Secondhand September: It’s 2023 and you can now rent your whole WEDDING

Something Borrowed, Something GREEN? Brits can now rent their WHOLE wedding as focus on sustainable weddings increases

Wedding expert explains how to have an eco-friendly wedding by buying pre-loved or hiring every element of the big day

• The latest National Wedding Survey reveals that almost a fifth (19%) of weddings surveyed last year included eco-friendly or sustainable elements

• More wedding fashion was borrowed or pre-loved in 2022 than the year before, with 16% of couples surveyed choosing to wear handed-down items, and 14% choosing to rent outfits

• Additional research shows that searches for ‘pre-loved wedding dress’ have increased by 50% on eBay

  While weddings are often associated with single-use items, plastic packaging or fast-fashion items, sustainability is increasingly becoming more of an important consideration to many in the wedding industry. Additionally, the latest National Wedding Survey by Hitched.co.uk reveals that a fifth of couples included eco-friendly and sustainable elements in their weddings last year, a figure that wedding experts predict will only rise this year.

  One way couples can reduce the environmental impact of their big day is to rent items or get them second-hand instead of buying brand new.

  While renting certain things like venues and decor and entertainment is entirely normal, the number of additional elements nearlyweds can hire or borrow these days, such as fashion and accessories, is growing by the day – to a point where couples are able to rent almost every element of their wedding days.

  While research from Hitched shows an increase in the number of couples surveyed choosing to borrow or rent their wedding outfits (now 14%), or indeed wear handed-down items (from 11% in 2021 to 16%), additional research from eBay reveals that three quarters of people would consider their “something old” as being a pre-loved wedding outfit*, and that searches for ‘pre-loved wedding dress’ on the platform have surged by 50% in recent times**.

  Benefits of Renting Items for a Wedding

  Recent research shows that renting is an increasingly popular form of purchasing in the UK, with GlobalData estimating the rental apparel market to be worth around 142 million pounds at the end of 2022. Predictions suggest a rise of another 62% this year, and a whopping 164% by the end of 2026.

  Renting items is so much better for the planet, but it’s not the only reason why hiring rather than buying is a great idea for your wedding. Renting can save you money and allow you to include décor you might not have been able to afford to otherwise buy, says wedding expert and Editor of Hitched, Zoe Burke.

  “I’m such a huge fan of renting items – last year I rented my maid of honour dress for a wedding, and it cost £130 to rent it for three days, instead of £1,595 to buy it outright. Renting makes so many items way more accessible to you, and removes the pressure of figuring out what to do with them after your wedding too.”

  “There are so many great wedding businesses out there that hire out everything you can think of, from the tableware for your wedding breakfast to the decorations for your party. By hiring these items, you’re giving more life to something that might just be discarded if it was bought new for a single purpose, and you’re supporting small businesses too. It’s a win win!”

  You Can Now Rent These Wedding Items

  Wedding Dresses

  The average cost of a wedding dress in the UK is £1,350, which is a lot of money for something that might only be worn once. You might think the only options are to buy your wedding dress or shop on second-hand reselling marketplaces, but that’s not true.

  There are now more platforms offering wedding dress hire than ever before, and not just those showcasing the more traditional wedding dress options. ASOS is the first high-street retailer to launch its own rental offering, an edit which includes over 180 women’s occasion wear outfits, including bridal pieces too.

  For some, the thought of wearing something that’s been worn by others might not sit well, but financially, renting something you’ll probably only wear once makes a lot of sense. The options from ASOS are available to rent via Hirestreet from between four and 30 days, with costs starting from as little as £20 for a four-day hire, an option which can save thousands of pounds.

  Wedding Party Outfits

  While the most eco-friendly option is to have the wedding party choose items from their wardrobes in the colour palette of the wedding, this won’t work everytime. Instead, there are now loads of great formal dress and suit rental portals available for this very reason, eliminating the need to buy new outfits for one day.

  Platforms like By Rotation, Hurr and Something Borrowed have long been popular options for those looking to borrow unique designer options without the designer price tag, while ASOS’s new rental service is a great solution for those on a budget.

  Suits are already a popular item to hire and lots of specialist stores, like Moss Bros, cater to grooms, groomsmen and fathers of the couple searching for their perfect outfit.

  Shoes and Accessories

  The more an item is worn, the smaller its carbon footprint, so renting wedding accessories is a great way to be eco-friendly while also being able to wear something that might not have been out of reach before.

  For those looking to top their looks off with showstopping jewellery but can’t afford to buy designer, sites like Just Gems and 4Element are at the lower end of the scale, while boutique vintage jewellers like Susannah Lovis offer beautiful pieces that cost more to rent.

  Meanwhile, MyWardrobe HQ.com has a fantastic selection of designer shoes (like the famous Manolo Blahnik Hangisi pumps from £16 a day!) to headpieces, fascinators, hats and combs all available to rent.

  Bouquets and Buttonholes

  It’s not widely known, but it’s also possible to rent and return artificial flower bouquets and buttonholes for a wedding day. Many silk and artificial flower companies like Silk Flower House and Foliage and Faux offer flower collections in versatile shades, which are incredibly realistic and luxury looking, and start from as little as £6.

  For couples having a wedding spanning a number of days, artificial blooms are a no-brainer, as the flowers will continue to look as fresh as the day they arrived. There’s no wilting, no water required, no allergies to worry about, and you can have whatever flower you want in whatever season. As you don’t need to ship out-of-season flowers from abroad, they’re environmentally sound too.

  Floral Arrangements

  As well as bouquets at buttonholes, floral décor companies rent out high-quality silk floral arrangements that look incredibly lifelike and can transform even the most blank canvas wedding venue. It’s more cost-effective than fresh flowers and much more environmentally friendly as the arrangements will be used again and again.

  Companies like Eventually Events can deliver, install and remove flower installations and flower walls for weddings, and many also come with extras like candles, lanterns, plinths and arches too.

  Guest Entertainment

  Garden games are the perfect entertainment for cocktail hour and into the evening at summer weddings, and companies like Gill’s Vintage Garden Games offer a range of games that can be hired in a range of themes, to suit any wedding day. Renting garden games is not just the most eco-friendly option for on-the-day entertainment, but is also the most efficient in terms of clearing up after the event.

  For something a little different, companies like Motion Mapping Wedding Projection can put on jaw-dropping projected indoor fireworks displays or can even make a visual fireworks show across the front façade of the wedding venue. Traditional fireworks can cause a fair amount of air pollution, plus the noise can disturb animals, so this is a kind and environmentally-friendly option.

  Decor and Props

  Couples can also hire lighting-based finishing touches, like neon signs and big light-up letters in the initials of the couple. It can be very pricey and quite inconvenient to buy these objects as a consumer, so hiring them from vendors like Light Up Love is the best option as they have a wide range of sizes, and provide set up and take down in their prices.

  Festival weddings look incredible with colourful flags and bunting fluttering around, and experts like The Event Flag Hire Company have over 55 colours of flags to choose from, each of which is ethically crafted in the UK with a eco-friendly bamboo structure.

  Balloons, by their nature, are perishable so couples can actually hire a balloon installation for their big day that will then be taken away and reused afterwards. For couples looking to hire balloons for their big day, suppliers such as All About Balloons and Bubblegum Balloons offer bespoke solutions for every occasion.

  For more information on sustainable weddings, please visit: https://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-planning/ceremony-and-reception/wedding-day-hire/