria Irving, Harper’s head of style service.
Trying new clothes with your existing wardrobe helps you make better fashion decisions.
You can also do this through Next for a budget version. Signing up for an account allows you to order multiple items to try on at home and then return anything you don’t like.
Try renting
“If you haven’t tried renting occasion wear yet, we highly recommend it.”
Renting allows you to wear something you can’t afford, feel great, and avoid wardrobe clutter—a win-win.
There are numerous rental outlets now. Type ‘rent a dress’ into Google, and you’ll be met with Nuuly, Rent the Runway, ASOS Rentals, and LE ORA. John Lewis—and the list is growing.
“Our rental service has seen a surge in brides and wedding guests, due to the nature of the event typically being a one-use wear,” notes Victoria Barnes, the womenswear fashion brands buyer at John Lewis.
And it’s true, why buy something you only want to wear once if you can rent it instead?
Eshita Kabra-Davies, founder and CEO of By Rotation, urges everyone to rent occasionwear. “On the By Rotation app, I’d recommend looking at your calendar and creating folders of outfits you might want to wear for the occasion. This way, you can be prepared and send your rental requests ahead of time.”
There are edits already available on the app, including the unique Tanqueray-inspired collection, where you can rent a piece from tastemakers, including singer Self Esteem. And if you’re keen to save even more money, you can rent a free item by choosing something from the By Rotation x Tanqueray edit and writing about the event you wore it to.
One of the tricky things about renting is being able to try it on beforehand. But many items available to rent are also available to buy, so you can try them on and feel assured they’ll be perfect on the day.
Re-work an old outfit.
The cheapest option is always going to be wearing something you already own.
If you store out-of-season clothing or occasionwear out of sight, you’ll likely be in for a treat because we all forget how many lovely clothes we’ve got. So, if they’re hidden away, get them all out, and you might discover you’ve saved yourself some money.
Remember, outfits can be changed by adding a new or different accessory – think shoes, a bag, a prominent belt, or a hat or fascinator – these items can completely change your look.
Ask your most fashion-savvy friend around and try everything on. Ask their advice on what accessories to wear or how to mix and match items in your wardrobe.
Also – learn from previous mistakes. What dress did you feel self-conscious about all day? Forget it. The shoes you wore for five minutes on the dancefloor? Please give them a wide berth. But anything you remember feeling fabulous, comfortable, and dancing the night away are good contenders.
Buy secondhand
It’s 2024, and not only is it better for the planet if we stop buying so many new things, but it’s also better for our wallets.
Consider buying secondhand for a unique and eco-friendly wedding guest outfit.
She notes that the best way to find occasionwear on the app is to use the filters to narrow your choices and keep everything within budget. You can even filter by color, material, and brand to hone in on specifics. “You can also shop specific trends and styles by searching the most relevant hashtags such as #wedding. Vinted also has dedicated sections such as ‘special-occasion dresses’ for women and ‘wedding suits’ for men if you prefer to browse.”
She recommends haggling using Vinted’s ‘make an offer’ function.
“A reasonable starting point would be 10-20% off the listing price, but you may be able to get a bigger discount if the item has been listed for a long time and the seller is willing to lower it further.”
Then, after the event, you can always re-sell it to recoup some of your costs.
