Hiring a dress for a wedding has become one of the most sensible wardrobe decisions you can make. It means wearing something genuinely special without the commitment of buying - and without a formal dress that cost several hundred pounds sitting unworn in your wardrobe for years afterwards.
But if you've never hired a dress before, the pricing can be unclear. Here's a straight answer on what wedding guest dress hire actually costs.
How much does it cost to hire a wedding guest dress at Hirestreet?
At Hirestreet, wedding guest dress hire starts from £18. That's the entry-level price for a quality dress, delivered to your door, with free a small delivery charge and free returns included. There are no hidden charges or membership fees.
Across our range, most wedding guest dresses sit between £18 and £32 to hire. Premium designer pieces, brands like Dress The Population or Talulah - sit at the higher end of that range. High street-adjacent brands like Nobody's Child, Oh Polly and Lipsy are available at the lower end.
Subscription is also an option if you need more than one dress. You can rent 3 dresses for £39/month with free delivery and returns.
What's included in the hire price?
-
The dress, cleaned and quality-checked before dispatch
-
Free standard delivery to your address for subscription members
-
Free returns — a prepaid returns label is included with every order
-
A 30 day rental period that covers your event date
There are no extra charges for returning the dress and no cleaning fees on top.
How does hiring compare to buying?
A comparable dress bought new would typically cost £80–£300 depending on the brand. Worn once to a wedding, the cost-per-wear is painfully high. Hiring a dress at £18-£39 is a fraction of the purchase price, even accounting for the fact that you don't keep it.
The environmental case for hiring is also strong. The fashion industry's most wasteful category is occasion wear - clothes bought specifically for one event and then never worn again. Hiring removes that waste entirely.
How much does it cost to hire a dress for a black tie wedding?
Black tie events typically call for floor-length or more formal gowns, which tend to sit at the higher end of the hire range. At Hirestreet, formal black tie wedding guest dresses are available from around £22–£32. A comparable gown bought new could easily cost £200–£500. You can also subscribe to Hirestreet and rent any 3 styles for just £39/month.
Browse black tie wedding guest dresses from £22 at hirestreetuk.com/collections/black-tie.
How much does it cost to hire a dress for an abroad wedding?
The price is the same whether your wedding is in the UK or abroad — hire starts from £18. For destination weddings, lightweight styles in chiffon, silk or linen fabrics tend to work best, and many of these sit in the £18–£26 range. The added practical benefit for abroad events is that you return the dress after the trip rather than having to pack and transport formal wear home. Subscribe to Hirestreet and rent any 3 styles for just £39/month.
Is there a delivery charge?
Delivery is free for subscribers and £6.99 for one off rentals and returns are free.
How long is the hire period?
The standard hire period is 30 days but with subscription you can unlock your slots early to flex with your needs.
Is it cheaper to buy or hire?
For a one-off occasion like a wedding, hiring is almost always cheaper than buying — often by 80–90%. The only scenario where buying makes sense over hiring is if you know you'll wear the dress to multiple occasions. For a wedding guest outfit that you'll wear once, hiring is the financially and environmentally sensible choice.
Browse all wedding guest dresses to hire from £18 at hirestreetuk.com/collections/wedding-guest.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay for dry cleaning when I return a hired dress?
No. Cleaning is included in the hire price at Hirestreet. You return the dress in the prepaid bag provided and that's the end of the process.
What happens if the dress doesn't fit?
We recommend ordering early enough to try the dress on before your event. If there's a fit issue, contact the Hirestreet team as soon as possible and they can help find a solution.
Can I hire more than one dress for the same weekend?
Yes. If you have multiple events across a wedding weekend, you can hire separate dresses for each occasion.