it depends on the couple's budget. if you are on a tight budget, it'd make sense to rent. although there are cheap gowns that almost anyone afford however, regardless of budget, some ppl would still rather rent cause they'd see it as waste of money/useless to buy an expensive one-night-affair dress when they can save and put the money to a good use.

I would rather buy, but I would look for one within a reasonable budget but which is also beautiful.

^^^^^^^^

some ppl do keep it to give to their daughters later down the line (even though it might be out of fashion. some might like vintage stuffs) some still see it as a treasured gift

selling it is also an option.

re-inventing it into everyday wearable dress is another option- christening gown/first communion etc

some ppl do get buried in their wedding gown too

For sure, its one day in my life. Will rather rent the thing and be done with once its over. I dont mind renting an expensive dress if i like it, i just dont want to have to deal with the thing when i am done.

THEY ARE SOME SPENDING WHICH R NOT NECESSARY THAT WE DO AND LATER REGRET DOING. WELL I BOUGHT MINE DURING MY WEDDING BUT I MUST CONFESS TO YOU ALL THAT IF HAD THE OPPORTUNINTY OF RE DOING[color=#000099][/color] THE WEDDING I WILL CUT OFF SO MANY UNNECESSARY SPENDINGS. ALL IN THE NAME OF ITS MY DAY. IT'S YOUR DAY BUT U DONT HAVE GO BANKRUPT BECOS OF IT. THE GLORY OF GOD IS ON YOU ALREADY  SO NO MATTER WAT U PUT ON U WILL DEFINITELY LOOK BEAUTIFUL. BUT I HAVE IN PLAN TO USE MY GOWN TO SOWN FOR MY GIRL AS PARTY WEARS LATER

seriously,i see spending so much of money on a dress you are going to wear for a few hours as UNREASONABLE.
If i find a dress i desire for rent,i'd rent it.if i dont,i'll make/buy one for a reasonable price that wont haunt me in later years.

My wife wanted to buy, however on seeing a dress that she so much loves up for rent age she opted for that. It was her choice and i have no issues with it.

I will rather buy, and later put it for rent. Because is my day everything on me should be new.

Why buy an expensive Tuxedo that you would probably never wear again ? I happily rented mine + 15 of my Grooms Men.
We all looked a Million Dollars, that we were getting request from guest to give details of where we bought our clothes from. The shock on their faces, when we said they were rented. Majority of them agreed to the notion of renting !!!!
Why buy cheap, if you can rent Expensive, for the fraction of the price ?

When you have a highly focussed lady for a wife, the decision is a whole lot easier to make.

Tekepama:

I will rather buy, and later put it for rent. Because is my day everything on me should be new.

^^^same here everything has 2 be new because dat day is special

I rented my own dress for GBP600 which was half the price for the dress. i knew i could av bought something cheaper but that dress was just too beautiful and i could not pay GBP1200 for a dress that no one will buy off me for half of that price and it would take up space in my luggage and space was a luxury item for me. I do not regret it for one day. I looked exquisite and i was so happy with the dress.

I'm definitely buying 4 ma future wife (whoever dat turns out to be).I once saw this style in a mag. so flambouyant,bt d lower part turned out to be detatchable. Wen detatched,d upper looks just so super-smart like ur everyday gown,but exceptionally beautiful en still a bit puffy bt doesn't look much of a wedding gown anymore.
I wish 2 get one like dat,so once every year I'll make my boo will wear it to a commemorative dinner of our wedding anniversary.This is my dream!

d wedding gown just takes up space in d wardrobe and begins to annoy u later.

u cnt throw it away cos u remember how much u lavished on it and if u keep it, ur daughter will never wear it 4 her wedding(dis is naija).and chances are you would hv outgrown it and so u cant be buried in it.

u want to give it out so ur friend or ur sis cn use it but its not their taste or they dnt want to look exactly like u on their wedding day. so it just lies there.
for me i prefer to rent or buy and make arrangements with d shop to resell.but if i see a gown dts my taste for rent, i'l prefer it.whether d gown is new or not,nobody will kno xcept u say.
i cn look better and more classy with a rented gown than someone dt buys one.
it doesnt affect d marriage.d weddin is jst a day, d marriage is a lifetime.

I think guys can still wear theirs for various functions after the wedding but it will be very funny to see a lady wearing a wedding gown seated in an eatery.

Now Noted!!! in case of my turn.

By wedding Dress, I'm taking it you mean white wedding gown.

If I were to do it all over again, I'd do neither. I'd buy me something re-useable, like our traditional outfit, that would still be useful after the wedding. Best way to conserve money, and cut off all the effizys associated with white wedding. Just my opinion.

@ poster,

Thanks for this thread. I am planning for my wedding next year and this same question has been on my mind - "whether to buy or to rent". My married friends always complain that the gown is taking space, you cant wear it to any occassion and all sorts which got me more confused.

I think I'm getting some points from these replies here,

Thank you all

^^ You're very welcome.

rent joor!

Must buy mine. That's like the only thing I care for about my wedding anyway. So let me spenddddd!!!

stillwater:

Must buy mine. That's like the only thing I care for about my wedding anyway. So let me spenddddd!!!

You don't care for your bride/groom?

@poster
renting of a wedding dress ke
i thot tradition was that one gets buried in one's wedding dress
or has this tradition died?

Loving this topic. Thanks to PO.
WHERE CAN YOU RECOMMEND THAT YOU RENT SUCH AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE FOR BOTH HIS/HERS ?

better to rent to wasting resources in buying since its just for few hours. makes sence to rent.

I would rather rent if it is too expensive , but I bought mine at last , because I can afford this dress
http://www.buyer100.com/product.php?productid=50062&cat=0&page=1

I would rent.But it would be a very expensive one though. Its just for a few hours anyways. Renting all the way.