Wedding Dress Rental (Atlanta)

Welcome Daphney94! Congrats on your upcomimg wedding.

I don't live in Atlanta though I have a brother in Vinings and a cousin in Lawrenceville, maybe not too far from you-
anyhoo, you have a few options:

1. You may want to visit your local bridal shops(large like David's bridal or Alfred Angelo, or small boutiques) that sell Wedding Gowns and see if they will rent one to you.

2. You may also want to check out places that sell debutante gowns (my sister rented a wedding gown from a place that sells them-and used it as her debutante gown) and see what they have to rent, as many debutantes are not interested in keeping these gowns!

Also, please keep in mind that gown rentals may have more expensive alterations, especially for a quick turn-around, but also deposits, cleaning fees, etc, etc, so one you get some quotes add it up and compare it to your budget....

However, 3 months is not so long a time to purchase a dress to get it in in time. I decided to go ahead and spend the 40 dollars to overnight my gown (though it came late due to mailing problems), BUT, I got it in less than 2 weeks-I got my $$ back though! Because you need that 30-45 days for alterations....So overnighting the gown may be an option for you. I would look at the budget after you get some quotes, and see. Sometimes, they will not let you hold on to the dress lets say if you pick it today, especially since its a rental, and they can rent it out 4-5 times between now and your wedding. So definitely add it all up and compare.....Happy Planning.

Welcome to the site. Unfortunately, I don't know of any wedding gown rentals in your area. Sorry!

I just thought of another thing. Tobemrspotts lives in the Atlanta, GA area. Maybe you could write her a private note and she may know of some. It's worth a try.

Welcome to the site...Here another option

I don

Wonderful idea Queenbee!!!

If you're flexible and don't want a "traditional" wedding gown you could buy a white gown for $200 or less and you can wear it again or donate it or ebay it...lol. I didn't want the "traditional" gown (not my style) but I purchased a gown from nordstrom.com http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/6005465/0~2376776~2374327~6005464~6005465?origin=wshop
for a little over a hundred bucks and it looks no different from any other gown-so no one will know the difference!

[quote="AKitten"]If you're flexible and don't want a "traditional" wedding gown you could buy a white gown for $200 or less and you can wear it again or donate it or ebay it...lol. I didn't want the "traditional" gown (not my style) but I purchased a gown from nordstrom.com http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/6005465/0~2376776~2374327~6005464~6005465?origin=wshop
for a little over a hundred bucks and it looks no different from any other gown-so no one will know the difference!
[/quote]

Thats a great idea AKitten!

Thanks Bumble!

Welcome to the sisterhood Akitten, and congrats on your upcoming marriage. Now details sister. Dish!!!

Having my ceremony in Annapolis in a park only being attended by family and the reception is being held at a restaurant where everyone will be in attendance.
I'm incorporating the wedding arras tradition to honor my hispanic heritage and my wedding colors are black, white and tiffany blue. The invitations and aisle runner will incorporate these colors.

So far:

SUV/Towncar- $375 (you saw that correctly) for the SUV to and from the ceremony to reception. Towncar to whisk us away from the reception

Dress, Veil and Shoes- dress from nordstroms, $105 for a classic ivory lace halter dress, mantilla veil $35 from ebay and shoes from Kohl's of all places! They were $29.99 and they match the sash on my dress PERFECTLY! I looked for 4 months for shoes to match my sash. I didn't want the shoes to match my dress- because they wouldn't stand out. And they are comfy- I broke them in walking in them around the house while my FH wasn't home....lol.

Cake- chocolate-chocolate raspberry, three tiered cake, $325 (at the tasting, I gained at least 20 lbs- it is GOOD!)

Ceremony programs- DIY- the paper totalled $70 for 110lb white and 80lb black and the text will be tiffany blue. I'm using a fan template I found (6 leaves) using a standard eyelet and ribbon. Will stamp the first leaf with a decorative stamp.

Favors- Will hand etch myself martini glasses (case of 36 is $100- might need an additional case of 12, we'll see) and making chocolate truffle mini wedding cakes with gourmet favors. The molds were $2.35 ea. (bought three)

Photography- Using the same photographer that took our engagment photos- which was for a session well over an hour, got over 300 pictures and it only cost..... $50! My cousin who is my man of honor is paying for the wedding pics as a gift to us. So I negotiated with the photographer and my wedding pics for 8+ hours is $700. He's a semi-pro photographer who primarily did commercial work and wanted to start getting his feet wet in wedding photography and his portfolio is impeccable so it's a win-win for the both of us. We'll both be doing retouching and I'm creating my own album (I used to work for a printing company that retouched photos and printed the Abercrombie and Fitch catalog for 6 years- still have a wonderful relationship with the owners and staff)

Honeymoon- We're honeymooning in Aruba. I paid for our plane tickets using my frequent flier miles and the taxes came out to $308. My FH is footing the hotel bill- we got a honeymoon suite for $90/night! (can you tell I HUNT for a bargain? LOL) and that's with perks!

Jewelry- my wedding jewelry is ivory coloered pearls. the set came with necklace, earrings and bracelet for $50.

Reception- being held at a restaurant; est. $1700 (pending final numbers)

We're not having the traditional bridesmaids and groomsmen (DRAMA!) It would be easier for people to just attend than participate because everyone is so spread out, didn't want the headache...seriously....lol

I think I covered everything....lol....I think......
--

AKITTEN, now THAT"S how you give details!!! You have officially raised the bar. LOL Everything sounds sooo nice. I dubbed IvyPrincess as Queen of finding steals on things but I think we have a new contender stepping into the ring. Good Job. We would love to see pics if you have any.

Oh yeah, not sure if I welcomed you before, but if not, WELCOME!!!

Thanks Pam!! I was born finding bargains...lol. Trust me I'm a spend thrift but when it comes to keeping costs down I think I'm pretty good at that. I'm a researcher at heart (should've been a PI)so I don't find it difficult to "shop" around. While it is a special day for everyone involved I truly believe that you shouldn't over extend your pockets when you could be investing it in something more tangible, like purchasing your first home, or pay down some bills.
I've always been good with my hands (I wear the toolbelt in my house....lol) so crafts and projects are right up my alley.
I'm getting a little more excited each day- I took care of a ton of stuff MONTHS AND MONTHS ago so these last couple of months have been slow, just getting some last things in. I didn't wanted to be overwhelmed with time fleeting by the nano-second- I can't roll like that.
Thanks for all the welcomes and well wishes. I look foward to throwing in my two cents!

Come on Pam don't take my crown just yet.

I secured a DJ for the entire night for $250

I also secured all the flowers for the wedding, mine, the family, my 9bm, 9gm, and fg and a lit candle arch for $500

I got my catering for $10 a plate for chicken chausseur or beef burgundy

And finally my newest deal. My wedding reception is in a huge room (can accomodate 600) and I got a lighting company to do ambient lighting (make the room look blue) as well as some accent lighting on the cake table, sweetheart table etc. for $280 and they do all the set up tear down etc.

Uh Oh, guuuurl, a bargain is bargain no matter whose finding them! LOL
That's fantastic! $10/plate? (Can I come? LOL) You hang on to your crown...lol. I'll wear a honorary baseball cap! LOL

Ivy you are now, hence and forever more THE QUEEN !!! I'm polishing your crown as we speak. Akitten, you do look nice sitting in the Queens court though. LMAO!!!

I agree Pam! Ivy you need to hold a class! LOL How did you manage that without giving up your first born, I'll never guess! Great deals you guys. Bargain hunters!

Akitten and Ivy, those are some seriously great deals. I wish I would have known of places and vendors like that. I would be having my wedding at one of you two's locations. lol

Girl yeah AKitten and I can share the court. As soon as I get some time I will sit down and try and write down some tips and tricks for doing a champagne wedding on a beer budget.

Oh and I think I forgot to say it but welcome AKitten

Wow ladies, Ivy and Akitten, you're awesome!!! A huge ballroom Ivy that holds 600 ppl for $10/plate? Wow, special lighting for less than $300? Magnificent!!!. I do believe that if you have the time, you could do a whole lot. You ladies have just proven my point!!!

I've set my wedding budget at $10,000 for 130 ppl including my huge 28 members wedding party and my fiance laughed at me saying that it can't be done. I just looked at him and say "watch me work". I'm not as great as you Ivy, but I negotiated a $3,500 ballroom down to $1,600 on a weekend!!! Food not included, of course because being Haitiana, that was a plus for me. A caterer, whom I use when I'm doing carribean weddings, gifted me by offering to cater my wedding for me, free of charge!!! All FH and I have to provide is our specialty drinks and our wedding cake. I'm in negotiations still over the price to make my cake, however, because I have specifics in mind for it. So far, the quotes are absolutely outrageous, but hearing about your bargains Ivy and Akitten's bargains, it encourages me to truly treat my wedding like any other clients wedding.

My hunt continues. You ladies are awesome!!!

Those are geat bargain prices. Its seems to me that most of the place's I have been to has cost an arm , leg, tight, and stomach. I am spending more on my reception venue then what you have set your budget to be.

Sometimes frustration will make you look at something in a different light. A little hunting and letting go of your imagination will always help you find what you need. I like to think of things and ways no one else thinks of and run with it-making it my own. The searches are sometime exhausting but well worth it in the end.

Hey Daphney94...

I couldve sworn that I posted to this yesterday.
I dont know if maybe I posted something that was deleted cause I shouldnt have said it..LOL ( Sorry Rosetta is that was the case)

Anyway...to my fellow ATL-VI Bride Sistah
Atlanta does have a few dress shops that rent however Im not sure if the price is going to thrill you all that much.
In my opinion after the ycharge you the rental fees, deposit, etc you may as well try and find a nice new inexpensive gown.

There is a place right in the City of Atl. off of Roswell called Bridal Sense. They rent gown. The selection is "OK"
There are also a few consignment shops that sell bridal gowns in buckhead (ill have to check the name for you ) but they were still kind of high to me.

Finally..you may want to look around in stores tos to find what you like and then consider purchasing from an online retailer. WE did that with my BM dresses and it saved them $100 on the dress

If you need any other specifics on places in the area...shoot me a private note and ill be more than glad to help you out!

[quote="2bmrspotts"]Hey Daphney94...

I couldve sworn that I posted to this yesterday.
I dont know if maybe I posted something that was deleted cause I shouldnt have said it..LOL ( Sorry Rosetta is that was the case)

Anyway...to my fellow ATL-VI Bride Sistah
Atlanta does have a few dress shops that rent however Im not sure if the price is going to thrill you all that much.
In my opinion after the ycharge you the rental fees, deposit, etc you may as well try and find a nice new inexpensive gown.

There is a place right in the City of Atl. off of Roswell called Bridal Sense. They rent gown. The selection is "OK"
There are also a few consignment shops that sell bridal gowns in buckhead (ill have to check the name for you ) but they were still kind of high to me.

Finally..you may want to look around in stores tos to find what you like and then consider purchasing from an online retailer. WE did that with my BM dresses and it saved them $100 on the dress

If you need any other specifics on places in the area...shoot me a private note and ill be more than glad to help you out!
[/quote]

Don't forget to add the cleaning fee! But you are right!