The bridal rental business seems to be taking off. A few national companies have seen success as of late and now the model has hit our area with the launch of Get the Gown. The Houston- and Miami-based luxury bridal rental company aims to meet budget-conscious brides where they are and make those champagne wishes come true.
"It wasn't a mere coincidence because I'm getting married in two months," said Get the Gown founder and owner Jessica Berriman when asked how this idea came to her. "I know of women who travel all over the world to find their dress, so I asked myself, 'How many brides like me are looking for their dream dress and don't want the inconvenience...what if the dresses come to you?'" Get the Gown was born.
Much like other luxury rental models, Get the Gown allows brides to peruse its stock of high-end designer gowns, most of which are supplied directly from the design house, in the privacy of their own homes online 24/7. Because brides are renting, prices are slashed considerably -- rent a $6,000 Oscar de la Renta Grecian gown for $975.
Once the bride has selected her dress, she then submits her order, and the gown is delivered to her doorstep cleaned, pressed and ready to go on her specified delivery date.
"No pressure, just you, the dress and the mirror," says Berriman. For brides still wanting the experience of shopping with their BFFs and family members, Berriman suggests a dress-unveiling party (get it, veil) complete with wine and apps to debut the final choice.
After the wedding festivities are done, the now newlywed bride just seals her gown into the provided packaging and drops it off at her nearest post office. Done and done.
Oh, and did I mention the dresses are all high-end? And when I say high-end, I mean Vera Wang and Carolina Herrera couture high-end. Berriman and her team painstakingly sift through the latest bridal collections to select pieces that are on trend but have a timeless feel.
"We speak with the designer houses directly to ensure quality," says Berriman as she gives me a tour of the dress closet, and I can assure you, there's not a knockoff in sight. Even the commercial labels from upscale designers like White by Vera Wang are not an option. Berriman wants nothing but the best for her brides, so what you see on the runway is what you get on Get the Gown.
Here are a few of my favorites from the website, but check out the full collection on GetTheGown.com.
