would you lend an acquintance your wedding dress?

Question

I am getting wed in June 2008 this work colleague was getting wed in 2009, now she is bringing it forward to august 2008.

I have got so much already, the dress, the venue, the date is booked, the groom has his suit, the cars are booked etc

She asked me this morning, 'can I borrow your dress to get married in'

Its cost me £250.00

I asked is she was going to help pay for it!

I could not beleive the cheek!

What would be your reaction to a question like that?

she is getting married in Canada and then will live there, I live in the UK so I would love to know how she will get the dress back to me.

I told her 'you must be joking'

I amy not wear the dress again, but it will be sentimental to me.

Answer 1

I would say flat out 'No, sorry, but no'.
If pushed I would bite back the urge to say 'I would rather get run down by a tie dye panel van'. And would instead tell her that this is a precious part of the most wonderful day of my life and I would not want anyone else wearing it. I have been designing my perfect dress for almost two years now. No-one but me is wearing it. I'll promise myself forever in it, I'll go to my wedding night in it, it is more special than any other piece of clothing I will ever own.
Its a very creepie question, and a little tacky.
I hope you told her no lol.

Answer 2

You know, I can see both sides.

You have already bought the dress and are probably never going to wear it again. A lot of people sell their wedding dresses.

She probably should worded her request differently, or offered to pay for the cleaning after you wore it and again after she wore it. If she said something like, "This may sound crazy, but would you consider letting me use your dress for my wedding if I have it cleaned before and after I wear it? It will save us both some money and I have no desire to keep a dress after the wedding?" Or she could offer to buy it from you at half price or something.

To me, it's not so much her asking, as how she asked and did not offer any compensation.

Answer 3

It would depend on how close this acquaintance is, frankly. If she's really like a beloved sister, then maybe I would consider it. She would have to agree (in writing) to pay for its cleaning and any possible repairs/damage/alterations.

If she's not that close a friend, then rent it to her. The tuxedo rental places sometimes rent wedding gowns; find out what they charge and charge her the same to rent yours.

You may want to consider outright selling it to her for half the cost of new, if you don't think you want to store it until your own daughters are old enough to possibly want it. Most daughters want their own in-style gowns anyway.

You obviously have great taste in wedding dresses, that she'd want to wear your gown. Hopefully there won't be too many overlapping guests at your wedding and hers, to recognize that it was your dress she's wearing.

Answer 4

I would let someone borrow my dress, as long as they paid for the dry cleaning beforehand.

I wish I could lend my dress to someone because right now it´s just hanging up in a dress bag and it seems like a waste-the dress is so pretty!

I would be flattered if someone wanted to borrow my dress, not angry.

Answer 5

You reacted very appropriately. A stupid, impertinent, thoughtless, selfish question deserves a quick, sharp, witty response. Come on!! Does she want you to loan you your ring and mens' clothes too?! Silly cow wants a big blingy wedding without the expense!! Doesn't matter if you paid $5. or $5,000, and she doesn't deserve a reason. The answer is NO amid gales of laughter!

Answer 6

i don't see a problem with someone else wearing your dress. however, if you do give it to her...realize that you are GIVING it to her, not lending it. during her ceremony, she may spill on the dress, the bottom may get dirty, or it may accidentally get ripped. she also might have to get it sized. i got married 5 yrs ago and i haven't ever worn my dress again. i also don't go to the closet just to look at it. it's just a dress. my marriage is valid and romantic and wonderful no matter what happens to that dress. i don't have any sentimental attachment to it, even though i loved it. but really, it's only a dress. what else were you planning to do with it? just keep it for the sake of keeping it? instead, let her know that you are willing to SELL her your dress for half price. that is fair since you will have already worn it, perhaps gotten it dirty, and she will likely have to pay to clean it. don't give her the dress until she has paid you in full, otherwise that could get ugly.

Answer 7

Tell her "you're nice and you're my friend but i wouldnt let you borrow my wedding dress."
Tell her its in your family tradition to keep it after the wedding and its bad luck to have it rented or borrowed by anybody else.
In weddings there are certain traditions being followed like the bride has to wear something blue, something borrowed, something new etc... but DEFINITELY not the wedding dress to be something borrowed..good luck.

Answer 8

it is a bit cheeky. i worked with a woman years ago and she was getting married. i had got married a year beforehand and my dress and everything was paid for and i wanted to keep it. anyway she asked if she could borrow my wedding shoes. they were very expensive but i trusted her and said she could borrow them. 7 years later I'm still waiting for them back! i have since lost touch and it still upsets me to this day that i don't have them. i have everything else from my wedding day but those, and I'm bitter about it.

do not lend anything out. its just not financially but its sentimentality as well.

Answer 9

certainly one of my daughters have been given divorced and that i attempted to sell hers. It became wiped sparkling and boxed as nicely. It became ridiculous attempting to sell it because of the fact no consignment keep around me could take it and that i did no longer desire to take it out of the field or have strangers attempting it on in my residing house. i ended up itemizing it on "Freecycle." A mom took it for her daughter, unseen interior the field. We talked on the telephone, she became very impressive and looked grateful for having discovered it. Weddings may be costly and getting a impressive gown decrease priced or loose (this one became $a million,2 hundred.00) can constructive help. something I learn (won't be able to keep in mind the place) at a church, 2nd hand robes have been raffled off for a charity.

Answer 10

There's no way I'd lend her my dress. If she is serious about getting married then she should know that getting a dress is one of her main priorities-- her own dress that is. Please don't hesitate to tell her no. It is your dress that you wore on your wedding day. If you lend it to her then it could end up stained, altered, ripped, etc... So stick to your guns and tell her no!!!