Rental Jewelry for Weddings: if Tinseltown Jumped off a Cliff, Would You Do It Too?

First, there were the hair extensions. Originally only available in human hair and applied expensively by hand, these enabled the leading ladies of the silver screen to wrap a movie with a short pixie haircut today and begin a period piece requiring long, flowing locks a few days later.

Very quickly, the women of Middle America wanted the same ability to change their look on a moment’s notice--and particularly for special occasions such as a wedding. However, Middle America was not so much enamored of the cost, and the beauty industry quickly moved to fill that market void with astonishingly realistic, less-expensive and more practical synthetic hair and do-it-yourself clip-in pieces. Particularly for brides trying to grow their hair out to accomodate their fiancés’ wishes for longer hair for their wedding--a common scenario--this turned out to be a win-win situation.

Similarly--the trend almost untouched by the recession--"everyday" women are finding the funds to enhance their bustlines, pouf up their pouts, tuck their tummies, and share doctors’ waiting rooms with men, who are also getting in line to wage war on wrinkles and lines with an ever-growing selection of fillers that quickly cropped up following the explosive popularity of Botox a number of years ago. And while the celebrities creep in and out of the back-doors of dental clinics for teeth-whitening, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Average are often willing to stretch their budgets to achieve whiter smiles with at-home products. Overall, while this trend may seem shallow at first glance, it enables many people to address what they perceive as “deficiencies” in their own appearance that have made them self-conscious for years. If this is the case, an investment in their own self-esteem can hardly be said to pay no return.

But in another case of Middle America following Hollywood’s lead, it seemed especially tasteless in these times when so many of us are financially strapped, to notice this option popping up in an online bridal “magazine” as a wedding service:

"Fine jewelry rental.”  Are you kidding me?

None of the examples shown, of course, had anywhere near the mega-bling wattage of the flashy pieces commonly loaned to big-name glitterati for their walks down the red carpet at award ceremonies, by the godfathers of such jewelry houses such as Harry Winston, Tiffany, Cartier, Michael Katz, and Fred Leighton--whose carat-weight for their lending-library of sparkling hot ice might cause someone to stumble who hadn’t  been working out daily with their personal trainer and shoring themselves up with protein shakes by their personal chef.

But for “Princess Brides” who lack the name recognition to receive an offer of a loan of a fortune in dazzling gems for their moment in the candlelight--yet refuse to give up the dream--this is their next best opportunity for a taste of the “real thing.”

These particular offerings were by the jewelry company Adorn:

• Diamond Chandelier Earrings that sell for $11,250, can be rented for $280

• Matching Chandelier Necklace that retails for $24,000, can be rented for $490

• Diamond Cuff Bracelet with a pricetag of $21,000, can be rented for $490

Imagine if you will, the spectacularly fabulous and high-quality cubic-zirconia pieces that one could buy  for these rental prices!  Even these rental  costs are out of “budget range” for the average bride. Also, how real is the “real thing”? If you can’t afford it and can only pay to use it, isn’t it the height of hypocrisy to wear it?   Either people are going to assume it’s costume jewelry, or you’re going to have to ‘fess up that you don’t own it. And where are you going to put the “credit” for the jewelry so people will know  that it’s real?  On your wedding program?   (“Bride’s jewelry provided for promotional consideration by Finknagel’s Jewelry”?) This is a lose-lose situation.

If your wedding adornments are rhinestones or cubic zirconia, wouldn’t they still be something you’d want to cherish and keep?  Maybe they will become the “something borrowed” for a daughter or granddaughter when she  marries, and go on to be treasured for years after you’re gone--accessories  do have the decency to still fit the wearer even while dress sizes may fluctuate from one generation to the next. And at least they’re a keepsake of your wedding that belongs to you.  And while it’s true that they may not be of Smithsonian quality, many “regular” families have their own  little stash of such “family jewels” that they wouldn’t part with for any price.

Remember what the borrowed jewels on the red carpet are all about:  these gorgeous women, famous and successful as they are, are actresses; their stock in trade is make-believe and the creation of fantasy. Those aren’t their  jewels and as far as they’re concerned, they’re just part of “Wardrobe” for the evening. Don’t simply play the part  of the Bride at your own wedding--wear what you can afford and treasure in coming years.

©KatieK, April 15, 2010.