Founded in 2008, Hockerty is the e-commerce leader in custom suits and custom dress shirts, as we offer our customers complete freedom to design their own clothes by choosing from a wide range of styles and fabrics. 
What should I do: "rent or buy a suit?". It is a very difficult question and the most honest answer is that it depends on the needs and the budget of each groom. However, sometimes it is difficult to realize that owning a made to measure suit means that you will have a perfect fitting suit jacket and trousers to be worn separately whenever you want. Take a look at the pros and cons so you decide whether it is better renting or buying a tuxedo.
While wedding fashion mostly focuses on the bride and the gown she’s wearing on her big day, that doesn’t mean that the groom’s attire is not as equally important. Although the groom’s choice of either a wedding tuxedo, suit or any other similarly appropriate option seems straight forward enough, there are still a number of factors to consider.
In decades past, before the emergence of the high street and fast fashion, both women’s and men’s clothing were often tailored specifically for the individual, and to his or her own liking. These days, while buying customized clothing is still significant, there’s also been the growing presence of fashion rentals. Whether it’s casual clothing or formal attire, shoppers now have the choice of buying or renting the item. When it comes to your wedding attire, after deciding on what type of tuxedo or suit you’d like to wear, the next choice you have to make is if you’d rather rent or buy it.
Is renting really cheaper than buying a Wedding Suit?
Weddings tend to cost a lot and therefore price is always a big, or even the biggest consideration when it comes to deciding on whether to rent or buy your wedding suit. While renting may be the obvious option if you want to keep the cost down, it’s not actually always the best option. An important factor you should take into consideration is your cost per wear. If you’re bound to attend multiple weddings a year, or other formal occasions, buying a wedding suit that you can rewear may actually be more cost effective in the long run as the suit will eventually pay for itself. Meaning, if you wear your wedding suit more than once, buying is cheaper than renting a wedding suit.
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Find the perfect Suit for you and your groomsmen stress free
It’s also important to think about convenience and time. Whether it’s your own wedding suit, or also the suits for your groomsmen, it’s a lot more convenient, not to mention organized, to buy all the suits together. Planning a wedding can be incredibly time consuming and going through racks and racks of rental clothing to find your own can be equally so. Plus, can you imagine leaving it up to your groomsmen to find their own suits, following your specified dress code? Of course they’re likely able to do it but do you really want the added stress of having to remind them or check in with them? Or worse, do you really want to deal with the uncertainty of not just whether they’ve managed to get their suit but if the suit actually coordinates with everyone else’s in your bridal party, especially if it’s a rental? You certainly don’t want to be answerable to your bride for that. You want the planning process to be as stress free as possible, and even enjoyable.
The Number of Rental Suits are limited
Of course, for your own wedding suit, you want to look immaculate and be able to stand sharply next to your bride. While suit rentals have a number of styles and sizes available for you to choose from, there is certainly nothing like buying a suit, and better yet, one that’s customized based on your own preferences. One could argue that fashion always changes and it would be more prudent to rent a suit. However, wedding suits tend to lean towards the traditional and classic styles – those that stand the test of time and are beyond fleeting fashion trends. With that in mind, to make the most of your hard earned money and get the most out of your purchase, you’ll want to buy a suit that’s made of your preferred fabric, in a color you like and in a style that compliments and enhances your physique, rather than being limited to what’s available for rent and then only using it once. In that way, you won’t only be happy with your wedding suit but you’ll also feel confident when you wear it for your own big day and during other special occasions after.
Does a rented Wedding Suit give the same value?
Lastly, another important factor to think about is the wedding suit’s personal significance to you and all the sentimental value attached to it. For special occasions, like your wedding of course, isn’t it nice to keep a special memento of the big day, including what you wore when you stood and made vows with your bride? It’s a keepsake that you’ll be able to wear for years to come, should you decide to make the purchase.
Renting vs. Buying a Wedding Suit - It's your choice
There are, of course, both pros and cons to renting or buying a wedding suit. At the end of the day, it’s a personal choice that you must make based on what works best for you and for the special occasion. Ultimately, you want to be a groom that is impeccably groomed. After that, your attire should be the least of your concerns. Savor the big day, focus on what’s really important – on making your vows and starting your new life with your bride. As a Wedding guest we also suggest buying a suit instead of renting. There will be more occasions to wear your suit.