When wedding season knocks, Chandni Chowk is the first name that pops into every bride-to-be’s mind. Streets packed with shops, walls draped in bulky, colourful lehengas, shimmering laces, and stylised motifs, basically, designer skirt dupes calling out to girls.

Wedding shopping has always been a chaotic mission. But markets like these, come through with solid solutions. Not just bridal lehengas —mehendi, sangeet, reception outfits — there’s something for every function. But let’s be real, we’re always looking for an easier, smarter, and budget-friendlier way to do things. And that’s exactly why market has come up with idea of giving out attires on rent.

Pragati Gulati, 26, a Software Engineer at Microsoft, Gurgaon, a soon-to-be bride, had her heart set on a heavy dark pink bridal skirt, with yellow and blue embellishments. “I wanted something one-of-a-kind, something that felt like a reflection of me,” she said. A dupe of a design, from her favourite designer Rahul Mishra, in Chandni Chowk would have cost her a hefty Rs. 50,000, which, for onetime wear, felt, questionable. And then came the usual interrogation, “Where will you even keep this heavy one, after the wedding?” or “Why not buy something simpler that you can re-wear?”
‘, “Valid points,” she introspected.

She spent days scrolling and searching, until she stumbled upon a shop, Zari Rentals, in the same market offering the exact same attire on rent. “I screamed when I found out,” Pragati laughed. “I swear my whole body blushed, I felt lucky.” Renting it would cost her Rs. 5,000 per day, and since her destination wedding would last three days, and hence she would be paying Rs. 15,000 total. That’s Rs. 35,000 saved. Big win.

Turns out, Zari Rentals isn’t the only game in town. Rent A Closet, The Bridal Affair, and Style Lease are a few hot spots offering an array of options – from heavily embroidered Sabyasachi-inspired masterpieces to delicate pastel Manish Malhotra dupes. Prices typically start at 73,000 per day for lighter outfits, going up to 710,000 or more for high-end, intricately embellished pieces. Most stores even provide fullbridal sets, complete with matching dupattas and blouses, ensuring the dream look stays intact.

Renting lehengas is officially the move now. But what about the sentimental value of a sacred wedding outfit, the traditional wedding attire meant to be cherished forever?
“Honestly, we can preserve a garland in resin, keep just the dupatta, or frame a swatch of fabric as a memory,
” she reasoned. “Why keep a something that’s ten times
heavier than me in my closet when I’ll probably never wear it again?”The dir is shifting, mindsets evolving. The customs? Still valued. But the way we approach them? Different.

“Tradition isn’t vanishing, it’s just changing. My mother- in-law always asked me to wear my wedding dress, as it is considered important and auspicious, in every Karva Chauth, a Hindu festival where wife keeps fast for the longevity of the husband as a symbol of love and longevity. Now? The lehenga stays forgotten in some corner while a brand-new saree takes its place. The sentiment remains, just repackaged,” Says Smriti Gupta, 52, a housewife, Greater Noida.
The changing demands and the ease of availability naturally bring tiny adjustments in the societal beliefs. What matters now? The budget? intact. The comfort? not sacrificed. The cultural essence?still honoured. A win-win for everyone!