Hiring

There are many hire services available, mostly for the traditional white wedding dress. In most big towns and cities you can also find privately-owned hire boutiques offering high quality bridal and evening wear. Specialist hire shops often have an extensive, ever-changing collection to suit all pockets. What you can't always expect when you hire an outfit is an alternation service. Many will be willing to make minor alternations, but not always. As when shopping for any article of clothing, getting something that you like and is a good fit can be difficult.

If you decide to hire your wedding outfit, you still need to follow the advice alrready given in other of our wedding gown blogs; your starting points remain the same. The preliminary considerations are still relevant. Once in the shop you must feel comfortable and confident with the advice you are given, and try-on as many shapes and designs as possible to see what suits you. Having made a decision, check the small print: Is the outfit available on the chosen day? Will it be clean? When can I collect it, and when must it be returned? Do you have to clean the dress or outfit before returning it, and what will be the penalty be if you damage it? Most hire shops will insist you take out insurance with them to ensure you are adequately covered. Get all this information in writing before handing-over a deposit. If you can, and certainly if you are in any doubt, call into the shop two weeks before the wedding and inspect the dress. It may have been hired-out, more than once and not be in the same condition. If it's not, you want to know what they are going to do for you.