Borrowing Magnolia helps brides get their dream dress for less

BELLMORE, N.Y. (WABC) -- For many women when it comes to their wedding day the dress is the most important thing, but it can also take a big bite out of your budget.

Now a new website is helping brides-to-be get their dream dress but at half the cost.

"I tried on maybe like eight dresses," said Kassondra Miller, a bride-to-be.

Kassondra Miller found her dream wedding gown, but when she called off her wedding, the Long Island woman was stuck with the dress along with other expenses.

"I lost at minimum $25,000, and with no help from my ex-fianc," Miller said.

But all is not lost. Miller sold her never worn dress to a new wedding gown website called Borrowing Magnolia.

"So we take dresses from women that have been hanging in their closets collecting dust and we help them make money off of them by professionally photographing them, storing them, and we insure them. And then we market them to women looking to save money on that dream designer gown," said Stephanie Olvey, of Borrowing Magnolia.

The site launched this summer and already there are 300 dresses to choose from.

For $99, brides can choose three to try on, buyers keep the one they like for as much as 55% off retail, renters send back all three, and their choice is sent back to them 10 days before their wedding.

The rental savings are as much as 85% off retail.

For women parting with their gowns, there is a huge upside.

"A lot of women are really excited, they buy this dream dress, they get married, and then the day after their attachment to the dress just plummets. We give them an opportunity to make use of that gown and recoup some of that investment, "Olvey said.

Borrowing Magnolia gave Miller about half of the $5,100 she paid for her dress. It's a dress she hopes will make one or more brides very happy.

"Hopefully I can make someone else's day perfect," Miller said.

For more information: https://www.borrowingmagnolia.com/